It is important to begin life after divorce on a positive, updated outlook. Guest contributor, Elizabeth Holmes offers great advice on getting your new Single Parent home off to a great start...

Crazy, Stupid, Love For the Decor-Challenged Dad

Author: Elizabeth Holmes, www.elizabethholmesdesign.com

Posted: 07/26/12

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Like most women, I fell in love with the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love for two reasons: Ryan Gosling and Ryan Gosling’s abs. But I must admit the movie fell short for me in one area. While newly separated Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) was busy getting love and fashion tips from pick-up guru Jacob Palmer (Mr. Gosling), it was evident that he also needed a decorator from the looks of his apartment.

The best line from the movie is Jacob’s directive to Cal: “Be better than the Gap.” And to you single dads who have found yourself in new diggs (urban slang for home or apartment) I say: be better than that store where you got your furniture in your college years. Sure, in your early 20s it was okey-dokey to buy furniture made of cheaply glued cardboard. Not so much today. Probably the last thing you want to be bothered with is what shade of gray (yes, there are more than 50) goes best with your drapes. But the truth of the matter is that a brighter, better, and more palatable home can bring you happiness and harmony.

Some helpful tips to get you started as you embark on your new adventure:

#1 – Do think of your space as permanent. As a designer, I’m often told by clients that they only envision themselves in a particular space for six months or a year tops, so they don’t want to invest too much time and money into making their space, well, more beautiful. Five years, one plant, and perhaps even a cat or dog later, that conservative, utilitarian-designed apartment is, in fact, still their home, yet not so warm and sweet abode. So if you are considering interior design, don’t cut corners or see it as something fleeting, but rather consider it an investment in creating an environment that you want to come home to, entertain in and ultimately can claim as your own.

#2- Do express yourself through your décor. You can tell a lot about someone when you walk into their home. I once interviewed for a job where the owner had among other things an extraordinarily baroque Purple Haze Hendrix painting in his office. I immediately thought: this guy likes really good music, smoking really good pot, or both. Your new space is your opportunity to select paint, furnishings, and accessories that speak to your personal taste and style. Figuring that out can be difficult. So spend some time reacquainting yourself with yourself. Explore what colors you like, and what expertly designed piece of furniture you would splurge on if you could. Who needs a Ferrari or a Ducati when you can have a lush flokati pile rug underfoot?

#3 –Do aim for a kinder, gentler type of Man Cave. Another movie reference: when I think of kids and decorating, I can’t help but remember Cheswick (Sydney Lassick) screaming for his cigarettes in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Not McMurphy’s (Jack Nicholson) or Martini’s (Danny DeVito) cigarettes. He wanted his cigarettes. Similarly, when your kids – whether they are five or 15 - are transplanted to your new home, they want, expect, and perhaps scream for an opportunity to have some say in how their rooms and your interior should look. So involve them in the process. A Wii notwithstanding, what would make your home feel more like home to them? As you map out a plan for paint and furniture, get their advice. Take them to a paint store, and look and select swatches. Here’s an even better way to bond: have a paint or wallpaper party with them.

Feeling a little design challenged and in need of a Ryan Gosling-like décor coach to get you on your way to enjoying your new home? Contact me at liz@elizabethholmesdesign.com. I offer online design services via Skype and iChat, so when in paint chip hell, don’t hesitate to call on me.

ELIZABETH HOLMES is a New York residential interior design consultant. Unconventional, creative and willing to experiment, Liz embraces every opportunity to work with like-minded clients seeking to express their own distinct point of view. Her designs are as fresh and innovative as the clients she serves. To learn more about her paint selection and home décor shopping prowess, call 516.620.9048 or visit www.elizabethholmesdesign.com