Home Designing Archives - Costa Pacifica LIVING

Ebb & Flow: Working From Home

Michael Seven — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:08:04 +0000

During this time we’ve come to really understand the importance of home. And we see the home as both sanctuary and, for some, a work environment. On the surface these two things seem dichotomous, yet really they’re synergistic. The notion of sanctuary is of safety, protection, and positive energy, which really is a platform for clear thinking, productivity and creativity.

That said, it takes some understanding and a bit of planning, to sort out both personal and professional needs, and make it work. Add kids, pets, housework and spouses to the mix, and things get complicated. Working from home, if you’re not set up for it, suddenly seems daunting. I left the frantic pace of big agency life to work freelance and build my own design business, a few years ago, so I have learned to see “work” and “life” as interchangeable.

There is a wonderful rhythm to home life that can feed into work and creativity, if you go with that flow, not against it. We can be open to the change of energy, the ebb and flow of daily living. Rather than expect hours and hours of work focus, I am open and flexible to domestic chores, talks with friends, research, cooking, and these mental shifts boost my creativity when I come back to my desk. Plus the laundry is done!

Before I work again I use breathing, yoga, music or quick exercise to build positive energy and shift to work mode. Work for a few hours, play with the kids, laugh, stretch, walk the dog – then work again. See these things as mutually supportive, part of the whole of life, not compartmentalized. Making a home, being with your family, talking to your friends is healthy, positive and is the cornerstone of productivity.

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Ballena Homes

Costa Pacifica LIVING — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 01:48:09 +0000

FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

Building a new home in Costa Rica is not difficult. Not knowing what to do or being familiar with the building practices or the language in Costa Rica does not have to cause sleepless nights. There is a solution: Ballena Homes.

The key to a successful build is having an experienced team of professionals to manage and coordinate the build. Ballena Homes works in partnership with architects, designers, engineers and home construction specialists to deliver a complete range of professional skills. Our service involve managing every step of the process (including language issues) from concepts through to completion and delivery of the finished product. Our clients are our best referrals.

Ballena Homes – a reflection of you.

We’d love to hear from you! Contact us today.

PHONE	EMAIL	WEBSITE
+506 2786 5801	innovation@ballenahomes	ballenahomes.com

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FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION Building a new home in Costa Rica is not difficult. Not knowing what to do or being familiar with the building practices or the language in Costa Rica does not have…

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Mindful Design: It’s in the Details

Michael Seven — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 10:03:16 +0000

I feel there’s a case to be made for designing a home around the simple act of making coffee (or breakfast) in the morning. For many of us, that’s a ritual. It starts our day, wakes us up, gives us mental and physical energy. Consider what that requires: utility, convenience, resources, space, materials. If we do it daily, why not make it special?

When discussing design with a client, I start with the personal stuff. I’m not nosey, I want to understand their routine. How do they live in the little activities, the simple pleasures? It’s my mindful design philosophy of comfort, texture, quality and craft, in harmony with the things we touch every day and we need to love.

Can you love a drawer pull? A counter top? The faucet and your sink? Each of these small things can feel cheap or luxurious, can be store-bought or hand-made. Are you a chef or a re-heater? Is it dinner for two or twenty? How about a kitchen garden, inside or outside? Vegetables, fruits, herbs, growing alongside natural jungle plants. A little table and chairs, the morning sun on your face, that’s a ritual! Later pick some Cranberry Hibiscus for your salad – thanks Erica (my niece).

A lot of money need not be spent if you’re innovative and creative. In Costa Rica, we have many talented, local craftspeople and artisans who know materials and understand this unique climate. Choose joy, not price.

When we make these things count, we imbue them with meaning, with memory, we honour our rituals and the materials and spaces that support them. Then every day, whether you stumble into the kitchen, or dance in, we can be mindful, connected, and yes, grateful for what makes up our living space, our home.

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