The imperfect balance of time management

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

William Penn

Time is always flowing in abundance, but when you become an entrepreneur, it seems like you can't get enough of it. As I reflect on my journey, I learned the importance of time and more importantly what that looks like for me. Because let's be honest you can read and listen to podcast episodes all day about time management but until you become a full-time creative and experience it that knowledge will only get you so far. So, I wrote three lessons I learned first-hand that I wanted to share to hopefully help all of my readers who are currently on their personal journey in life. I hope these words will touch and inspire you in the best way possible.

Design Structure

Stress and anxiety can stem from various things, but at the end of the day, it merely comes from not knowing what to do next. In life when we find our purpose, we become motivated and then become stagnant because we’re too busy watching other people living their life while ignoring our own. That results in us wasting time which creates stress and anxiety. The simplest way to combat this is to give structure to your time. This philosophy is simple, but for most new entrepreneurs it's complicated. For the longest time, we had structured lives before becoming self-employed. If you worked a corporate 9-5 than you know that most companies have already established the work structure for you to adapt to. What time you clock-in, leave for lunch, and clock-out has already been pre-determined. Unfortunately, as entrepreneurs we aren't that fortunate when we venture out on our own so, we have to create structure ourselves. Blocking time out to get work done and creating a morning and night routine helps create the balance and structure we desperately need. I promise if you learn and figure this part out first the next two lessons will fall in line.

Be open and flexible.

Another lesson I learned fairly quickly when launching my company is no two days are alike. In my mind I can already have a planned schedule but, in an instant, a single phone call can change my entire day! At any given moment clients can request an urgent meeting, or a project can end up taking longer than its projected date that can throw everything completely off. This alone can be a deal breaker for those who love consistency as I do and to be honest, it's something I still struggle with, but I learned to embrace it. Time is valuable and creating a schedule helps you maximize your time but don't let your daily routine compromise your work to fulfill a checklist. Somedays you will get 100 things done and other days you may only get 5 and both are okay. Learn to treat both accomplishments with the same level of respect and love they deserve.

Now, that you're the boss your work hours depend solely on you, so you don't have to stick to a traditional 9-5 work schedule. Sometimes I switch my hours from 12-8 instead of 9-6 to take care of personal appointments, to run errands or to just catch up on rest. Other weeks I become nocturnal and work through the night and rest during the day. The biggest attraction of working for yourself is having a flexible work schedule, and it can be the hardest thing to adapt to at first. Finding the "prime time" for work will definitely take some trial and error so never be afraid to switch it up.  

Schedule days off

I know this may sound silly but scheduling days to do nothing is super critical. This philosophy definitely goes against the "I can sleep when I die" culture that we millennials have adopted but I'm here to tell you burn-out is real! And this can happen even when you're doing something you love. The same way we schedule, plan and prep for a vacation is the same way we have to plan time off to disconnect, refocus and regroup. At first, you may think I'm wasting valuable time I could be getting ahead at work, but it's really the opposite. The more time you indulge in work without taking a break the less productive you are. So, start by scheduling one day out the week to have off and relish that time. Use the day to re-inspire yourself if you need inspiration and remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place.

Time-management will look different for everybody, and our structure and process will never be written in stone. As our work and life evolve so will our time management principals so always embrace change. I hope you got something from this and feel free to share this with a friend if you have the time. No pun intended. Well, maybe so.
 

My 2018 Summer Trends

I think we can all agree that old man winter overstayed his welcome this year. But, since we made it to May and warm weather finally looks promising, it’s time to get our home in order and in style. When it comes to our homes, the most we do when it comes to spring is “spring cleaning,” and for a lot of people, that’s where it ends. But, I’m here to help you get some design pep in your step by sharing a few crucial ways to transform your home for spring.

Bold accessories

When it comes to interior designing, you’d be surprised on how the littlest details can have the biggest impact in your home. Before you decide to throw away the whole sofa set and coffee table instead you can simply add some bold decorative details to spice it up. For starters begin with pastel color springtime scented candles that will spruce up your living room table and add a sweet fragrance to the room. Now let’s move to the furniture. If your couch is dark and you want to brighten it up add some bright fringe pillows and maybe a colorful throw to liven it up. And instead of painting the whole room why not add multi-color geometric wallpaper to enhance the room. These little changes can sometimes do more for a room than new furniture.

Living room to green room

Adding some natural greenery to your home is the perfect way to bring some summer vibes indoors. And because plants come in all shapes and size your options when it comes to decorating are truly endless. Places like your work desk, side table, and your window seal are great homes for plants because these places are usually close to a window. Large plants can be great too especially in large halls or your bedroom next to a textured wall. Aside from looking attractive plants are great because they help reduce airborne dust levels and carbon dioxide levels.

More room for the kitchen

We all know the kitchen is the heart of every home. From entertaining our guest to family meals, the kitchen is the central hub for everything! One trend that has become popular when redesigning the kitchen is eliminating the upper cabinets. Now, of course, the obvious pro for having large cabinets is the amount of storage space, but there are a few attractive pro’s for getting rid of them as well. For starters, getting rid of your upper cabinets allows more lighting installation options for the room, and it also makes the room feel less cramp and more open. Removing the large cabinets also can create room to install large windows for more natural lighting, or you can use the space to add lavish decorative art or install a vibrant backsplash. I recently did a project for a home in New Jersey and I wanted to give the kitchen and dining area a more urban vibe. To create the look we dismantled the white upper cabinets and basic countertops and replaced them with a cool grey granite counter top. And with the extra wall space, we simply added some colorful decorative art. The best part about experimenting with no upper cabinets is that you can always add to it. I posted a photo below to show our end result. Here are before and after photo of staging and getting this home's kitchen ready for sale.

Nola REDO: The Henry Howard Hotel

When it comes to New Orleans, it's a place that's well-known for three things - their music, food, and entertainment, but we can't leave out their beautiful architecture! In January, I took my second trip to Nola, well prepared after not having the top-notch experience I wanted from my first visit. As a matter of fact, my first visit to Nola in Jan 2017 left me with the impression of the night after street vomit & fog all of 2017. Fast forward to EXACTLY a year later, as if the universe specifically called for a Nola redo this time my reason for visiting Nola was a wedding.

I can't quite put into words how captivated I was from their breathtaking architecture that filled the city. So to spare you a long spill; I'll just say it was simply amazing. But speaking from an interior decorator standpoint, the characteristics of the scenery and different houses really caught my eye because many of the 1800's century style homes are still around and in great shape. The styles of home in New Orleans vary, but they usually fall in these categories of; creole cottage (which is the oldest style) two-story townhouses, shotgun house, double gallery house, central house, and Bungalows. Because of the humid weather and living so close to the water, these houses were constructed with these things mind to accommodate their lifestyle. So, if you're a fan of large porches, wooden frame structures, and large windows and shutters, New Orleans might be the place for you!   

Even though this trip was for a purpose and not any regular tourism weekend, I wanted my time there to be as enjoyable and relaxing as possible. I planned ahead and remembered a beautiful boutique hotel I once posted on my Instagram. So, it was only right; I stayed there. The hotel rate is a little on the high end; therefore, it's not for every budget. However, a treat to yourself is priceless, is it not? I arrived at the airport, grabbed an Uber and started my journey. Approaching the hotel, I started to get a little worried when I realized how residential it was. At first, I thought I made a mistake because I am still very much a city kind of gal and like to be in the action. My Uber driver pulled up to a beautiful white house.

The building of the Henry Howard Hotel was true to NOLA style with the structure being a Double Gallery Townhouse that was constructed by architect Henry Howard in 1867, hence the name. As soon, as you enter the hotel, you are greeted by a friendly staff, beautiful antiques and mesmerizing jazz sweeping from the speakers. It almost feels surreal. I do have to give you a warning if you plan on booking a room at this boutique hotel, you need to do it in well in advance. Because of the high demand and the limited rooms (18 to be exact) at the Henry Howard RSVP'ing can be a challenge if you book during a festive weekend which is like every weekend in New Orleans.

When I walked into the Henry Howard Hotel, it felt like a dream! High ceiling, and a beautiful staircase leading to the second floor with hardwood that looked glazed and spotless. The lobby was to the right that was filled with men in tux drinking, laughing and listening to jazz while a wedding party was taking place. Picture a scene from Mad Men. I made my way to the desk when they pulled my reservation, and the hotel manager told me my room wasn't quite ready; however, they could offer me something better, and I said sure! Not sure what they had in mind, I followed a man that led me to the elevator to the top floor! Once we got to the room, the door was opened to a beautiful foyer. Yes, foyer with two paths which was located on the private 3rd floor. Space was certainly not an issue with this large suite that came furnished with one Queen, and King size bed finished off with an extra roomy lounge area. Each room in the hotel feature vintage furniture, detailed antiques with floor to ceiling windows that made this whole experience 'instagrammable' if that's even a term. If you're worried about getting to and from the city the location of the Henry Howard, it is right in the Charming Golden District. That means good food, bars, and entertainment are literally right around the corner. No, literally. 

I believe New Orleans is a destination where people come to see the sights but stay for the culture. In my opinion, that's what sets this city apart. We know New Orleans is famous for its Mardi Gras Parades, but the music is so instrumental (no pun intended) to New Orleans; it's no surprise why it's been a music melting pots for years. Quick history fact, New Orleans was the only place in the world where slaves were allowed to own drums. Because of their rich history of African influence, New Orleans is considered the birthplace of Jazz and the Blues. Early Jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden, Sidney Bechet, and Louis Armstrong all helped lay the musical foundation for Jazz that would spread way beyond New Orleans which makes New Orleans a place like no other.

My trip to NOLA was unforgettable, and I want to end this post by personally thanking the wonderful staff at Henry Howard Hotel for the incredible experience. And if you haven't been to NOLA, I hope you will use this post as an excuse to travel and see if firsthand. Just let the staff at Henry Howard Hotel, i sent ya, who knows you may get lucky!

Taking Ownership

“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.”

— Michel de Montaigne

After what seems like years of logo changes, website templates, and typeface, I've finally decided to officially launch my website and blog. Which means as promised, I am also going to start blogging. Yup! You heard me right. I know, is this even Remul? Since this is formally my first official post, let me informally introduce myself! My name is Remul, I'm 25 years old, and a few months before turning 24, I started my journey with Chapter R Interiors when I decided to take a Risk, and quit my job. I didn’t have an official plan, but I did have some money saved up, people to back and support my cause and tons of soul. I must say it’s been the hardest and most draining journey. But it’s also been the best thing I’ve done thus far. Chapter R is my story in this big ole book we call life!

Taking ownership of your life can be difficult, at least it was for me in the beginning. I had to overcome having so much control and authority at such a young age in a professional setting while gaining life experience. The older I became, I started to get a real sense of clarity that everything comes with a purpose. There was a Reason why it took me a year to officially finish this website/blog; it was all timing. And in this time, I had to learn and relearn some things; I had to understand where I wanted to fully take this company and the foundation I wanted to create for it. Therefore, my time was devoted to getting clients, budgeting for operational costs and finding a home base for the company (but that's for another post). Most importantly, I had to use this time to Relax in my being and Respect my light. I had to use this opportunity to get out of my shell and take OWNERSHIP.

The Goal for this website

I want this website to be a community, not only a sector for interior design & business, but also art, my culture, and life in general! Along this journey, I realized I am not only an interior designer; I am an entrepreneur and curating art, and design in our everyday lives is my passion. I hope you follow along with me. I'll be giving design tips behind the scenes stories; with my new business venture in construction & real estate and other adventures, I might stumble across the way. My goal is to keep myself in motion. Take a look at the new website, check out what I do and some of my projects!