What's your name?
Diane Holland
What is your idea of a happy home?
A safe, nourishing haven where I can live, work and create. A space that is filled with beauty and character and reflects who I am. A place where people feel warmly received, cared for, and inspired.
What do you most value in your home?
It would have to be my deceased father’s living room lamp, the dining room table from Indonesia that has hosted many laugh-filled evenings, and two pieces of art from my deceased grandmother. I also find so much to fill the soul in the pieces that I have collected in my travels -- small works in wood, metal and ceramics, and colorful carpets.
What are some of the additions or modifications made during your home transformation process?
My apartment was stuck in who I was four years ago during a turbulent time. There have been many more chapters and more changes, particularly my latest career shift, and the space no longer supported me in the day-to-day. And it certainly did not support the new reality of working from home in a pandemic.
I wanted to replace pieces of furniture gathered during a previous relationship, and create a new spirit in each room by infusing feminine as well as energetic colors. I invested in creating a luxurious bedroom with expanded use through the creation of a reading nook. It was amazing to see how the character of a room can change with simply a change of fabulous window curtains. I also invested in plants since I travel less and can care for them. In the process of upgrading some furniture, I was also able to donate rather than dispose of unwanted items using a hyper-local community through Facebook platforms.
Was there anything keeping you from improving your space? What inspired you to take the leap?
I reached out to Vanessa after accepting that my life has changed in 2020. Who redecorates in a pandemic when going through a career transition? Well, that was me. With so much more life lived at home, I realized that the space no longer worked for me in terms of productive work and joyful living.
The biggest hurdle was giving permission to invest in myself in this chapter in my life. I hadn’t realized the return on investment of a home refresh in terms of renewed calm, peace and joy.
What are some of the things that you valued in working with BronxGirlDesign? Vanessa is a gem, with an acute design eye and an ability to work with her clients in a way that brings out the best. Her intake questionnaire helped identify the main issues and my values. She shared suggestions for each issue, embraced my feedback, and worked with me to find solutions. She invited me to stretch out of what was into what could be. Vanessa provided practical recommendations at every point in the process. I was able to work with her on sourcing furniture and decorative items as well as expand my own skills in spackling and painting. I know and believe in her values of sustainability and accessibility - and felt blessed to work with someone who simply wants the best for her clients.
The completed bedroom is tranquil with added accent colors of deep blue and pale blush, and soft textures that express feminine energy.
Since your collaboration with This Bronx Girl Designs, how does your home make you feel?
When I come home, I feel as though I get a big hug from my apartment. I have new nooks in the apartment to enjoy and there is more storage space that keeps work and personal items organized and away from sight. My space expresses the new chapter of who I am now. The apartment feels so much more expanded and larger, as if I can breathe more freely. Colors that I love are infused throughout, and there is more brightness, in part due to added lighting and soft textures.
How has your home transformation improved your life? There are practical improvements in terms of form and function. For example, I have a place to store my work out of sight at the end of the day, I can use my bedroom as a reading nook and enjoy cozy evenings, and my workout gear is in one accessible place. But more than that, I feel as though I can lean into who I am right now -- that I can lean into the luxurious, strong, grounded feminine. I have renewed confidence in my “handyman” skills and crafting abilities and enjoyed using my creative voice throughout this process.
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