Sharon Hanby-Robie - Beautiful Places, Spiritual Spaces: The Art of Stress-free Interior Design

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

W hen I think about home sweet home, images from my childhood come to mindfluffy feather pillows, the wooden toy chest, the tire swing in the backyard. We adults still want our homes to feel carefree, peaceful, and safe. We want them to be full of hugs and laughter.

What feelings come to mind when you think about your home today?

Its wonderful to have a beautifully decorated home as long as you are not a slave to it. A beautiful home is only a blessing if it meets your needs, rather than you having to slave to meet its needs.

Too often our dream of an ideal home is unrealistic. What should matter the most is having a home that gives you, your family, and your friends the freedom to be yourselves. It should meet the needs of the family.

As an interior designer, I (Sharon) have spent my life working with real people and real families in their most personal and cherished spacestheir homes. Our homes should be the places where we have the freedom to relax and express ourselves. At the same time, as Christian women we know that God wants us to have a positive influence on those around us. We want to use our homes to nurture our families and friendships, new and old. We want a home that looks beautiful, is easy to maintain, and meets our needs.

Finding balance between the spiritual and the physical needs within the home is key to creating an atmosphere of love. Creating a nurturing environment for our children and visitors is important. A home is where we come from. It is our foundation. Our homes are the first worlds that our children know. Here they gain their first impressions of what to expect from the world. Our homes determine how they look at and treat outsiders and will influence the rest of their lives. As Florence Littauer said, Its not the surroundings but the spirit that makes for genuine hospitality.

We must nurture our spiritual centers since the Spirit is such an important part of us and of our homes. Thats why Deb and I have taken a unique approach in this book. Weve integrated spiritual insights and questions with solid design advice.

You may use this book anyway you like, but heres one idea. On Sunday, or the day you have the most time, read the opening Scripture and the sentence under Day 1. Each day of that week reread the verse and read the next days thought or question. The sentence meditations will focus your first thoughts, but it will be amazing to see how God leads your mind. If you miss a day, dont worry. You can easily read several meditations at once. We made them short because we know you are busy.

Anytime during the week, read the accompanying design lesson. Be sure to catch the practical design tips at the end of each unit. Then enjoy implementing the spiritual insights and design tips into your life and home as you nurture yourself and your loved ones.

. Florence Littauer, It Takes So Little To Be Above Average (Eugene, Oreg.: Harvest House, 1996).