I grew up a few miles outside a tiny farm town, not a neighbour within sight of our rural property. There’s a wonderful sensory leveling that occurs when surrounded by the very subtle. Without the megaphone of the city, whispers are robust, soft fragrances fill the air and the shift in hue from the green grass to the leaves seems impossibly complex. This early appreciation for quiet change has developed into an immense love of spring, and I think it makes me a better designer.
I live in the city now, and have for more than half of my life. Most of the year is a buzz of manufactured experiences that leave little chance to notice nature—or to even hear our own thoughts. For a brief time between the grey silence of winter and the rush of summer activity, I get to reconnect with the underappreciated quiet. The sound of chirping birds is a new song in our morning routine. The trees, still without new leaves, seem different somehow. Upon closer look, they are covered with fresh buds, waiting to make their debut. Everything is new, more vibrant and full of the promise that warmth and beauty are imminent.
In this issue, there is a terrific story on allergies, a hot topic this time of year. My rural childhood had me chewing on clover and frolicking in wildflowers. As luck would have it, recent studies link early exposure to known allergens to a resistance later in life. One of my favourite books, The Sweetness of a Simple Life by Diana Beresford-Kroeger, offers tips for healthier, happier and kinder living—a bible of sorts for jumping into spring and nature sure-footed.
It’s an exciting time we live in, having the benefit of modern technology and medicine while the collective academics are looking more at traditional approaches, our diets and the undeniable links between the diseases of this era still without definitive cures.
I’m obsessed with physical health, for sure, but I became a designer partly because I also appreciate the effect our physical environments have on our lives, both practically and emotionally. I share a fun article in this issue on coastal design and getting in the mood for spring on page 74. This style is all about a connection with the outdoors, throwing open the windows and kicking off the winter quilts.
Toronto-based celebrity designer and contractor Melissa Davis, is known for her appearances, creative design and reno work produced for various HGTV shows. Her work has been profiled nationally in print publications. With almost two decades of reno & design experience, her firm continues to service clientele throughout Ontario & GTA, specializing in value-adding ROI and resale consultations.
www.melissadavis.com
Melissa Davis
