What I love about art is it is so personal and objective. A piece you might love, someone else could despise. That’s what makes great art in my opinion. Just like great design, great art strikes a feeling. The art you pick tells a little bit about you, your story and what you’re gravitated towards, what makes you smile, joyful, what inspires you… Art can do so many amazing things. I love finding art that moves me and my clients. Through the years we’ve collected art that continues to bring us joy! Here are my top 5 go to spots for art.
Vacation
Vacations are my go to favorite place to look for art. I love the memories that come back from looking at art we find while on an adventure as a family.
Art Fairs
What’s not to love about an art fair. When we lived in Chicago we could visit different art fairs almost every weekend throughout the summer. Michigan hasn’t disappointed on this either! We love the idea of actually meeting the artist and finding art that continues to bring us joy!
Local Artists
The idea of supporting a local artist always makes my soul happy. I love that we have the ability to support and make others dreams come true. There are great ways to find local artists, two of which are listed below!
If you haven’t shopped etsy yet, what have you been doing! Etsy is a wonderful way to support local artists and artists across the world. Many stores start out on Etsy before building their own platforms. We love looking for art this way.
You guessed it, IG! What a great way to find art you love, through these tiny squares. We have connected with so many amazing artists through this app. Many people tag the artist in their images making it easy for you to find them! Plus stories have become a wonderful way to find new artists we weren’t aware of before!
The power of paint is something that we take very seriously here at Clark + Aldine since we have seen time after time how paint can quickly and effectively transform a space. While paint is a great design tool, it can be overwhelming when deciding on the right color and finish for your space. Since we are all about helping make life little easier we wanted to share our favorite green paint colors from Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Claire Paint to inspire your next project. But first take a look at a few projects we’ve used green paint!
Here is our Roosevelt + Monroe Laundry room project with Sherwin Williams Hunt Club 6468.
At Danielle + Michaels home office we used Sherwin Williams Rosemary 6187 to add some color to the space during their office refresh.
Here is another look at Sherwin Williams Rosemary 6187 in a light bright and airy laundry room which we will reveal soon!
If you are looking for more inspiration and tips on all things paint, you can also check out our guides to picking greys, whites, moody paints and finishing sheen.
Paint is hands down my favorite and probably the quickest way to transform a space. I love how quickly and affordably this type of transformation can happen. Today’s post is all about moody paint colors. I’ve broken them down into four color categories: black, dark gray, dark blue and navy blues. I felt this made it easier for you to find colors you were looking for without limiting options.
Dark colors dissolve boundaries, I think this might be one of the many reasons I love them so much. You can use Moody dark colors to fill a space with confidence, energy and all the creativity. Moody paint can be used as an accent through trim or even ceiling color or by setting the entire room for a moody experience. Hello welcomed drama! Any way you go about moody paint truly sets the mood for the room. One I welcome into design.
Black doors are a good to statement for me. I love how classic and timeless they are. In my opinion a black door immediately sophisticates a space. My favorite black black is Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black! The French doors make my heart skip a beat and create the perfect entrance into a home office.
Let’s talk about a statement wall. When done right I can’t get enough of them. With that being said I do feel you need to be careful how you use statement walls. I personally do not feel you need them in every room or through out your entire space. You want the statement walls you create to feel special and unique, creating that true statement you intended it to! Here we used Sherwin Williams Armory on our Studio’s cinderblock wall to create a stunning backdrop for the art living on the wall!
Dark Gray
I love how a dark gray can create a moody look! At its core it is very dark, and almost black, but in different light shows so many variants like it is chameleon. Here we use Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.
This moody bedroom was created using all Sherwin Williams Outerspace. The ceilings, walls and trim are all in Outerspace. The way we created depth was to use different paint sheens throughout! Giving a completely moody and dramatic feel!
Navy Blue
I couldn’t loop navy in with dark blue! Navy has it’s own unique feature. Here we use a classic Sherwin Williams Naval. Which reads as a classic navy in this space because of the beautiful natural sunlight! The Naval is the perfect statement for this mudroom space.
In the Navy by Sherwin Williams for cabinet colors creates such a fun statement. We paired it with an all white backsplash, neutral walls and a warm wood tone. Love the kitchenette we created here at Reset!
We’ve had the amazing opportunity to create beautiful and functional bathrooms for our clients. One of the coolest parts of my job is figuring out how to best show off the work our team has done to take a bathroom from blah, to BEAUTIFUL!
If you’d like to know my approach for shooting our spaces in general, I just wrote a blog about it called “How To Create A Shot List” where you can check out my Pre-Shoot Prep.
Because bathrooms can be smaller in our clients’ homes, it forces me to get creative. I’ll give just a few tips for how I approach shooting smaller bathrooms:
1. LIGHTING IF there are windows, I do everything I can to utilize natural light. Time of day is critical, so be sure to scout your location ahead of time to know how and when the most light will be pouring in. If you don’t have any windows, determine if the lighting for the finished bathroom is powerful enough.
2. WIDE-ANGLE LENS Trying to get all of the beautiful details of a small bathroom in your shot will require a wide angle lens. When I’m on a shoot like this, I ALWAYS have my 16-35mm lens with me!
3. TRIPOD You may already know this, but aim to always have a tripod with you for shooting spaces. You will likely need a tripod if the shutter speed is longer than the reciprocal of the focal length (e.g., 1/50 for a 50mm lens, or 1/500 for a 500mm lens).
4. ORIENTATION When shooting spaces, I make sure I’m getting both landscape and portrait photos. It’s great to have both so that either orientation can be used on multiple social media platforms when the time comes to post them!
These are really my 4 rules when it comes to shooting bathrooms. These can really be applied to any space that I’m shooting.
Since starting Clark + Aldine full time fitness has become an essential part of our lives. It is the first thing we do together in the morning…after meditation and coffee, of course, and sets us both up for a successful day. As much as our bodies may be crushed from the previous day’s, screaming for a break, we continue to push because we know it is what’s best for us. And we have no excuses since we built a home gym. Movement is the ingredient that fuels our body and mind, and that is why we created the Live More Better Lifestyle Journey.
Some would think that a builder and general contractor gets quite a bit of movement in during the work day. They would be right in assuming that. However, just because one is in a role where manual labor is an essential part of the day to day does not mean that the proper movement is being conducted. I know that my body and mind need more and wage a safe bet that yours does too.
I used to hate working out. Wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. I think somewhere in my head that was the driving force to my becoming a goalie in soccer and hockey during my youth. I certainly used it as the basis for arguing my coaches every time I had to do laps or drills. Why would I, someone who stands and only reacts if something is being drilled at him, need to run or skate laps? Guess how many times my argument was valid…zero.
WE DON’T HAVE TO WORKOUT, WE GET TO WORKOUT.
– Jess Sims (Peloton)
Embarking on a fitness journey should not be seen as a chore, but rather a blessing that we get to experience. If we have the ability to move our bodies we are indeed blessed. And we should respect the fact that we get to move and do all we can to ensure we are able to move for as long as possible. So I ask you to repeat this statement every day when it comes time to move your body – WE DON’T HAVE TO WORKOUT, WE GET TO WORKOUT.
MY PERSONAL FITNESS ROUTINE
In case I didn’t hammer it home enough, I workout in some way shape or form every single day. Monday – Sunday, and then right back at it on Monday again. I do not skip days. And every day is different. I will stress the importance of listening to your body and having an open mind to pivot should your planned workout routine just not feel right that day. Some days my legs are completely shot and I intended to do a bootcamp on my Tread. So, instead of throwing down on some high intensity interval trailing (HIIT) I may elect to do upper body, core (abs) and a long stretch. A very purposeful and impactful set of exercises.
In a perfect week this would be my breakdown of workouts per day.
Monday: 10 min warm up run, 30 min tread bootcamp, 10 min core and 10 min full body stretch
Tuesday: 10 min warm up bike, 30 min hip hop bike ride, 10 min core and 10 min full body stretch
Wednesday: 20 min Tabata run, 30 min upper body (chest & back), 10 min core and 10 min full body stretch
Thursday: 20 min HIIT bike ride, 10 min bike cool down, 20 min upper body (arms & shoulders), 10 min core and 10 min full body stretch
Friday: 10 min warm up run, 30 min tread bootcamp, 10 min core and 10 min full body stretch
Saturday: 30 min full body workout, 10 min core, 10 min full body stretch and 30 min outdoor family walk
Sunday: 30 min full body workout, 10 min core, 10 min full body stretch and 30 min outdoor family walk
Now, I understand that we do indeed have the ideal scenario with a home gym equipped with both a Peloton Bike and Peloton Tread, and all the weights and accessories we need daily. But for the longest time we had nothing other than some adjustable weights and yoga mats and still found exercises that made us pour sweat. Body weight exercises are insanely challenging and cost no money at all. So find what works for you, with what you have and just start to move!
THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOVERY
I was the worst when it came to recovery. I thought all I needed was a post workout protein shake and I was good to go. I still have that shake every day, but if you notice above I have incorporated daily stretching into my routine. A 10 minute full body stretch is like the feeling of a really long morning wake up stretch that just keeps going…for 10 minutes. I am also a big believer (and lover) of salt baths and take one at least twice a week when my back is feeling it. So take the time to recover. Your body will thank you.
Need a little extra sumn’ sumn’ in your life? Follow along with us on the Live More Better Lifestyle Journey. You’ll be happy you did…we promise.
We’ve been working on several bathrooms and the number 1 “must have item” that alot of our clients are looking for in their remodel is more storage. If you’re anything like me you can agree that there is no such thing as “too much” storage, especially when it comes to your bathroom. However, sometimes creating storage in a bathroom can become difficult depending on the size and layout of the space.
Outside of the vanity, shelving, or a linen closet another great solution that we utilize at our homes – and with clients – are medicine cabinets. We find that medicine cabinets are the perfect way to really maximize storage. They give you a variety of options to store items instead of losing them in a cluttered drawer or large closet. And they’re a great spot to store those smaller bathroom items such as toothbrushes, medicine, face wash, etc.
While medicine cabinets are a great solution, finding an aesthetically pleasing option can be a challenge. That is why we put together a handy graphic showcasing all of our favorite medicine cabinets!
At Clark + Aldine, our mission is to create purposeful and functional spaces where you can experience life in a space that truly feels like you. Because of our love for beautiful spaces and design, it’s extremely critical to capture and portray them through stunning photos and video.
Today, I’m taking you through a simple shot list routine that I go through each time I’m capturing one of our spaces.
PRE-SHOOT PREP
1. LIGHTING – Which day and time?
Time of day and lighting is extremely important and unique to each space. Most of the spaces I’ve captured have been solely with natural light. However, there ARE times where the windows are either lacking, very small, or covered from the outside and I’m forced to bring along lighting gear.
When I’m walking through a space with our Design Team, I always walk through the space with lighting in mind. I try to walk through a space at least two different times of day to know when the lighting will be best, keeping in mind “Which lighting will best show off this space and highlight the design + details?”
2. DETAILS – What are we going to capture?
In order for me to know what shots we need, it’s vital for me to meet ahead of time with our Design Team. I need to know exactly which spaces and elements to capture and how many photos are needed. Another important thing I need to know is how the photo/video will be used once it is edited and processed.
Ask yourself: “Which platform(s) will this be living on?”
After determining this, it’s much easier for me during our walk-through to visualize how I want to capture the final shot(s). These walk-throughs are much like what a dress rehearsal is to a play or performance.
3. TALENT – Who is needed on shoot day?
Determining who is needed on-site for a shoot ahead of time can prevent any headaches on the day of the shoot. If it’s possible for me to shoot solo, that is usually the most time-efficient approach. But more often there are times where a designer is needed on site to be in some of the shots for “Styling B-Roll” or detail shots where I want to show off how something in the space functions. We want to make sure we have more eyes on the subject to ensure the smallest details are considered.
Building a custom whiteboard can be a fun and rewarding project for any DIY enthusiast.
Whether you’re using it in the office, classroom or home, a custom whiteboard is sure to be an investment that you won’t regret. But before you begin building your board, there are some materials and steps you’ll need to consider.
When the reality of moving into our first official office space hit us we immediately started to plan. In true fashion, we first discussed the things we hated about traditional offices and ruled them out. But one need we knew was an absolute essential element to the space was a custom whiteboard.
At any given time we have 20+ client projects we are working on, not to mention all of the internal projects we’re tackling. It is imperative that the entire team is up to speed on all aspects of the business. And to do so we had to have a custom whiteboard…and we had to make it our own way. Here is our guide on how to build a custom whiteboard!
The first thing you’re going to do is find the desired location where you want your custom whiteboard to live.
Once you find the right space, find the center. Then you are going to need to choose the size of whiteboard you want to make. The wallpaper we use from Tempaper comes in 20” strips. It will be easiest to make your whiteboard the width of full strips (20”, 40”, 60” and so on). Also your height can be whatever you want it to be because the rolls come in 16’ lengths.
Once you have chosen your desired size you will want to use your level to mark a vertical line on the left side of where your desired location is.
From there, mark your horizontal lines on the top and bottom of the desired location to the exact size you are trying to achieve.
You will connect the top and bottom lines by marking a vertical line on the right side using your level to ensure the line is perfectly straight up and down. You will be using this line to ensure your paint goes on level.
Cut your first piece of whiteboard paper at the desired length. This does not have to be perfect in size because you will be covering all edges with trim when finished.
Peel the back of your whiteboard paper to reveal about 18” of the sticky back. You will want to line this up with your vertical line on your left and the horizontal line on the top.
Once you feel you have it lined up level and straight you will work the white board paper down from the middle out to be sure you are getting rid of any air bubbles. Do this in approximately 12” sections until you have reached the bottom horizontal line.
Repeat this process until you have the desired size whiteboard area covered.
Once you have your whiteboard area covered you are now ready to trim around the edges.
Start by cutting your bottom molding piece to your desired length. You can do a straight edge or cut each edge at 45 degrees. Once you have this piece but you can attach it using the brad nailer, making sure to cover the edges of your whiteboard basically making a frame around the whiteboard area.
Next, cut your top piece the same size as your bottom piece. This will help to keep your sides level.
Now you can cut and install your two side pieces using a 4 foot level to ensure everything stays square. Once the sides are on you can cap off the top and you are now ready to caulk all the edges and fill your nail holes with Drydex.
When filling your nail holes be sure to leave the filler material a little higher than the trim surface. This will ensure a smooth paintable surface once sanded.
Caulk the four outer edges of your frame you just made while waiting for your filler material to dry. Using a wet rag and a caulk gun, run a small bead of caulk around your outer edge of trim. Use the wet rag and run it down the edge to remove any excess caulk.
Finally, sand your nail holes so your trim has a smooth surface and you are ready to finish it off with a coat of paint.
We hope this tutorial helps you create a much needed space to plan or brainstorm in your home or office, saving both time and money in the process! Looking for more updates on projects we are doing and inspiration make sure to follow along over on Instagram!
Welcome to 2021, otherwise known as the year everyone on the planet has been waiting for. And it will be a good one. We promise. It will take a bit of time, apparently, and a lot of self-control. But we’re all in this together and together we will be better! A lot more better. And to get things kicked off properly we have an exciting journey to share with you. But first, let’s take a look back at how we started 2020.
On January 1, 2020 we embarked on a 75 day program called #75HARD. 75 days of a diligent mental toughness program created by fellow entrepreneur and founder of 1st Phorm, Andy Frisella. For 75 days straight we worked the program diligently. No days off, no falling short. And we completed the program just as the COVID-19 pandemic was hitting home in America and our state of Michigan. This program prepared us to not only successfully manage a shutdown, but grow our business. This program was the lifestyle shift we needed in order to grow…we just didn’t know it.
Fast forward to February 2021. In completing the #75HARD program and surviving a pandemic that could have upended our life, it allowed us to identify and live by a specific set daily touchpoints that make us a more successful version of ourselves. So, we’re going to share what has worked for us…something we’re calling Live More Better.
WAYS TO LIVE MORE BETTER
We start with six key pillars to complete everyday. From there, we add on additional elements for the next month. And then we add a couple more, and so on and so on. It will look a little something like this:
Six Key Pillars
30 – 60 minutes of body movement
10 minutes of meditation
30 minutes of reading (we encourage both developmental and entertainment reads)
Follow a nutritional plan
Water intake (approximately 124oz for men, 92oz for women)
Vitamin and Supplement regimen
Monthly Additions
No alcohol
10 minutes of journaling
Daily planning
Daily top 5 priority list
Weekly self care/date night
Monthly stay-cation (live as a tourist in your city/local city)
This is not at all about forming and/or mastering habits. It’s about going all in and experiencing a journey that can help you become a better version of yourself. Not every day will be your best day…there will be some duds in the mix. It’s all about how you pivot and get back on track. That is where the real change happens.
SO, WHAT DOES OUR DAILY ROUTINE LOOK LIKE?
It may come as a surprise, but we spend a lot of time together. And in order to be collectively successful, as well as individually successful, we’ve both gone all in on our journey. And it looks a little something like this.
*Every Sunday we plan the week. Meals, workouts, meetings, personal time, together time, individual time with the kids…everything. We purchase groceries, meal prep, make sure all the laundry is done, the house is clean and everything is in order. This is the essential component to setting ourselves up for a successful week.
5am – wake up, brush our teeth and get dressed for the gym
5:15am – Gym. We’re fortunate that we have a solid setup at home equipped with a Peloton Bike, Peloton Tread and all the necessary mats, weights and other equipment. We rotate cardio machines daily and often join together for floor strength training, stretching, pilates, etc. More to come on that in another post.
6:30am – We wrap up our workouts for the day and meditate. Yes, there is an extra 15 minutes in there for breaks, setup and breakdown.
6:45am – Coffee, journaling and planning the day. This is also when we have a chance to connect on the day ahead, any emails that came in late in the evening or changes in the schedule. We have to be quick though because all 3 boys will head down the stairs soon and then it’s time for breakfast and getting ready for the day.
8am – We are out the door!
5:30pm – We are home and begin dinner prep, together. We prep, cook, eat and clean up together as a family.
7pm – Showers and downtime.
7:30pm – Reading with the boys
8:30pm – In bed to read, take our vitamins and meditate.
9pm – Lights out.
Now there are days where our routine shifts a bit…that is just reality. But our consistency is on point.
WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE LIVE MORE BETTER LIFESTYLE JOURNEY?
Good! We were hoping you wanted to.
There is no fee. No gimmicky stuff. No weekly updates or submissions to us. And there is no grand prize for participating. Anything you decide to do is purely for personal growth, gain and success.
If you do want some extra stuff, sign up for our weekly newsletter where we will share things like our weekly meal plan, recipes, books we’re reading and loving, workouts, etc. Journals and notebooks we like, and the pens we each prefer to write with. Fun date night ideas. Graphics to share your daily and monthly progress with on social. Essentially a place for us to give insight into everything we’re loving while on this journey together.
Growing low light plants can be a great way to add some greenery to your home without having to commit to a lot of sunlight. With the right combination of plants, you can create an indoor garden that will thrive, even in those areas with little natural light.
There are many great things about living in the Midwest, however something that can be challenging in the winter months is taking care of your plants. From Mid-November to Mid-March we can expect to experience less sunlight which not only affects our moods it affects the moods of our plants! I have found over the years it’s easier to purchase plants that do best in low light environments to avoid watching my plant babies struggle each winter. So if you experience the same Winters as us, your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light or if you just want to worry less about your plants we are sharing our top 10 low light plants.
The first step in creating a successful garden is choosing the right plants for the environment. While there are many plants that thrive in low light situations, some of the most popular options include Chinese evergreen, pothos, snake plant, cast iron plant, peace lily and philodendron. All of these plants need very little direct sunlight or artificial lighting in order to survive and they are relatively easy to care for.
Also, if you are just starting out being a plant parent or dont have the best track record of keeping your plants alive Danielle shared a post with some kitchen plants even you won’t kill that you should check out.
OUR TOP 10 LOW LIGHT PLANTS
Pro Tip: Low light doesn’t mean your plants don’t enjoy light. All plants thrive off light and just die a slower death if they have none – so be sure there is at least some light in your placement. It can also be helpful to move them in a sunny spot for the day to recharge!
Where Can You Purchase? Great Question!!
If you are local to the Detroit Metro area check out this stores who sell low light plants:
Have more local or online stores to purchase? Please let us know and we will add them to the list of resources.
Taking Good Care Of Your Low Light Plants
To care for your low light garden it is important to water your plants on a regular basis. This means giving them enough water so that the soil is moist but not soaking wet. The amount of water needed varies based on the type of plant you have chosen, so make sure to research proper watering instructions before adding any new additions to your garden. Additionally, since low light conditions can cause dry air it may be necessary to mist your plants every once and awhile so that they don’t become dehydrated.
It is also important to choose pots and containers that provide proper drainage for your low light garden. Containers like clay pots are ideal because they allow excess moisture to escape from the soil which helps prevents overwatering and root rot. Be sure when arranging your containers that you give each plant enough space so that air can circulate freely around them as well as adequate lighting depending on their needs – bear in mind though that too much direct sun can damage some indoor plants so make sure none of your arrangements put any of your beauties at risk!
Finally, while there are many methods available when it comes to caring for low-light loving houseplants it is always best practice to do some research on each one individually before making them part of your gardening family as every plant is unique! That being said, with just a bit of TLC you’ll be able enjoy lush foliage all year round – even if you don’t have access to natural light sources.
