Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis

     I have loved Jeff Lewis since I first watched his show, Flipping Out.  He is a brilliant designer and brutally honest.  Add to that some biting humor and a touch of crazy and you have a really interesting man.  His staff and clients and remodeling challenges wrapped up one entertaining show.  I've been watching less television lately and have missed many an episode but when I heard he had a second show I had to check it out for myself. 
     Interior Therapy takes Jeff right to a client's home.  He spends days there remodeling and designing but it ends up going much deeper.  There is a disconnect in design when a person is feeling a disconnect from their life and he finds it.  He digs where it is uncomfortable and begs you to trust him.  At the end you have gorgeous design and people who finally feel understood. 
     When I purchased my first home over a decade ago it was nice to create spaces that were mine.  Room by room I chose colors and painted.  Room by room I moved furniture and placed accessories.  With little to no budget I learned creativity.  I also got bold in some spaces with crazy color combinations and bold statements.  I guess two years in a beige apartment will do that to a girl.  My Dad was crucial in the process.  Together we fixed windows, put up wallpaper and repaired things.  We were a great team.  I also managed an American craft and art gallery and had access to some wonderful items to add to my home.  It was mine.  Though I couldn't afford the second bathroom or the major renovations that might have made it better...I did what I could and was appreciative.  I loved the twist in the staircase each time I went up and down.  I adored my bay window each time I watered my plants.  I smiled each time I tucked my gorgeous huge wooden pocket door into the wall.  I kept my french doors polished and placed colorful bottles in my big paned window to the outside world.  I had my babies there.  I had parties and game nights there.  I had holidays there.  Sure, there were issues but what house doesn't have them.  It reflected the people that lived there and we cried as we said goodbye. 
     I have been living in this house for years now.  My parents took a lifetime of stuff and threw it in with mine.  The two worlds clashed.  I compromised.  I settled.  The funds ran low.  The partners grew too old to work.  And here I am years later not feeling connected to my own house at all.  I live here every day but I am merely a guest in a space that has never felt like home.  I have tried to make spaces better but the disconnect is always bigger than the creative burst.  Now I have clutter to clean, molded basement things to haul and more purging necessary than my time permits.  I have memories to move and growing children to adapt for.  When I see the people struggle because Jeff wants to change things I get confused.  I would love that.  Jeff Lewis...take it all...paint it any color...put in anything you want.  I'm open.  Open for anything.  Jeff?  Hello? Jeff...where are you????