Beth’s Vision for 2021

I love January for so many reasons — from skiing with my family, to long and snowy winter walks. As the first month of the year, it feels like it’s a time that we can start over, and take some time to reflect and make goals, professionally and personally, for the upcoming year. I’m not one to make traditional New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I like to spend time reflecting, coming up with a vision of how I want things to look this year, and creating a plan on how I’m going to get there.

This year, I had the pleasure of taking almost two weeks off with my kids and husband over the holidays. While I didn’t have a ton of time on my own, the time I did have was dedicated to the creation and plan for my vision of 2021. I have to admit, I’m a little cheesy, but let’s be honest — 2020 was an emotionally draining year, and in order to not repeat such a doozy of a year, this personal and professional vision is extremely important. To start, I created a personal vision for myself and family. This vision is my battle armour for what we likely will face in the upcoming months. Without going into too much detail, the first step in my vision for 2021 is becoming more mindful, with a greater focus on my kids, husband, family and dear friends. I also envision creating better sleeping habits that will ultimately help me in all areas of my life. While my personal vision is pretty straight forward, in order to delve in my professional one, I need to preface it with some key information.

 I’m a dreamer, a big dreamer. I also have a strong moral compass that was taught to me at a very early age, but was further developed from years of studying cultural anthropology. It was during my undergraduate and graduate work, I truly developed analytical skills through studying such topics as the effects of globalization on populations and the environment around the world. Through travel and research I witnessed first hand the drastic financial inequalities experienced by so many around the world. These experiences have left a lasting effect on me. This exposure to knowledge and the world, has contributed to the code of ethics that I live by today. Now almost 20 years later, I realize what a profound impact these years have had on my career as a designer. 

All I want to do is help people and do good in the world. It frustrates and saddens me when I see people live in absolute excess, completely oblivious to how one’s choices affect others, particularly those with so little. Professionally, it troubles me so much when people throw everything away or make poor decisions with product selection that I know will eventually have to be pulled out and replaced because of a lack of product longevity. We live in such a throw away society. I know that my profession has been criticized as contributing to environmental degradation and overall wastefulness. It troubles me so much. I hate nothing more than tearing out an existing hardwood floor that’s still in good shape, but doesn’t fit with the current trends, but can be refinished, but at a higher cost.  I hate purchasing hardwood floors from overseas when I know that we can get an even better product on our doorstep. The list goes on and on. 

Over the holidays, I had the opportunity to take time to really think about the impact that I’m making in the world and how I want to continue to help people and stay true to my moral compass. Over 20 years ago when I left academia, I had thought that you could only live one way with the absence of material possessions to help prevent the effects of globalization and environmental degradation. I applaud all of those who choose this lifestyle, but unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards for me. Even though this was not my path, I realize now more than ever that it’s my moral responsibility as a designer to not only create beautiful homes and help people make wise choices in their design, but I also want to be a leader in educating my clients in the importance of choosing sustainable and ethical materials and finishes when designing and renovating. This has become my vision for my company in 2021 and beyond. 

What does this look like? In 2021 and going forward, I want to educate my clients and audience about the importance of buying local and supporting Canadian and local artisans as well as, manufacturers in order to reduce the amount of waste that makes it into our landfills. On the renovation side, while it may be cheaper to tear down an old house and build a new one, we have to consider how much waste goes into landfill and think of the cultural history that could be lost. Does it make more sense to renovate, creating a more energy efficient house using renewable energy and better/sustainable building materials and finishes? Don’t get me wrong, I still have lots to learn, but I’m excited about the future and continuing to broaden my knowledge of ways to reduce my environmental impact, help local businesses and help my clients make wise design choices that ultimately help others. Projects might cost a little more in the end, but I know that I will find it comforting knowing that we are helping the broader community, our children’s futures, the environment and at the same time making properties look amazing and functional. This type of design is in-tune with my moral compass and I’m all in. I can’t wait for what 2021 holds.