Book Tour: The Happy Home Project

After all her work was complete and everything documented on the blog, she decided put her research and experience into a book, The Happy Home Project: A Practical Guide to Adding Style and Substance to Your Home. It's a great way to get yourself jump-started on your to-do list and tackle each room in your home, one by one.

The first step is leaving it out on your coffee table so that you can pick it up for inspiration to get moving on your list.

Knowing that Nayar had also edited a book on weekend projects, I asked her to recommend a project we could accomplish with ease to get us started. "Create a mini kitchen garden by planting oregano, chives, mint, parsley and thyme in little pots or all together in one big one," she says. "You can’t get fresher herbs than ones you cut from pots on your own windowsill or porch — and you’ll save money at the grocery store, too. In addition to adding fresh flavor to your meals, these — and all — plants are natural air purifiers, as they consume CO2 and release life-giving oxygen as a by-product."

Renovating her own kitchen within its existing footprint in an eco-friendly way was the project that gave Nayar the biggest feeling of accomplishment while she was on her quest for a happier home.

One way you can improve your own kitchen without cabinet demolition is to follow the philosophy of Vastu. In a nutshell, it's an ancient Indian science that promotes physical and spiritual health via design. The sunlight-grabbing, east-facing windows here maximize prana (an energy analogous to chi in feng shui). There is a lot more to Vastu than this, but for that you'll have to read the book.

This entryway is a good example of Nayar's color rule of thumb:
"To create serene spaces ... limit the number of colors in a room to three or four, with two of the colors in a palette serving as accents," Nayar advises.

This organized entryway is also an example of global-influenced style because of the rich accent color, African baskets, oriental rug and hand-woven cushions. Objects that remind you of your travels can transport you to a different place; objects that you know support micro-economic ventures in impoverished countries (like these baskets) always make you feel good.

The goal of this bathroom renovation was to create "an airy, fresh space filled with plenty of easy-to-access storage and personal touches." Elements of the renovation included creating a counter that provides more surface than a stand-alone pedestal sink, adding sink legs reclaimed to add character, installing mirrors that flank the vintage mirror which hide recessed cabinets, switching out old fixtures for a smaller toilet and tub save space, and taking advantage of natural light with reflective white tiles and with mirrors.

Creating a clean and uncluttered bedroom is the best way to guarantee a restful sleep. Pedestal tables, a platform bed on delicate legs, and wall sconces in lieu of bedside table lamps provide plenty of room for chi, prana, and all other kinds of good energy to move around. This serene bedroom from the book was part of a master suite addition.

In her own home, installing a window shade with a blackout liner was the detail that had the largest effect on her home's happiness quotient. "It helps my husband get a better night's sleep, which in turn helps me get a better night’s sleep," she says.

In this living room photo from her book, the light, open and airy character of the room was maximized. Clunky built-in shelves flanking the fireplace were ripped out, light walls and a light ceiling take advantage of the natural light, and comfortable upholstered furniture makes it a space everyone enjoys.

Finally, having space to enjoy fresh air and views will up your happiness quotient tenfold. While you may not have a gorgeous lake house with a screened-in porch like this one, you can certainly charm up your own porch, balcony or patio with comfortable furniture, plants, and lighting that helps you use it for more hours of the day. Here, a bright green wall, wicker and twig furnishings, a pot of flowers and a breeze result in one very joy-inducing spot.

I am keeping Jean's book on top of my pile all summer so that it will continue to inspire me to tackle more home projects. To keep track of what Jean is up to, you can follow her blog, recent articles and books, crafts, interiors she has staged and more on her website. You can get find her book here.

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