"Design is what you do when you want to express yourself..." if you had time, if you knew how, if you could; you would. But where to start? We all reach a time or place in our life when we look around and no longer feel comfortable in our space; a time when it begins to feel constricting, dark, cluttered or unharmonious. Most people do what they have always done before. You clean it up, move a few things around and maybe even paint; but it's still not perfect, just better than it was. What makes the difference between a house and a home? Design. A house may have all the same furniture, accessories and lighting, but it's not a home. Why? Because a home reflects the personalities and passions of the people who reside there. It feels warm and inviting when you step in the door; you recognize that you are in someone's private space, a refuge. And you instinctively feel the honor of being invited into their private space. And it is an honor. Why doesn't your home feel like that? How do they do that? They claim their space; they embrace it, love it and fill it with personal touches that are a reflection of who they are, what they feel, where they go and what matters to them. Walk through the door of any house and, if you are observant, you can tell who lives there and what's important to them by the placement of furniture, pictures and overall look and feel of the space. Look around your home. Does it reflect you? Can you 'feel' you inside the space? Is it a reflection of your life and loves? 'The 1 Minute Design Manager' is a quick reference guide that takes a minute or less for each pointer that will fill your mind with creative and positive ideas to 'take your space', claim it and own it proudly.