"Hi, I'm Christine, an Interior Alchemist. My mission is to convey to more people the profound impact that a carefully designed interior can have on their overall well-being."
– I write about my drive on my website localia.ch. I am deeply convinced of this "phenomenon" (or rather, "this logic!").
And yet, I was caught off guard when I personally experienced just how massively this truth applies – no matter what stage of life you’re in. But how did I finally realize this?
In November 2023, after three years, another water damage incident occurred in my bedroom – a room that only borders exterior walls. The walls weren’t just a little damp; they were "soaking wet." Just before winter, a whole machine started slowly churning: property owner, the management of my otherwise truly wonderful rental apartment, leak detection and drying specialists, architect, plasterer, roofer, insurance companies – all sprang into action. And there I was, someone who knows how to stand up for herself but had no say in this case. I was just the only one affected...
What I didn’t know in November 2023 was that it would take exactly nine months until my bedroom would be fully renovated.
Nine months during which I had to sleep in the office of Localia Interiors – a space that was actually dedicated to creative work and client meetings.
Nine months during which my office couldn’t be used as such. Instead, it became a makeshift bedroom (with a hard sofa bed, topped with additional (air) mattresses and toppers that allowed my aching back to get at least some sleep (the Princess and the Pea comes to mind). My husband had an even harder time with it and mostly moved to the living room during the late hours of the night), while my dining table morphed into a temporary home office.
The chaos spread: wallpaper, paint, carpet, and material samples were scattered throughout the apartment, my creative studio was blocked. Additional furniture from the bedroom was everywhere as well – no one could have guessed at the beginning that the source of the damage would take so long to be discovered and repaired.
The weeks before my long-awaited late summer break became almost unbearable, as a competent team of craftsmen worked diligently to fix the damage – after nearly eight months of a dryer running to prevent mold formation. The renovation began: plaster was chipped off, holes were drilled for hot air, heating plates were installed to dry the walls and the insulation behind them. It was loud, dirty, and the constant coming and going of the workers disrupted my work rhythm. But hey... it was a construction site! No blame to the craftsmen!
On the last Friday before my first vacation of the year, it suddenly hit me that the work was finally done. Suddenly, my heart felt lighter. I knew the situation was stressful, but how much it had additionally affected my mental health shocked me. Even as I write this article, I can feel the heaviness returning. My home, once a place of joy, security, and creativity, had become a symbol of chaos and stress – and I was sinking into it, without the energy to do anything about it.
Yes, the home has a profound impact on one’s well-being! After taking care of my mental health during my summer break, I will turn my home back into a love letter to myself upon my return. My well-being is worth it!
"Hi, I'm Christine, an Interior Alchemist. My mission is to convey to more people the profound impact that a carefully designed interior can have on their overall well-being." The name says it all!
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