Mindful Design #24
The Flamingo Palace porch. Sketch by Thorsten Deckler
Welcome to the Mindful Design Newsletter #24 in which we ask:
What’s holding you back from building your dream? For me, it's perfectionism. Here’s my confession and how I got over “perfectionizing” when it came to building our home.
Joburg empties over the holiday season, but I’m not travelling anywhere this December. I’m staying right here, relaxing on the porch of our newly renovated home, the Flamingo Palace.
As an overthinker, I’d probably still be planning our “perfect” home if my teenage son hadn’t decided to come live with us last year. So, I had to get on with it. We bought the house next door and set out to renovate it. But before we started demolishing walls, we did a Needs & Options Review. It helped Heather and me agree on what was possible and what it would cost (a lot more than we thought!). Once we had clarity, we decided to do less, but to do it well. The project came in on budget and (almost) on time.
One of our priorities was to create a second bathroom, so we converted a passage and part of a bedroom into our new en-suite. When Heather arrived with second-hand Lieberman tiles, we went all out and thrifted windows, doors, basins, lights, and recycled timber to create a home with a unique character that we love. Image: Heather Manson
Here’s our lounge with vintage furniture and a Bronwen Findlay painting. We added the vertical window to light up a dull corner and get morning light into the space. Mindful Design tip: always try to get light into a room from two different directions. Image: Heather Mason
Now we’re happily at home in the Flamingo Palace. Our home is not 100% perfect, and there is a second phase in planning, but the more time we spend here, the more we love it! 👉 Have a look around. You can also get Heather’s take on the home renovation process here, here, here, and here.
Had it not been for my son’s arrival, I’d still be thinking about our perfect home, instead of enjoying it now.
If you’re thinking of building or renovating, you’re probably concerned about cost, time, how the process works, who to trust, or how to avoid costly mistakes. You’ll find answers to all five of these concerns in Newsletter #20: How to Avoid Mordor.
Or you can book a free Expert Call. We’ll hear you out and answer your questions. No strings attached.
If you’d rather start on your own, the Project Planning Pack (R250) will give you a helpful overview of your project. The ROI on that R250 is incalculable, since it will help you avoid the classic pitfalls that cause 85% of building projects to go pear-shaped.
Building is complicated - avoid it if you can. But done right, the reward can change your life! I am certain one of the things listed above will help you take the next best step to create the space you need to thrive!
Love
Thorsten
P.S.
I’m a big fan of coaching and personal development, and one of the best things I ever did was enrol in Gordon Training, which taught me how to work through tricky problems by following a simple process. We used this process when my son was going through a difficult patch, and it helped him find a solution that worked for him. That’s how he came to stay with us for 6 months, and how we came to create the Flamingo Palace. The training was one of the best things I could do for my family and for Heather and me as a couple.
Illustration of Method 3 Problem Solving taught in PET. Sketch: Thorsten Deckler
You can find out more about Gordon Training, also known as Parent and Educational Training, here. They also offer a personal development course. I did both with Heidi Malan. Heidi doesn’t wave a magic wand, but helps you slow down, find your bearings, and head in the right direction.
