Body, Mind, Spirit
"What is...Where is Your...?"

Robin Lennon has dubbed herself "an architect of the psyche." In her role as interior designer and teacher, she transcends the traditional "rules" of decorating. She guides clients toward giving birth to personal environments that please the eye and nourish the soul--personal spaces that are harmonious with their lifestyles and unique inner selves.

In her recently published book, Home Design From The Inside Out: Feng Shui, Color Therapy and Self Awareness, Robin reminds us that a home should serve not only as a physical structure for our bodies but also as a sacred space that celebrates all our senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and intuition. She advises readers to clearly define their deepest needs and desires before they begin drastically altering their external environments. Perhaps most important of all, she encourages us to make certain our living environments reflect our feelings, our needs, our beliefs, and our preferences, not merely the "experts" notions of what is currently in fashion.

In essence, this inspiring Manhattan-based designer believes that decorating is more than choosing furniture or duplicating a glossy layout from a home magazine. It can and should be a process that stimulates and celebrates our natural sense of wonder and artistry. Home design, in its purest form is life design. It is a reflection of inner self, a pathway to spiritual awakening and growth. This is a path that Roben herself has traveled, in a journey spanning three thousand miles and more than two decades.

Early in the 1970's, Robin left her parents' opulent home in Beverly Hills, California, turning her back on what she perceived as shallow materialism and the ever-present social pressure to be and act a certain way. She felt stifled and out of sync with her environment but didn't know exactly why. She had studied metaphysics since her teens and was fascinated by the vastness of that realm but had not yet made the connection between metaphysics and her art. At the time, she knew only that she had to flee, to find that elusive something that was missing from her life.

She moved to New York City and started classes at the New York School of Visual Arts. Still rebelling from her previous lifestyle, she immersed herself in avant-garde art forms. The more shocking and inaccessible her work became, the more she liked it. She was making a statement. Or so she believed. In time, she met a mentor who suggested that she wasn't contributing much at all or making a creative statement: she was using her inborn talent to express negativity and encourage abuse.Aware of her need for guidance, Robin became involved with the Pathworks Spiritual Community in New York and embarked upon a pilgrimage of self-discovery. She learned to trust and listen to her higher self, to reexamine her inner sense of beauty, to become acutely aware of her surroundings. She learned about color healing, bioenergetics, astrology, and the relationship between spirit and matter. The connections between home and art, between home and self, slowly began to take form in her mind and heart. She realized the powerful effect of a person's environment on his or her health, relationships and overall well being.Propelled by her discoveries, Robin decided to use her art to contribute to society, to be part of the world rather than apart from it. In 1979, she opened Roben Lennon Inner Designs™, developing a system that integrated the more material, traditional aspects of home design with the mystical teachings she had embraced during her own spiritual journey. Today her business, along with her personal life, is flourishing. With childlike excitement, Robin says that she finally feels totally in sync with her environment.

When I met Roben at her lakeside home in New Jersey, I was immediately struck by her unique sense of style, which featured an eclectic, cozy, whimsical mix of colors and textures. Her home is a place where family heirlooms sit beside Elvis statues, where satin- and burlap covered pillows share the sofa, where hand carved animals from the Yucatan rest upon iridescent table coverings. In the background, her cat, Angel Puff, purred contentedly to the twangs of country music.

Robin has been hailed as the fairy godmother of design because she stresses possibilities--not limitations. She encourages people to experiment, to relish their mistakes as leaps of faith, to overcome barriers, and to fashion their dreams into tangible realities.

In this interview, she shares some of her ideas and feelings about inner life design with the confidence you, too, can unearth your own personal style and find that sacred space she calls "a home for your heart."

Body, Mind, Spirit
THE INTERVIEW

What makes your approach to home design different from that of other designers?
I feel I transcend the traditional approach to home design because I move beyond what is currently "in vogue" and celebrate the uniqueness of the individual. I act as a bridge between vision and reality, between people and the beauty that lives within them. I spend a great deal of time getting to know people before I even begin making design suggestions. I urge them to dig deep, until they find their personal essence, and then we work together to find ways to express the essence in their home. Interior design, life design, is a natural extension of metaphysics and a magical search for a more alive, humanistic consciousness. Therefore, I freely integrate color healing, meditation, aromatherapy, astrology and other spiritual methods in my work. The ultimate goal is to bring to fruition a sacred place where our inner and outer worlds meet. We need to seek out, and find, a true sense of "home-ness."

What do you mean when you say a sense of "home-ness"?
Home-ness is an all-encompassing feeling. A true home for the heart embraces you the moment you walk inside. You can almost hear the walls saying, "Welcome! Sit down. Relax. Be yourself here." You feel safe , relaxed, grounded. The aroma of spruce, of apple pie baking in the oven, the combination of the right lighting and textures, all make you feel alive and centered. A home should be a graceful reflection of a person's deepest desires, but too often that sense of home-ness is missing. Many homes reflect only the surface truths of who people think they are, or they become reflections of what "purveyors of taste " decide is in fashion. This is limiting, and harmful to the psyche. If you go exclusively with other people's views of how your home should look, then you will eventually feel out of sync. Home is no longer a place you want to be in, but a place you want to escape from. To find that sense of home-ness, it is important to make a commitment to Self, and to your own personal vision.

In your book, you stress the need to change our basic thinking about who is the true design expert in our life.
Yes. You need to realize that you are the best expert when it comes to your living environment. If you focus on your intuitive sense of what you want and need and love, then you will create an environment that, in turn, becomes classical and ageless and reflects your true essence. It is helpful to rely on experts to provide resources or suggest possibilities, but it is not wise to rely on expert opinions as law. People should feel free to go against the rules!

Are there actual rules about home design that influence, even stifle, our creativity?
Absolutely. We have high profile-designers and decorating magazines making rules about how the ideal home should and shouldn't look. Then we watch television and see the host create a perfect, formal table setting. It looks easy, yet when we try it, it doesn't look nearly as perfect. Eventually, self-doubt kicks in: I can't do that." Or we think, "I can't possibly do this my way; it would mean we have bad taste." These rule makers are trying to help us, to inspire creativity, and sometimes they do. But in many cases, they simply intimidate people. I tell people not to be intimidated, to give themselves permission to experiment and to make mistakes. If you don't get it perfect the first time, it is okay. It's more than okay, it's usually beneficial.

Home design is a journey, not a step by-step exacting process that leads to flawless results. There is also an "interior design secret rule book" in our society. For example, it's an unspoken rule that having anything but a white ceiling is blasphemy. We have this constant influence of "color police" around us that further stifles our personal sense of style.

Can you talk more about the color police?
Color police, both modern and ancient, have programmed us to think a certain way about color. We are taught that red is for hussies, gray for businessmen, pink for girls, blue for boys. Too much, too bright, too bold is a sign of being gaudy, rather than invigorating. We fear someone will enter our home and say, "The decorating rule book states you can use bold colors on your throw pillows but not on your ceilings." I call this the "throw pillow mentality" and find it extremely restricting. Color police have taught us we should remain "understated." I have always wondered: "Understated from what?" I think overstated, especially if one is making a statement about inner self, can only be a positive thing in home design.

How can people free themselves from the influences and choose the colors right and best for them?
If you are naturally, intuitively drawn to a color, or a combination of colors, then it follows that these are the very colors that you should comfortably have around you. Color is a door, an entryway from our material world into the spiritual world of light. Color should be embraced--what we wear on our bodies, what we ingest, and certainly how we design our living spaces.

You say that home design can be freeing, even magical, and that we should recapture our sense of childlike whimsy. Can you elaborate?
As children, we were allowed to play, create, and make mistakes. We enjoyed spontaneous expression. We were born with a strong personal essence, yet as we matured, mist of this essence got lost. We were able to play it safe, to conform. As a result, when we become adults, we must actively work to recapture that sense of whimsy. Through meditation, affirmation and journal writing, you can call back the spontaneous expression you once enjoyed. Recall positive childhood memories of aromas like home-baked bread or the smells of old books, crayons, flowers. Then incorporate these accents into your adult home. You need to go back to the time before the color and culture police urged you to be neutral--in your personality and in your choice of couches. If you succeed, then the process of creating a home for your heart can be truly magical. I call this freedom of creation"juicy spirituality."

We've discussed external influences and barriers, but what kinds of internal barriers prevent people from creating a nurturing personal space?
Many types of internal barriers stop the creative process: fear of settling down, of not reaching perfection, of making irreversible mistakes. I see a lot of reluctance to change, to let go of the past. Sometimes redecorating means letting go of the remnants of relationships that didn't work out, or of an "old you" from a decade ago. This is hard for some people, so they put off the design process. They continue to live with parts of themselves they have actually out grown, in an environment that represents the past, and this is not harmonious with the present psyche.

You have written extensively about acting on faith, about calling upon the courage of your convictions, to help overcome barriers. What specific steps can people take to fight negativity and set the process of creativity in motion?
The best defense against all types of barriers is to maintain a positive attitude and nurture a belief in your vision. If you act as if something is already in your life, or, at the very least, believe that it is totally within the realm of possibility, then in time, it will be there. I have seen amazing things happen to people who use the "act as if" concept. By believing in their vision, by continuing to move ahead, opportunities and resources appear, seemingly from out of nowhere. Positive energy acts like a magical magnet, bringing you what you want. If you cannot do everything you want all at once, you can manifest temporary solutions.

Start by taking small steps. Begin saving money in your dream box, make "I Love" lists of the scents, colors, sounds textures, foods and types of environments you really love. Perhaps new dishes, bedroom accessories, or simply choose new towels for the bathroom. If you have a craving to place green and purple together in the same room, then do so. Some designers make us fear certain color combinations. We begin to believe that if we put green and purple together in the same room, the room will explode! Trust me, it won't. I cannot emphasize enough that you need to fight negative tendencies, even ignore them entirely, and to keep moving steadily toward your vision. Also, you don't need to be wealthy to have a living space that richly meets your needs. Making small changes, or simply moving your furniture to circulate spatial energies, can make an enormous difference in the feeling of the home.

Speaking of energy, much is being written about feng shui, which I believe you use regularly in your work.
Feng shui is one of many mystical disciplines I integrate in my work. Feng, shui, the ancient Chinese art of object placement, has been around for 6,000 years in the East but is only now gaining popularity in America. Feng Shui is a life force, and in participation with it, we can move into a co-creative process with our own life. A study of feng shui can teach you how to manipulate the energies in your home for the best results. However, I urge people to study this art seriously, rather than rely on sound bites about how to position your sofa or how to design your driveway.

Let's talk about shared intimate space such as the bedroom. In designing a home for the heart, how can we please and nurture two hearts.
When someone moves in with you, into an intimate space that has been yours alone, you will, of course, need to make adjustments. You will want to use your surroundings to accommodate each individual sharing that space and also to nurture and strengthen the developing relationship. Communicate your needs and desires, especially about the type of ambience you both want in the bedroom. Your ultimate goal is to capture, then create, a shared essence. It is also important, however, to set aside a personal space for each person in the home, whether it's a closet, a dresser, or meditation area. Many people fear losing their privacy when someone moves in, so finding common denominators, along with planning for private spaces, allows that adjustment period to go more smoothly.

On a purely aesthetic level, different colors and different textures evoke different feelings. Sleeping on yellow sheets reinforces understanding and longevity of the relationship. The colors blue and lavender promote serenity. But really, the best way to design a shared space is to study your daily lifestyle and habits. If you both enjoy cozy chats in bed, then make sure pillows and comforters are made of textures and styles that promote snuggling. If you like to read in bed, but your mate doesn't, then plan the lighting in such a way that it doesn't interfere with the other person's dream state. The dream state is something people often ignore when designing a shared bedroom. You may not lie alone in your bedroom, but you do sleep alone, and you dream alone.Therefore, your shared bedroom should encourage the peaceful repose of both partners. Sleeping atop clutter, for example, unconsciously affects us, even disturbs us. The area immediately surrounding you should promote safety, openness, and harmony. Really think about what you and your mate need to sleep serenely. Clutter also affects the waking state of mind. If your mate has to climb over piles of your belongings to get out of bed and start the day, this is anything but harmonious. Many feng shui practitioners believe that a bedroom should be located off a sitting room, in the upper level of the home.Actual placement of the bed should be in the north-south position, with the headboard facing magnetic north, to eliminate glare in the morning and achieve the most energetic balance. To circulate good chi energy, you can also place wind chimes outside the bedroom window or install a ceiling fan. These basic steps can help nurture the dream state and help create a sensual, nurturing hideaway.

You are a great believer in stimulating all the senses in one's home. Can you share some ideas about how we can do this?
Generally, interior design is viewed as a one-dimensional visual experience, when in reality it is a total sensory experience. Concentrate on all the senses, the way your home smells, feels and sounds. The world at your feet is a good place to start. What textures do you want to feel when you step out of bed on a cold morning, or when you enter your home on a hot day? Smell is another powerful sense. Fresh flowers, the aroma of sweet natural herbs, and fragrant healing oils can enhance the feeling of home-ness. Sounds, music and vibrations can be used in every room to add ambience. Also, feel free to mix textures, both rough and smooth-- not every pillow must be satin. When entertaining, actively treat your guests to a variety of sensual delights. At the promotion party for my book, I set up a sensuality room, wherein my guests were able to touch, smell, and taste a variety of materials, fragrances, and food. It was wonderful.

Do you have any final thoughts about the inside-out process?
The home design process is a spiritual makeover as much as a material experience. By working from the inside out, you will discover your own personal sense of style and view your home through new eyes. Then, by working from the outside in, you can take tangible steps to make your home what you envision. Also, remember that home design is a cyclical process. As your interests broaden, as your lifestyle changes, as you discover new dimensions in your spirituality, you will naturally experience urges to change your surroundings. Sometimes this is a clue that your home needs a complete makeover; other times it means it would benefit from a spring cleaning to rejuvenate spatial energies. Home is a setting that provides peace of mind, freedom, room to grow and change.

The inner design process is really about our ever changing life design. What is most important is to choose respectfully and mindfully---with awareness and conscious consideration given to the potential physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts of your choices. Uncover and visually interpret your deepest needs through your environment--be it fresh, simple, and clean; exciting and alive; full of homey and wonderful scents; striking or intimate; precious and personally sacred. Allow the part of yourself that speaks softly to be heard. Designing your home is an invitation to participate in your life more fully! And during those times when negativity rears its head, call on daily affirmation to help you continue the creative process. WELCOME HOME!

November/December 1997

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