Apr 4, 2024

81. Jazz Up Your Personal Space

Interior designer Elizabeth Becken tells you how to decorate your home after downsizing, an empty nest, relationship changes and other major midlife events. Get ready to align your personal space with whatever bold vision you have for your second act!

Interior design for people over 40? You better believe it. On this episode, Maryann chats with designer Elizabeth Becken, who specializes in helping midlife clients align their intimate surroundings with their vision for a spectacular second act. Elizabeth believes that midlife is a time of tremendous change, growth and opportunity, so your home should reflect the sexy-cool person you’re becoming. Whether you’re downsizing after an empty nest or relationship change, moving into a new place, or simply looking to refresh your home to reflect where you are now in life, there is so much fun to be had in the decorating! Join me and Elizabeth as we talk about:

  • Why she loves designing for people traversing midlife
  • The number-one reason her clients want to re-energize their personal space
  • Interior design considerations that are exclusive to people in midlife
  • The latest home trends that are taking the interior-design world by storm (separate bedrooms, anyone?)
  • Some of the creative ways empty nesters are transforming basements, older kids’ rooms and other family spaces
  • The home-design features you will probably need less of as you get older—and the ones you may want to embrace
  • Design elements to consider if you plan to live in your home forever
  • How to dabble in color (even if you love neutrals) while still maintaining a soothing space
  • What design trends may be going out of style—and you may want to be aware of, if you’re thinking about selling your home
  • Whether or not open floor plans and other long-running trends are here to stay

Plus, Elizabeth offers tips on how you can refresh your personal space on a budget, create flattering light in every room of the house (and who doesn’t want that, right?), and how to make your bedroom your personal sanctuary.

Whip out your tape measure and a notepad, and get inspired to transform your personal space to reflect a bold new you!


About Our Guest

A Vermont-based interior designer and owner of Smoothyblues Online Interiors, Elizabeth Becken believes the desire to be bold is innate. She has invested her career in matching a client’s personal level of bold in a home they’ve always dreamed of.
Driving Elizabeth’s passion for interior design is her desire to help people during midlife-altering times and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone. In 2017, she completed her interior design education at the New York Institute of Art and Design. At NYIAD, Elizabeth received a merit Award of Excellence for her bold and colorful style, her attention to detail and her willingness to push boundaries. Shortly after, she obtained the America’s Residential Interior Design Qualification Certification and became a member of Designer Society of America. In 2006, she earned a B.S. degree in Behavioral Science from Granite State College and graduated Summa Cum Laude.

In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys recording her podcast, Deep Track Designs. She also loves the culture of Vermont where she has been living with her husband since 2003, and exploring nature through hiking and winter sports. Elizabeth may be reached at her website or on Instagram.


About More Beautiful

Founded by journalist Maryann LoRusso, the More Beautiful Project is a podcast, online magazine and community for women navigating midlife. Join Maryann and her guests on the More Beautiful Podcast as they strive for a life that’s more joyful, more fulfilling and more beautiful than ever before. Because this is not your mama’s midlife. Check out more episodes of the More Beautiful Podcast here.

 

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