Relationship Architecture: The Art of Building Better Relationships and a Beautiful Home
In life, understanding how to better relationships is akin to designing a serene and harmonious home. In fact, it’s so closely aligned once you see it — it’s difficult to unsee *wink*
Home is about creating an environment that not only looks a certain way, i.e. beautiful, but also embodies that beauty through its warmth, elegance, simplicity, and love with those who are in it.
Over the last nearly two decades, for so many of our clients, the challenge in having better relationships often lies merely in the hectic pace of modern life.
You’re a high-achieving individual, balancing a successful career, family life, and oh let’s not forget about personal. It’s no wonder you find yourself struggling at times to maintain harmony in your home.
The stress of work, the unique demands of parenting in this day and age and the pursuit of personal interests can create a disconnect. A disconnect from who you are + the story your home tells or worse, a disconnect between you + your people.
And when this disconnect manifests itself down the rabbit hole enough — your home lacks the soulful warmth that comes along with a home full of well-nurtured relationships.
You’re here, and you’re there. You’re doing this + you’re doing that. And your prioritization because “what needs my attention right now” instead of “what do I want to focus my attention on now.” And while you’re taking care of all the things you’re juggling — it leaves you drained and overwhelmed — like it’s difficult to not only have better relationships with those you love but to create a home that fosters + prioritizes them.
Sound even a little like yourself? If so, keep reading my friend because we’re going to uncover the art, yes it’s an art, of building better relationships and a beautiful home.
These are the qualities that make John + Sherri’s relationship stronger each day + we hope you enjoy.
Building Better Homes
The key to transforming change at home is understanding that a home that is Elegant Simplicity isn’t bought, it’s earned through self discovery. Yep, you read that correctly. The elegance and simplicity of a beautiful home isn’t in how stunning your sectional is, how gorgeous your view is, or in how big your TV is, my friend.
Although the world, instagram + nearly every publication would have you thinking differently, the actual fabric of creating a better home is really a reflection of the relationships within it.
Deep, right?!? We know, but it’s true because relationships are either built or broken in the home.
And you won’t find this perspective from any other interior designer or organizing firm out there because it directly conflicts with most compensation models the industry tells designers + organizers to operate with.
But that’s not us.
We don’t charge markup because it’s a perverse incentive to curate a home for you based not upon what you actually need but on what increases the professionals profit margin. Instead, we operate with a pricing model that is transparent + holistic — which not so ironically is exactly how you want the relationships in your home.
The Foundation of Strong Relationships
So, if relationships are either built or broken in the home + a home that is Elegant Simplicity is a process of self discovery then how do you effectively create strong relationships?
Well, much like that of a well-designed home, relationships always come back to a shared value and mutual understanding of things.
A home that exudes elegance and simplicity is often the result of a relationship where partners + family share a common vision.
This shared vision is about more than just agreeing on a style or color palette for your home; it's about aligning on the deeper aspects of life – your beliefs, aspirations, and what you value most.
In relationships, conflicts arise from misaligned expectations or unspoken assumptions.
One person may find themselves at odds, not because of a lack of love from the other person, but rather a lack of alignment in their core values. And this misalignment can often manifest itself visually as a home that feels disjointed — where the design itself — is a patchwork of individual preferences rather than a cohesive expression of shared tastes.
Key Strategies for Better Relationships
We have a saying around Elegant Simplicity, if you want better answers — you’ve got to ask better questions. And we thought you’d never ask :)
Below are not only several strategies for better relationships but they’re all pillars of what has personally made John + Sherri’s personal + professional relationship so strong over the years.
They’re pillars for what it looks like to work together in life, and of course they’ve figured it out for business as well.
Open Communication
Open communication is the architectural blueprint of healthy relationships in your home. It's about creating a home where thoughts and feelings can flow freely between partners, children and other family members, without the barriers of judgment or misunderstanding.
If we draw a parallel to design, because that’s what we do *wink*, a home with open lines of communication is like an open floor plan. Each room seamlessly connects to the next area of the home which not only creates openness but a sense of continuity and cohesiveness.
In relationships, open communication allows for this same sense of connection, fostering an environment where everyone feels heard and understood. ← That’s the kind of home you want to create, friend!
Aligning Core Values
To truly understand how to better relationships in your home, start by exploring and aligning your core values. This process is like laying the foundation for a home that's both beautiful and functional — that’s Elegant Simplicity, my friend.
When partners understand and respect each other's core values, and even create a set of family values, decisions about relationships, parenting and of course your home itself become harmonious reflections of these shared values.
This alignment fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. In our opinion, the people, their story, and what is meaningful to them is what actually makes a house a home.
Embracing Empathy and Authenticity
Continuing with our parallel between a beautiful home + better relationships, empathy and authenticity are like the decorative elements of a space. The world is in need of authenticity + there is no better place than home to create a safe space for understanding and accepting each other in your truest forms.
When we think about how this manifests itself in design, authenticity is about telling your story + we do this through decor that resonates with the personalities of those who live there. Authenticity not only builds trust but living + growing in a home that tells your story deepens the connection to who you are + who you want to become.
Quality Time Together
Quality time together is the maintenance and care that keeps the home – and the relationship – vibrant and alive. Just like maintaining the motivation to declutter, quality time is about creating space for what matters most.
“The world has a never enough problem.”
There is always going to be something else to steal your attention, to draw you away + distract you. Quality time together is about being present and engaged with those you love.
Whether you're taking a lavish trip around the world, which we of course highly recommend, or enjoying a quiet evening together at home (which we also highly recommend *wink). This quality time spent together strengthens the bonds that you have.
Preserving the beauty of your relationships, just like organizing your home, requires care, maintenance and engaged attention. And some will look at the word “maintenance” and think labor or work. Preserving can be both laborious and enjoyable — when it truly matters to you.
Showing Appreciation
As we continue down the spiral of relationship architecture, appreciation is like any finishing touch that might make a space truly shine. Showing appreciation is like the perfectly placed vase or the perfect toss of the throw blanket. It creates a sense of being cared for and cherished.
Showing appreciation + gratitude in your relationships, whether that is with your partner, your children or another family member, is such an incredibly important aspect to building better relationships.
What many of us forget in this modern life we’re living, is it's often the small gestures, the kind words, and the thoughtful actions that show others they are valued by us.
Take a moment. Send the voice memo to a loved one. Write that handwritten note. Make that phone call in the middle of your day.
This is how you create a home + a life that is Elegant Simplicity — the details matter.
Celebrate + Support
One of our core values at Elegant Simplicity is celebration. And that’s because we know the importance of pausing to celebrate the wins. In your relationships, celebration isn’t just when you hit monumental milestones in life — engagement, marriage, buying a home, building a vacation home, job promotion, retirement.
Pausing to celebrate small milestones is paramount because it reminds us to stay connected with each other. It reminds us that the people whom we get to celebrate with are more important than the accolades themselves.
And when it comes to support, there’s always going to be challenges. How you perceive challenges changes everything.
At Elegant Simplicity, John + Sherri have encouraged our culture to see challenge as opportunity. So, we get stronger as we grow through challenges.
And that’s how you have to view supporting others in your home. Encourage, guide, support because oftentimes it’s simply knowing someone is there that really helps us through it all.
Practice Forgiveness
Much like the care of a home, forgiveness in a relationship is like restoring a cherished piece of furniture. Forgiveness is about acknowledging the wear and tear, understanding the history behind it, and choosing to renew and cherish it.
In relationships, your willingness + rather commitment to forgive is essential for lasting connection. We all do + say things that aren’t what we actually mean, which is why Brooklyn, John + Sherri’s son, now reminds them “say what you mean + mean what you say.”
But the reality is forgiveness is essential for building better relationships and creating a beautiful home together.
Home is about more than aesthetics. It's about creating a space of understanding + shared values. It’s about cultivating relationships that are as beautifully designed and cared for as the design of your home. That’s what creating a home + life that is Elegant Simplicity looks like.
That’s our rift for today, thanks for tuning in :)
Don’t forget, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home. And you might also enjoy, the 7 Elements Of Interior Design.