Vol. 5, Issue 2
Summer 2024

Susan (Yeley) here! I do write most of the things you read from us in this newsletter and online, but not all, and honestly our brains over here at the studio feel so linked sometimes, it can feel weird to write in the first person. Most of the time these introductions are a bit personal, however, so just to be clear: it's me! This summer morning it's cool enough for the windows to be thrown open wide to hear all the chirping and buzzing of the season (before my son wakes up to perforate nature with teenage gaming sounds). It's got me thinking about hope and transition. In my house, we are preparing next month to send my oldest off to college and to welcome an exchange student into our home; in our country, President Biden has stepped down to make way for a new candidate and, just maybe, a new era; and at SYH, as always, we are coaching some really wonderful clients through the massive transition that is building, renovating and thoughtfully furnishing a home. It's no small thing to undertake a project with such impact and investment - of heart and funds. With the many graduation gifts and cards I sent this year, I included a piece called “The Parable of the Trapeze,” by Danaan Parry, which I first heard from our incoming minister at the UU church in Bloomington. It's worth looking up if you find yourself in an in-between -- hurtling, as it were, across space, between trapeze bars. Parry reminds us "that the transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places. They should be honored, even savored... They are... the most alive, most growth-filled, passionate, expansive moments in our lives." What a privilege to be in these moments and recognize them as such, and to guide our clients through them, too. I hope this summer, whatever uncertainty you may be facing, you can find in it richness and possibility.

SYH Spotlight: Long Distance Projects Underway in MI and MN

If you're a house-person, or a people-person, you know: your loves will not be contained by political boundaries! You will find people and homes to love across the country and globe. While of course the majority of our projects are in Indiana, over the years SYH has worked on homes and with people across the midwest and coast to coast - in fact, as far as Europe, if you count sketching furniture plans for friends' homes in Catalonia while the kids play Settlers of Catan. (Which we do. We do count that.) Right now, we have full service architectural and furniture projects underway outside of Rochester, Minnesota, and in a lakeside village off Red Arrow Highway in Southwest Michigan. It's been a joy to get to know these charming places while we also get to know our clients and their homes - the regions' histories and architectural vibes, their restaurants and antique shops, beaches and people. Rochester has not only the loveliest old homes on Pill Hill (where originally the Mayo Clinic doctors lived), but honestly, some of the friendliest people we have ever met. And Southwest Michigan, just a stone's throw and an easy train ride from Chicago, has excellent beer and food in a series of the laid-back, bikeable, shoppable little towns along the lake. SYH is registered to work in both MN and MI now, and we are busy forming relationships with vendors and contractors in both places, so we can provide the same conscientious project execution services we provide our clients who are just down the street. The world is small and only seems to be getting smaller. We're eager to see where our clients take us next.

What We Are Digging - Boundary Pushing Color and Pattern

Here's a thing about creatives: we get bored when things are too easy. So, when we have a client who is open to layers of pattern and texture and color, and gives us a longer leash to experiment, we are as giddy as our studio dog Rosie when she spots the tennis ball. Right now we have two such projects underway, and it's been so fun - a little 1930s lake cottage in Southwestern Michigan, and a mixed-use residential/light commercial building here in Bloomington that was built in 1936, but moved across town to its current location in 1995. The cottage owners are inspired by fashion designers Mara Hoffman and Ulla Johnson; the owners of the Bloomington building, by contemporary photography. Pinch us, somebody! Work can't really be this fun, can it? Sharing our Conceptual Design renderings below; construction is underway on both of these projects, so stay tuned as these computer generated spaces become reality.

Local Vendor Spotlight - Richcraft Custom Woodwork

Last summer Jay Richardson and his team at Richcraft welcomed the SYH staff into their shop for a tour and lesson. Richcraft Custom Woodwork is a family business that’s been making wood products since 1956, right here in Monroe County. You’ve probably seen some of their beautiful cabinetry work in photos we have shared, and maybe in some local businesses; they crafted beautiful custom storage units for the SYH studio this past winter! Head over to their website or brick and morter storefront to see the many products they specialize in, from custom furniture to closet systems to countertops, and lots in between. We are fortunate to have such talented experts so close, and to have had the opportunity to see how the sausage is made, so to speak. Not only was our visit informative, but we also had fun and left with handmade bookmarks! And if you can't tell from the smiles, a good time was had by all.

Project on the Horizon?

If you have a home project on the horizon, whether you want to build, renovate, or furnish and decorate, SYH should be your first call! That's not only because we sometimes have a waitlist, but also because we help you articulate your needs and wants, set aesthetic and budgetary expectations, visualize, and prioritize. We work with you to craft a plan, so that when it's time to connect you to a builder or start hunting for vintage and artisan pieces, everyone has what they need to be efficient and effective. Reach out to us to tell us about your project, and a real live human (named Caitlin) will schedule an initial consultation. That's when Susan Y. meets with you to get to know you and see your space or property, to hear all your hopes and hang-ups, and offer on-the-spot feedback and advice to help you determine your next steps. If the next step for you is comprehensive design services, we pencil you in and launch your project as soon as your name rises to the top.

At SYH, we believe in the power of good design to change the way you feel and function in your home. Life is too short not to love your home. If you long to live in a home that has the same qualities as your favorite humans - depth, texture, intrigue, light and lightness, color, whimsy and warmth - we'll be a good fit. We're looking so forward to meeting you.