52 weeks of design kitty & company (week 44)

By Kitty Golding
Kitty & Company will be conducting a series of short interviews with Chelsea Residents for 52 weeks, bringing to light differing personalities and design styles in our community.  Perhaps you will meet someone new through these weekly interviews or perhaps it will be YOU! Stay tuned and follow us each week – we now introduce you to  Mrs. Dana Nold.
 
 

What is your current profession? I am the new Office Manager for Kitty and Company. This is a new field for me and I am really enjoying it.
Your family members: My husband, Dennis and I have six children. My two oldest are out of state. Nicole lives in Minnesota while Brian is in Texas, they are my bonus kids. My oldest Andrew, lives in Muskegon and coaches wrestling. Trevor works in the collision industry. Kara is in honors college at EMU in the psychology program. Shane just started his first year at Adrian college. I have three grandsons, Breckon and Corbin.
People think of me as:friendly and outgoing but really I am on the shy side till you get to know me.
When did you move to Chelsea and where did you live prior to coming to Chelsea? We moved to Chelsea in 2000. We moved from Falls City, Nebraska.  Originally I am from Germantown, Ohio where I spent my younger years. My life journeys have taken me to Florida, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and now Chelsea, Michigan. Of all of the states, Michigan is my favorite.
What do you love about where you currently live?  Chelsea reminds me of the town in which I grew up, it’s about the same size. The people are friendly and welcoming. It gives you the small town feel with larger cities close by. There are a lot of sports to enjoy at the professional, college and high school level, and so many restaurant choices, especially after coming from very small towns in the mid-west where you were lucky to have two or three in town.
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would it be? Anywhere near the water. I love lake life but the ocean is wonderful also. We lived on North Lake when we moved to Chelsea, and I lived in Passe-a-Grille, Florida, so I have been able to enjoy both.
What three words describe your style? Classic, Fun, Youthful
Who most influenced your design styles? My mother loved decorating our home. She would change things around a lot to keep our home interesting – from furniture to wallpaper.
What are you most inspired by in your design/decor? I truly love design as a whole. However, I am most inspired by color. It invokes emotion. To me blue is calming. Yellow is energizing. So, I start with color.
As you think about the home in which you grew up, what elements did you like and do you think you have incorporated some of them in your own home? I always wanted my home to be a place to gather and be welcoming and homey feeling. I have always been happiest when we are gathered together with our family and friends. The neighbor kids were at our home and the door was always open. And when the kids had friends over everyone knew they were in store for a good meal or a freshly baked treat.
When entering your home, how do you want it to feel? Welcomed, relaxed and at home.
What is one element or trend in design you do not like? Minimalist design is not my favorite. I love the clean lines and open and airy feeling, but I love accessorizing with my collected items.
What is the biggest design issue you struggle with? Too much stuff, for sure.  I want to use it all, but I am able to let go of things a little more lately. This Covid pandemic has brought attention to the fact that life is not about stuff. It’s about enjoying the space you have, which is hard to do that when it is a cluttered mess.
 
If you were moving and could only select one item from your home to keep, what would it be?  My blanket chest that my Grandfather made me. He owned a sawmill in Kentucky. He acquired the wood from the family farm and milled it to make this very sentimental piece. It holds a special place in my heart.
Which room in your home gets the most use?  My kitchen would be the room I use the most. It's my family’s gathering place. If you know me, you know I love to cook and bake, and really enjoy sharing what I make. 
No room is complete without: Family photos. I love being able to glance over and see my kids. And when I go to people’s homes I love to look at their family photos.
If you are a pet owner, how has that influenced your choices in design, if it has? * I steer clear of light colors like cream or white. They are hard to keep clean because I have free range pets, meaning they are allowed to climb on the furniture.
Has any local venue particularly caught your eye - if so why? I appreciate most all architecture and design, and there are so many old buildings in Chelsea that are amazing. Our downtown is a gem. I am proud of how well kept it is.
What did you do to pass the time during the COVID-19 State shutdown? * Scrapbooking  and purging is how I spent my time off. All my kids are out of the Chelsea school and off on their own and some at college, so this gave me the chance to go through boxes and let things go. Thing like baseball gloves that are too small, wrestling shoes they outgrew and toys.  I have held on to them, but the kids had already moved on.
If you had a $1000 to buy a new piece of art, what would it be? I love photography, I would purchase some beautifully framed nature photos.
A few of your favorite things!
Movie – I always have to stop and watch if I see Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Historical Place You have visited –  Sequoia National Park in California
Scent –Ohio after a rain storm.
Music– Older R&B along with old rock and roll
TV Show- Cooking shows, they inspire me to be creative in the kitchen
Meal – Steak and seafood dinner with potato and salad
Travel Destination (on your bucket list)– Greece, landscape and buildings look beautiful. And the food!  Yum!!
Season –Love the colors of fall but love the warmth of summer. It gives me energy
Color- Always Blue
Museum – Smithsonian
Hobbies-Photography, scrapbooking, card making
Item on a bookshelf – Family Photos
Favorite Tree or Plant- I Use to grow amazing roses. It would break my heart when we would move and I would have to leave them behind!
PETS?-  Two  Chihuahuas Nani and Bud
 
Kitty’s Note: Dana and I met through our sons playing sports, and now she is working at Kitty & Company, wearing many hats, and welcoming clients and guests to our studio.Dana is always up for an adventure and has found each day at our design studios to be different - keeping her hopping!  She is a faithful friend, mom, wife and associate!  I can also vouch for her delicious treats, as I've probably put on a few pounds from being the beneficiary of them.  If you stop by our offices, you will get a welcoming smile!
 
 
 

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