Homes are more than buildings; they are environments that embrace loved ones who make us a family. But when those we’ve cared for under that roof depart—whether from growing up or growing old—we can feel overwhelmed. How do we move on and rejuvenate our lives after years of putting others first?
Author, mental health therapist and attorney Annie Guest faced just such a dilemma. “My parents left their house to me. I decided to reimagine it in ways that would help me remember the whole of my parents’ lives – not just those sad final years – as I rebuilt my own life. The process has helped me work through my grief over my parents’ final struggles and appreciate the fullness of their lives. It has also helped me take stock of my own life and find my way forward. I wanted to uncover the house’s beauty, dust it off, and maybe reinterpret it. I wanted to bring the house alive.”
Guest takes us through her journey of reinterpretation in DESIGN FOR YOUR MIND: How a Family Caregiver and Mental Health Therapist Renovated her Home to Recharge Her Life—and Didn’t Break the Bank (B.D. Walsh Publishing) and shows us the magic of how she transformed her home sustainably and on a budget.
DESIGN FOR YOUR MIND takes us step-by-step through the renovation that jumpstarted her creativity, refreshed her life, and allowed her to mourn her parents. Using 95 “before” and “after” photos accompanied by easy-to-follow explanations of the science of good interior design, Guest helps us discover the true purpose of each room and how it can promote healthy living.
Design for your emotional health. Good home design can fulfill the needs of its inhabitants, everything from safe zones for children explore their own interests, to fostering a sense of independence for adolescents, to giving busy adults spots to unwind from the
pressures of daily life.
Design for your mental health. Working from home removes the separation between you and the outside world. Creating clear areas for work and relaxation can help maintain balance and calm anxiety.
Design for your creativity. Every adult needs a place to play, no matter what your hobbies, but good design also allows you to express your personality, tastes and values through thoughtfully curated choices.
Design for your future. Aging in place—and staying healthy and productive while you do it—can be achieved with good home design.
This is more than a book of inspired, affordable interior design. It’s a guide for anyone facing a new beginning who wants to recreate a home that supports well-being, self-expression, and personal empowerment. It’s a reminder that taking care of ourselves by taking care of our home is a worthy focus, and even in the most difficult of times, our homes can bring us satisfaction, good mental health and joy.
Here's what readers are saying:
“At the heart of Design for Your Mind, is a focus on the fundamental relationship between our environment and our mental and emotional health. It’s not simply about creating beautiful rooms, it’s about crafting spaces that foster comfort, stability and a sense of personal connection. As the full title clearly states, Guest astutely recognizes that knowing a little something about how our brains work can be a game-changer when it comes to creating a space we truly love.”
— Anne Willoughby, Designer, PorchLight Home Interior Designs
“As an integrative neurologist specializing in chronic conditions, I witness the profound physical and emotional toll caregiving imposes on my patients and their families. This book deeply resonates with me because it not only acknowledges the unique challenges caregivers face, but also provides practical strategies for creating environments that foster healing, balance, and mental clarity. I was especially struck by the accessible suggestions that combine beauty and functionality, making them achievable even for those with limited time or resources. It serves as a powerful reminder that small, thoughtful changes in our surroundings can significantly enhance our ability to care for others—and ourselves.”
— Sushma Kola, MD, Director of Integrative Neurosciences, Movement Disorders Specialist, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
“Rather than gut original design elements, Guest figures out how to embrace them and blend them with new elements that reflect her own personal style. The reader can literally feel the grand old house shake off its lingering sadness and become a sanctuary of hope, renewal and positive energies.”
-- Gina Leatherman, Author - What Does a Friend Look Like?
“… Design for Your Mind, is a treasure to keep and to share… [P]erfect for anyone seeking inspiration as well as concrete ideas to re-imagine both their home and their life. As an experienced caregiver and mental health therapist, Guest offers creative yet practical approaches to envisioning new ways of living and being... This book offers a unique awareness of research on both psychological challenges and resources... Guest’s upbeat tone and vivid details make this book a most engaging read and resource.”
— Lisa C. Krueger, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Poet - Floriography Child
“The passage from one life stage to another often involves transformation of both one's inner self and one's environment. Annie mixes her personal story with professional wisdom, technical know-how, and loads of resources that one can use for inspiration toward the goal of living in a home that is safe, beautiful, peaceful, and enriching. Reading this book brought a tear to my eye because it is just what I need at this stage in my life. I'm grateful to have her written 'voice'.”
— Lisa Jones, M.A., Professional Counselor
“With clear and honest prose, humor, photos, and straightforward explanations of the science, Annie Guest shows how she redesigned her home to galvanize her life… This book is a must read, a testimony to life, loss, acceptance and rebirth.”
-- Christine Haythorn, CEO, Parkinson Foundation Western Pennsylvania
"Interwoven with the endless creativity in the design is the psychological theory behind it, an original and uniquely masterful approach..." -- Toni Leo, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
"...a practical guide to tackling a large design project with confidence and purpose...explores complex emotions about home, family, and friends." -- L. M. Snowe, Author - Murder at The Naughty Cabbage