DEAR HARRIETTE: Even though it’s only the middle of September, I am the type of homeowner who loves decorating for any holiday, so I’m preparing for Christmas now.
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Although excited, I’m forced to tone down my display because my neighbors expressed concern about the large blow-ups and lights I put up last year. They feel it’s excessive and affects the neighborhood’s aesthetics. I live in the suburbs where they all like green and beige.
I want to be considerate of my neighbors, but I enjoy creating festive displays so much. What would be the wisest course of action for this?
— Festive Enthusiast
DEAR FESTIVE ENTHUSIAST: What if you go all out in an aesthetic that better matches your neighborhood? For instance, you could create a design featuring a monochromatic look with the same scale of lights and ornaments.
Staying in the green and beige trend of your community, select an array of lights and other elements that bring your dynamic vision to life without drawing too much attention by reducing the display of color. This will show your neighbors that you are listening to them and wanting to be in alignment with the community’s values as you also intend to continue to be more dramatic than they may be.
You don’t want to ignite a war with them, even though you do have every right to decorate your property as you choose.
Think about the big picture as you make your decisions. Remember that you chose to move into a more sedate suburban neighborhood. It is important for you to learn the unwritten rules of your environment and determine how you can become part of it rather than being oblivious to where you are.
You don’t want a holiday display to ruin your relationship with your neighbors for years to come.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister and I co-manage our family business, a local bakery.
We’re clashing over its direction: I prefer to maintain our traditional baking techniques and recipes, which have served us well for years. She wants to import and sell modern, trendy breads from other shops to diversify our offerings.
In short, she wants to hop on trends like fast fashion clothing.
I’m concerned this could dilute our brand, which is known for its traditional, home-cooked breads that our loyal customers love. Our parents already passed away, so the decision comes from the two of us.
How can we find a compromise that respects our brand identity while exploring new opportunities?
— Maintaining Brand
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DEAR MAINTAINING BRAND: Talk to your sister about your bakery’s brand identity. What do each of you believe the bakery stands for, and where do you want it to go in the future? Write down key words and thoughts to help you draw out your understanding of its value.
I’m not sure what the fast fashion correlation is to the baking industry, but if your sister can find high-quality baked goods to complement your bakery, that may not be bad. Perhaps she can curate a section of the store with exotic finds while the rest of the bakery is dedicated to the classics your loyal customers know and love. Compromise can be a good thing!
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.