"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset ..." - Lesile Sinclair of Segreto Finishes

One of the best surprises for me about blogging is the friendships you gain while creating a post. Bloggers have the greatest opportunity to meet very gracious and talented people; Leslie Sinclair, owner of Segreto Finishes, is one of those people. Segreto Finishes is a Houston-based company that specializes in custom paint finishes for walls, ceilings, cabinetry, floors, and furniture. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful just to name a few. Leslie also regularly contributes to Antique Shops and Designers magazine. She has also published her own design books: Segreto, Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors, Segreto Style and her third soon-to-be-released book Segreto Vignettes in September. I am thrilled to say she was willing to share with us her answer to the question, "What does living beautifully mean to you?"

These pillars are faux finished by Segreto to look like wood!

"A beautiful day begins

with a beautiful

mindset. When you

wake up, take a second

to think about what a

privilege it is to simply

be alive and healthy.

The moment you start

acting like life is a

blessing, I assure you it

will start to feel like one."

To me, living beautifully is a state of mind. Being thankful for what we have and appreciating all the good that is around us, no matter how small or big, gives us the gift of a life more beautifully lived! Specific things that make my life more beautiful are ...

Being in the moment with my family and enjoying the time we spend together puts a smile on my face. All three of my children are in their twenties now ... they grow up so fast!

A great cup of coffee and a quiet moment in the morning.

The gratitude I have for clients who entrust us with their homes. They joy I feel in creating a comforting place that they will call home.

Discovering a new painting technique.

Viewing the world through the eyes of an artist literally changed the way I saw the world. I continue to marvel at nature's beauty, but also began to appreciate all the tones, colors and shadows that made them appear that way, giving me inspiration that translated into finishes for walls, cabinets, ceilings and floors.

Helping others out and putting them above yourself.

A good meal with friends, sharing stories, enjoying each others company.

Laughter,

Laughter.

Reading a good book which inspires me or moves me.

Kristy Woodson's new book from the blog Design Chic

Taking time to set a beautiful table.

Watching the Hallmark Channel. Call me a romantic, but I love a good Hallmark movie where everyone lives happily ever after!

And of course, being in beautiful rooms.

- Leslie Sinclair

Leslie's design books are resources that you will go to for design inspiration again and again.

To order:

segretofinishes.com/book

Leslie, thank you for your friendship, for your design inspiration, and for sharing with us. xoxo