What Reviewers Are Saying about
Design For Your Mind
“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
“Part how-to manual, part diary, and mostly a tender homage to generations of family members, loved and lost, and to past owners who left behind mementos of their love for the house.”
— Gina Leatherman, Author - What Does a Friend Look Like?
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
“We follow Guest’s journey as she declutters, repurposes, and redecorates, incorporating mid-century, global, and contemporary elements—including playful blues, greens and pinks, ikat patterns, contemporary reproductions and boucle and jute textures—to complement the existing traditional pieces. Her process demonstrates how to honor existing elements while creating a space that reflects individual needs and preferences. This is a valuable lesson for homeowners seeking to personalize their spaces without resorting to wholesale renovations.”
— Anne Willoughby, Designer, PorchLight Home Interior Designs
"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
“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?
"...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“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
“… 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. Her redesign of a family home frames the book; references to personal history and anecdotes enliven the text and offer meaningful examples of how to employ her design suggestions. This book offers a unique awareness of research on both psychological challenges and resources. Our home environments are viewed as filled with potential for the nourishing of mental health. Home is both sanctuary and health-promoter! 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: A Memoir in Poems