Boys to Men

I’m surrounded by men. Here’s the breakdown: One, not all that old – my wonderful husband who when he finds something that he likes, says that it’s “sharp”. Two, not all that young anymore– my maturing teen-aged sons who in the vernacular of their generation tend to either downplay the spectacular with one word or use words that require a deft mind to unearth their newest definitions. And then there are two “little bits” as my sons call them – my godsons ages 5 and 6, who have a way of phonetically drawing out the word AWEsome until the only thing that you are aware of is the “awe” of that word, which in their growing vocabulary can basically describe anything that they find particularly interesting. All different ages, but one thing remains constant – they have an appreciation of the things that they like.

Years ago, when a decorator was called to give recommendations to homeowners, most often it was the wife who was given full charge of the process. Wives would make the decisions and husbands would usually be a silent partner. Times have changed, and now more than ever, husbands and sons are becoming part of the process. What changed? I’d venture to say that the trend is a reflection of the shift in societal norms. With more men and women working from home, along with the revised needs of the family, our homes now reflect those changes and how we process our space and utilize it to full advantage. In addition to this, with the growing number of television shows which showcase men as well as women in the interior design field, more men are dabbling in decorating and that’s a good thing.

Most of my married clients approach decorating as a joint project. There are still many men, who leave the final decisions up to their wives, but they want to be heard and the comments are much more than “I don’t want a bunch of flowers”. They are participating in the color selection, furniture shopping, flooring options and the overall design scheme, style and aesthetic. Even the young men whose personal spaces I’ve decorated have given substantial input in terms of what they like. They want spaces that are less static. If you have a man in your life who wants to get involved in the decorating process, don’t panic. Let him have his say. Remember, a man's home is his castle, whether it's a modest home or a 3 million dollar mansion as pictured above. He might surprise you by bringing a classic and sophisticated style to your home, one reminiscent of a finely tailored suit – classic, elegant, cool and of course, handsome… just like him.

Be Inspired!

Springtime Solutions

Are you a little "green" when it comes to decorating? No, I'm not referring to being environmentally conscious, although that is a worthwhile endeavor. I'm referring to the old school definition. You know, the term that people use to describe someone or something that is still in the process of learning and growing. In terms of decorating, the "green" usually have an idea of what they want, but are not quite sure about how to get there. Here are a few springtime solutions to help you make your home even more appealing.

If you’re like me, the first days of spring make you want to throw open the doors and raise the windows to lighten, brighten, refresh and renew. This feeling is common, particularly among women and it’s contagious too. That’s a good thing for decorators who have an eye for a great deal and for homeowners who are looking for an inexpensive transformation. Spring is the perfect time to get rid of unnecessary clutter (spring cleaning) and to look for bargains that will bring lasting beauty to your home without costing a small fortune. A little retail therapy goes a long way to chase away the winter blues and provide a springboard for the new season. Here are some shopping solutions to get you started. First things first; figure out a budget. Know what you can spend before you place your pumps on the pavement. Outlet shopping for big ticket items might unearth the sofa that you’ve been dreaming about or the extra chair that you’ve been considering for entertainment purposes or to complete a cozy reading nook. Look for neutral colors that won’t force you to go with any particular color scheme. Be a discriminating shopper, but don’t hesitate to peek into the scratch and dent section. There might be a fabulous bargain there with your name on it. Consignment shops are filled with choice furnishings that might only need a little TLC. You’d be surprised at some of the bargains that you can get on furniture at consignment shops that don’t need anything except a special place in your soulful space. Browse high end furniture stores for looks that you love and try to recreate the look according to your budget. Discount accessory store shelves abound with wonderful decorative items that add polish and pizzazz. Look for colors or finishes that compliment your existing items and proceed with unbridled enthusiasm. After you’ve shopped till you dropped, bring your new treasures home and introduce them to old favorites. Spring forward, make it pretty and enjoy the view. Be inspired.

It PAYS to STAGE!

If you're looking for another house, now is the perfect time to buy. The number of homes for sale across this country is staggering. If you're already a homeowner, the million dollar question is "How do I sell my present home, so that I can afford to move on?" Understanding that you're not interested in paying two mortgages, here are "5 Staging Tips" that will help you get your home "market ready", so that you can take advantage of the opportunities in the housing market of our present economy.

Tip #1 Don't market an empty house. Make sure that it is furnished and that the furnishings are on trend. Think of it as a gift that you're presenting. No one really wants to open a gift box to find out that it's empty. Buyers will feel better about the house if there's something to see.

Tip #2 Take an honest look at your home. What do you see that needs to be improved upon? It's important to focus on the exterior as well as the interior. Make appropriate repairs. If the buyer sees obvious repairs, they might assume that there are also other repairs needed that they cannot see.

Tip #3 Clean, clean, clean. Every room, every closet, every cupboard, every nook and cranny. Clutter will make it hard to see the house. The house should be tidy and well maintained.

Tip #4 Check for existing odors. Do what you need to do to eliminate any offensive odors, but don't try to mask an odor with perfumed sprays. Think of the smell of spring - simply fresh and clean.

Tip #5 Seek out the expertise of a staging professional for additional help if you need it. Remember, your home must be transformed into a house (product) for sale. It needs to send a message to the buyer that it's worth the contract. You don't want to lose a buyer because your house is not show ready. Being proactive will save you time and money.

Be Inspired!

A Sweet Suite!

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Mr. Television Personality himself; Christopher Lowell. If you’ve been addicted to decorating for more than 10 years, you will certainly remember him as the theatrically entertaining guy who brought us the 7 layers of design. His easy to understand approach to decorating helped many women do it for themselves; find their style and transform their homes.

Interior design trends of course have changed over the years and we are now seeing the trend toward “Hotel at Home”. Many of my clients have expressed a desire to have their homes, particularly their master bedrooms and baths, look and feel like the luxury suites at their favorite hotels. There is no reason why you can’t enjoy the pleasure of similar spaces all the time!

Additionally, if you’re in the process of selling your home, here’s a tip for you; one way to make sure that your home makes a great first impression is to make the master bedroom look and feel fabulous.

If you know what you like, you have the inspiration already to get started. If you don’t quite know what turns you on, visit a few 5-Star Hotels in your neck of the woods. Take a few pictures of the lobby, pick up their brochures and be inspired to recreate it. With February right around the corner, wouldn’t it be lovely to turn up the heat in that master suite as a valentine's gift for the love of your life? Forget about a box of candy and go for a sweet suite! Think about it… Be inspired!

What Hue are You?

I’m talking about color clues to define you... your hue. I love pink. It’s on my website, on my marketing materials, in my office and in my wardrobe. Thanks to one of my fabulous students, I now do many of my interior transformations in a pretty pair of pink crocs! In large doses I prefer a very soft palette, but in small doses, hot pink packs a pretty punch. For some people, pink is the color of bubblegum and Pepto Bismol and not very attractive. That doesn’t offend me at all. For me, pink is the blending of the power of red and the wisdom of white. It strikes a perfect balance. Pink defines the ability to be powerful enough to push forward and wise enough to know when to relax. It’s the blending of these colors that speak to me.

That’s the truth of color; it’s purely and totally unambiguous. We all respond to color differently and it’s our response to it that makes it good or not so good. I believe that if there is a color that makes your heart sing, it should absolutely be invited into your décor. If you think that you aren’t partial to a color, take a look at the clothes in your closet for a clue. You’ll be surprised at what that will reveal. If there is a color that you simply cannot stand, there is a wonderful color system that says you should even bring something of that color into your space, in order to improve an area of yourself or your life that has been somewhat neglected.

I had the pleasure of meeting and learning about color from Dewey Sadka, the creator of that ground breaking system; the Dewey Color System. I’ve learned the skill of color analysis and the myriad ways to incorporate color into the decoration of homes. I love the premise behind his thought provoking program; he truly made color easy. Although I love the color pink, I’m not “a pink” according to his program, as the color selection is much more advanced. The definition attached to the colors that I chose truly describes my personality. The science of color is simply fascinating and worth exploring. What's your hue? Be inspired.

To Market, To Market!

Atlanta’s AmericasMart was recently a hub of activity; the January Market! Thousands of people streaming from showroom to showroom; merchants searching for items that will appeal to the people who visit their stores and designers and decorators carefully considering items that will inspire their next incredible interior design. I too was in search of a treasure of sorts for a client relocating to Atlanta. I found the most wonderful colorful rug collection and I just want to share it with you, because beauty is meant to be shared! I suspect that this collection would even transform the most careful lover of muted shades into one who would welcome the embrace of the power and energy of hue. With colors so vibrant and pure, to simply say that these rugs are diverse and appealing is an understatement. If you love color and are looking to update a room for yourself or for a client, take a look at Company C. Their spring line for 08 will make you believe that it is indeed possible to walk on the strokes of Picasso’s paint brush! With more and more homes being built without the traditional wall to wall carpet, homeowners are going to be looking for fabulous ways to enhance and soften beautiful hardwood floors. Check out www.companyc.com and Be Inspired.

Inspiration by Invasion???

Honey, we’ve been robbed! Unlike the television shows of today, no one came to my home to perform a “dust and lift” for fingerprints of the perpetrator. Talk about a reality check! There was no dragnet plan to catch a thief. Just a police report and a home bereft of peace by a burglar. This was my reality in November 2007. Unfortunately someone (or possibly misguided teenagers) decided that they would take what they didn’t deserve to have and sell what they did not labor to obtain. In the days and weeks that followed our home invasion, I was haunted; not by the fact that things were taken, but that someone with whom we had no connection had come into our sanctuary, uninvited, and had plundered through our most intimate spaces, bringing negative energy into the place that we call home. That incident confirmed for me just how powerful the connection between the home and the soul. It’s not the price or location of the home that makes it such. It’s the understanding that within its walls, we exist. It’s the place where we’re loved the most and laugh the best. Home; where we express our personalities in the things that we do and in the décor that we choose. I will admit that it took us a little while to get back that loving feeling. As a family, we’re doing better these days and have adjusted to our new normal. We decided that we would finally use the previously unused security system, but would not be prisoners in our own home.

As the holidays approached, we made our plans. With our “Thanksgiving” travelling shoes on, over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we drove; hundreds of miles away. For Christmas we decorated the Christmas tree with perfect peacock feathers, and sparkling teal butterflies, accented with chocolate and teal ribbon and a touch of gold. We laughed and ate and sang and danced, played and prayed and enjoyed our home just as we’d done in years past. We were together, filled with life and love.

Despite the fact that my laptop was stolen, including all of the photos which chronicled my livelihood (no backup), I was able to regroup and keep my business going. With a training class scheduled for the following week, I learned quickly that my business truly flows from the inside out and is not limited by the use of technology or the lack thereof. I believe that all things work together for our good. Whether the experience is of joy or pain there is a lesson to be learned and a story to share that might be of benefit to another.

The world has indeed changed but as the words of the soulful gospel artist Pastor Marvin L. Winans so aptly proclaim… Hope springs eternal in those who believe, that’s why no matter what I’m facing I still believe. I believe in the good of all mankind, I believe behind the clouds the sun still shines, I believe there’s coming a brighter day, I believe that our children will lead the way… I believe! If you'd like to hear one of my favorite songs, I’ve included a link just for you. Go ahead, listen in. I believe that you’ll Be inspired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5wdiDpGUvM