An eye for detail is the factor that lifts competent decoration to the memorable level and, as such, it should clearly be cultivated.  It is the ability to choose, place and arrange objects in a compelling way, grouping them so that they are seen to their best advantage.   It is a feel for balance; the juxtaposition of texture and color; form and scale; height and width; solidity and lightness.

ARRANGING OBJECTS

Actually, there are two quite different schools of thought on the possession and display of objects: the school of simplicity and the school for comfortable clutter.  The offering up of one or two exquisite and interesting pieces; or an accretion of possessions and collections that is often called, rather aptly, memorabilia.

The trouble about the first school is that a few beautiful or singularly interesting objects really must be beautiful or singularly interesting. Or at least made to appear so by the way they are displayed or mounted.  The difficulty about the second is that the ‘clutter’ or enthusiastic accretion of possessions must also be organized to display it to its best advantage.  This involves a careful assemblage of texture and shape and color not to mention placement.

Collections of small objects should always be grouped together rather than scattered sparsely around a house or an apartment.  Very small things like decorative shells or stones or marbles can be put into large glass goblets or specimen jars and displayed on windowsills or on shelves.  Slightly larger objects, however different, should be grouped so that they have something in common such as color, national origin or period, or, alternatively, contrasted with larger, quite different things for the interest of the juxtaposition.  Add a plant for example, or a simple arrangement of flowers, or dried grasses, or a big bowl of dried lavender, or a pile of books.   If arrangements are grouped on tables that are also used for the practical dumping of drinks, food, or whatever, leave appropriate space so that the composition will not be ruined.

If arrangements are on a glass shelf or table, lighting them from underneath with a small up light is effective.  If they are not on a transparent surface try lighting them from above with a table lamp or down light recessed into the ceiling, or a miniature spot to give extra brilliance.   Interestingly, serious or at least energetic collections of quite commonplace or ordinary but unexpected objects often make for more memorable rooms than much rarer items.

Something sculptural, (whether it is from a young contemporary sculptor, or African or Oceanic, pre-Columbian or Oriental, classical figurative or abstract bronze, kinetic or a two-colored construction) will always add to the interest of a room. Almost all sculpture except standing pieces looks better on some sort of plinth made to scale, whether it is lacquered, painted or natural wood, marble, plaster, fiber or Plexiglas.

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Colors are so radically changed by differences in texture and pattern that a monochromatic or one-color room can be as lively and memorable through its subtlety as a more vividly contrasting space. Therefore, textures and pattern need to be considered as seriously and, at least in the case of textures, as evocatively, as the process of color-building.

Take textures first. The name of a known texture immediately conjures up an almost tangible surface. Just as thinking about one color in depth can evoke many images and variations, so too, different textures engender their own imagery. Consider for example the following:

Brick, Burlap, Basketwork, Cane, Cashmere, Ceramic, Coir,

Denim, Felt, Glass, Lace, Lacquer, Leather, Limestone,

Linen, Louvers, Matchboard, Plaster, Plexiglass, Quilting, Rope,

Satin, Silk, Steel, Stone, Tapestry, Tweed, Velvet

Pick out some of them and imagine how they would look distributed among floors, walls ceiling, soft furnishings, and furniture. Obviously some textures are more in keeping with each other than others. Rough contrasts with smooth and matte with gloss. But brick or stone or rough plaster walls look generally better contrasted with natural linen or burlap or cotton than with silk or satin. But there are no real rules, only sensibilities.

As for patterns, it used to be a convention never to mix them, as much to create harmony as to make things easier. One good way to become more confident about mixing pattern and texture with ease is to realize the pattern in a room is formed as much by possessions as by fabrics and floor coverings. Books with their various jacket designs; the way art is arranged on walls; the placement of objects; the slats of shutters; the play of light and shade; the shapes of different pieces of furniture; the leaves and flowers of plants… All these disparate things from patterns in their own right. When this fact is considered, one fabric, carpet or rug pattern more or less can hardly make much difference as the scale, tone and proportion are right. These last are obviously important. Large patterns that look interesting and diverting in fabric stores or furnishing departments are often more sensible for public rather than private settings, or at least large spaces unless one possesses a sure sense of scale, although it is a fact that large scale patterns and furniture used with confidence can generally make a small space seem much bigger. Similarly, one should remember that many small patterns often meld into one color when actually used for window treatments as opposed to hanging up show lengths.

A play of pattern however, can be very effective, varying as it does the whole balance of color.

The same design in two different colors can look interesting. So can the same design reversed – say blue on white predominating with white on blue predominating.

Very similar patterns in the same colors can be used together with effect, as in window treatments and carpet, with plain painted or plain textured walls.

Patterns with the same feeling if not design can also be used together effectively. Vivid striped North African or other ethnic fabrics with heavily patterned oriental rugs. Florals of all sorts with stripes or checks.

Use a large pattern with a smaller pattern in the same color way.

Do not forget the subtle effect of sheers printed with the same pattern as the curtains, or used with an allied or more simplified design, or in toned-down versions of the same main colors.

Lastly to mix patterns and textures together successfully, assemble as many samples of each as you can. Juggle them around. Think of them, as I said, in the context of existing surfaces, furniture, window treatments, upholstery, accents. Look at them in different lights. Then pick out two or three schemes for a final choice. This is the most effective way to learn.

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Never forget that good interior design is as much about practicality, comfort and detail as it is about mood and style. However beautiful the window treatments you create, however original or subtle the color schemes, however splendid the furnishings, nobody is going to thank you if the overall room is not comfortable to live in, or does not function as it should.

I always advise clients and readers to start by assessing the optimum requirements, to price them out, and to work backwards from there in the light of the budget available for the project. You need to spend a good deal of time at the start of the job assessing just what really is needed, as opposed to wanted. Questions to ask a client (or yourself) at the outset include:

1. How long do you expect to stay in this home?  As long as possible?  Fairly short term? (it will make a difference to priorities)
2. Are there, or are there likely to be, children or pets in the house (this will make all the difference to surfaces and textures chosen)
3. Are there any elderly relatives living or staying for any length of time, or likely to be in the future?  (If so you will need to think about especially good lighting for stairs and corridors, and easy to reach bedside lighting. Bathroom floors must be non-slip, and grip rails and seats in a shower are a good idea and easy to install).
4. How many people are likely to be at home all day? (This might affect colors and lighting)
5. Where does the family feel most comfortable eating? (This will certainly affect distribution of rooms and choice of furniture)
6. Who uses the living room most and for what? (just relaxing? Bridge? Listening to music? Looking at TV? Working as well?)
7. How often do you entertain, how and in what room?  How many people do you generally entertain at one time?-(This will affect furniture and furniture placement. Also its amazing how many people look at houses with a view to parties who never actually give them…)
8. Do you feel that in general the overall space is adequate for your needs, or would be capable of being put to better use if only you knew how? (Partition walls can be taken down or put up quite easily to expand or contract space. You might find more living space in the attic, basement or even garage)
9. Is your home, in fact, in need of a complete re-think as well as re-decoration?
10. Do you and your partner have similar tastes or decidedly different ones? Have you agreed to each have your own way in different rooms or will you have to form some sort of compromise?
11. Is it possible to make the best of existing furniture, furnishings and flooring, if any? Remember you can paint, strip, lacquer, dye, or stencil pieces (and wood or cement floors) not to mention recovering and reupholstering upholstery or just covering them with throws. This can give a whole new look as well as freeing up more of the budget for possibly more important work.
12. What colors and styles are you most comfortable with?
13. If you could list the ten luxuries that would make your home seem more attractive and work better, what would they be?
14. What is the maximum you can spend on your project bearing in mind that you must always put a sum aside for contingencies?
15. What absolutely must be spent? Where can you make savings? Can you form a long- term plan so that the urgent things can be done now and other things can be fitted in as and when you can afford them?

Answers to these questions will certainly help you to determine the way your clients ( or you) want a home to function, how much can be comfortably afforded and how it should look. So always take the time to assess and re-assess right from the beginning.

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• Testimonials

Serendipity is such a good word to roll around the tongue. It’s an even better word to describe the fortuitous luck, the un-thought of touch, which can creep into decorating to make effects that we had not anticipated but for which we are nevertheless grateful.

I shall never forget the change made unthinkingly by a friend who had left a Purple cardigan behind in a living room that I had designed. It was undoubtedly a pretty room. The walls were glazed a pale honeysuckle, the geometric carpet was Indian red and green and honeysuckle on a white ground. The curtain fabric was a Colefax & Fowler design of honeysuckle with Indian red stamens and fresh green leaves on white. The sofa and classic modern Italian chairs were nicely neutral.   Books and paintings added more color and  texture and there was the elegant bonus of a pair of stripped pine columns and old double doors in stripped pine as well.

I was pleased with the tranquil effect. Yet that one left-over cardigan nonchalantly resting on the back of an armchair gave the room a shot of vivacity that I had not realized was missing. The little slash of purple made the space look glowing without in any way losing its former tranquility.  And from then on I made sure to always have a vase of irises, or a small jug of violets, or  bowl of  anemones’, or whatever appropriately colored flowers were in season, and if they were not,  just a purple throw,  to introduce a subtle amount of that felicitous color purple against the prevailing honeysuckle.

So always be on the look out for some fresh and accidental introduction of color into a space. And its not just color.  It could be a quite different texture; a painting, or a piece of sculpture, or a new  large plant, or antique or sculptural occasional chair or side table or even a screen or an accidental  re-positioning of things come to that.

You never know your luck – or when that serendipity will come your way.

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Color is generally the most exciting, the most immediately noticeable and the least expensive element in decoration.

It also arouses the strongest emotional responses, can affect the apparent proportions and light in a room and can make the same space seem cool or warm, restful or stimulating, depending upon color choice. Alighting on the right harmony and contrasts is therefore important. But getting to know how to alight on such choices is not necessarily so easy.

Some people are born with a good, sometimes inspired, sense of color. They can carry a color around in their head and match it absolutely, contrast it subtly and use it as fluidly as a good artist uses paint. Most of us, however, have to develop such a sense through trial and error. Though the good news is that this is quite possible.

The French Impressionist painters in the 19th century were much inspired by a writer called Chevreuil who wrote “The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Color”. Chevreuil noted proudly that, once certain rules had been absorbed, painters invariably used color to better effect. The same must be true in decoration. He pointed out that colors will change radically according to the circumstances under which they are viewed. For example, if red is put near blue, the red appears more yellow. Near yellow, the same red appears bluer. Next to green, it appears purer and brighter. Next to black, it seems duller. Next to white, it seems lighter and brighter. And next to grey, it seems brighter, if not much lighter. If a dark color is placed beside a different but lighter color, the dark color appears deeper and the light color appears lighter. This is the result of contrast of tone. A color is also intensified by gloss. Look at butterflies’ wings, the feathers of some birds, leaves after rain, the different textures of flower petals.

Of course, ‘rules’, when applied to such an ostensibly light-hearted a subject as color, immediately begin to sound weighty and boring, especially when what people are the most anxious to know is how to actually form a color scheme. I always say that when the mind seems blank about a scheme, try emotional response. Take a color, any favorite color – yellow, for example – and think of it in depth. Think of everything floral and yellow, from the palest creamy yellow of honeysuckle or freesias to velvety yellow roses, and all the various yellow shades of narcissi, daffodils and crocuses. Or try straw and hay and contrasting sand; lemons and melons and bananas, butter and honey and olive oil, bright yellow peppers and pumpkins…

It is all very evocative and should help to build up a good monochromatic scheme, especially when the colors are translated into the look of the various textures that go in a room: wool and cotton and silk; paint and paper and plaster, all of which have differing depths and surfaces. If one color or colors in depth do not work for you, think of country landscapes or forest or sea colors. Study paintings and oriental rugs in detail and see how color is laid against color, tone against tone. Thinking up color combinations to suit a room is one thing. Finding the right balance is another. And preparing harmonizing schemes for a whole home is the most difficult thing of all.

There are several permutations for achieving an interesting balance. One way is to keep most of the room in shades and variations of one color – say white, or off-white – for walls, window coverings or shades, floor, the major seating and one or two chairs if the room is big. Use one accent color for another occasional chair, or a pair of chairs, and a third color for pillows or throws or flowers or other accessories. Another permutation would be to keep walls, window coverings and most upholstered furniture in one color, to use another color for the floor and to add a third color in accessories which can be juxtaposed with variations of both the other colors. Or, use the major color for walls and smaller pieces of furniture and add the accent colors in larger furniture, pillows, flowers and art. Try to vary surfaces and textures in these colors as much as possible to make a play to light and shade and pattern. In a small apartment or house, the space will seem much larger if more or less of the same colors are used in different juxtapositions throughout, especially if they are rooted on the same general floor covering. Strong or warm colors, like red or deep apricot, will make walls appear too closed in and the space seem smaller. Cool colors will push the walls out. A long corridor will appear less long if the end wall is painted or covered in a warm color and a high ceiling can be brought down by painting it darker. Rooms facing north in the Northern hemisphere will look more cheerful if warm, luminous colors are used. Rooms that are mainly filled with sunlight will do better with cool colors or a non-color, like white or ivory.

Do you have questions concerning the use of color for your upcoming  interior decorating project? We’ll be glad to schedule an appointment at your home or office. Also, you can meet with us at our Regional Design Studio located at 1039 Sterling Road, Suite 104, Herndon, VA 20170. We serve the Northern Virgina, Baltimore and DC Metro area. Contact Sandra Hambley at Decor & You DC:
Phone: 888-969-3326 or feel free to contact us via email here.

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And, Decor and You has been recognized as #47 on the Top 100 Red Hot Franchise List! There are compelling reasons to take a serious look at Decor and You DC if you would enjoy working in the $100 billion furnishing and interior decorating industry. What are the advantages?

For one, Decor and You DC offers a prove business model. We operate a refined, proven system, which allows our interior decorators to focus on the “big picture” of building your business by providing quality and value to our clients – versus the day-by-day efforts other interior decorators spend trying to grind out an entirely new business model on their own.

Another key benefit to both our clients and our team is our buying power. An established vendor network with product resources, negotiating power and a competitive pricing edge in the interior decorating marketplace allows us to serve our clients efficiently and cost-effectively.

The sample interior decorating photographs below provide a small sample of the products our decorators and designers are using for client projects in Virginia, Maryland and the Metro DC area:

In addition, our access to proven marketing techniques, superior training and business coaching reduces the cost of overhead and investment necessary to run a successful business. Plus, we all benefit from our network of peers whether we are sharing creative design ideas or solving business challenges. Pooled resources enable us to evolve and mature your business at a much faster rate. 

The DecorDesigner Franchise
Virginia, Maryland and the Metro DC Area

Profile
Those eligible to become a DecorDesigner are those who love people, color and enjoy being on the move, out in their communities. DecorDesigners find fulfillment in building relationships and personal networks and are driven toward a higher goal for their personal and professional success. No direct job experience in interior decorating is required, though appreciation for design is essential.

Opportunity Overview
Operate a single unit franchise, a low-cost, low-overhead decorating business that offers flexibility and the freedom to pursue financial goals. Most prefer a home-based operation to give them the opportunity to meet clients in their homes or offices. Specialize in full-service residential and/or commercial decorating for a portfolio of local clients. Services include planning, buying and decorating. Distinctions of service include abundant client choice (style and products), outstanding customer service, individualized DecorPlans, and comprehensive project management that eliminate the mistakes and money wasted when people try to decorate without professional guidance.

Support
Decor&You provides at least 200 hours of professional training through our nationally certified program. Curriculum focuses on design principles, small business management, and sales and marketing.

For additional details, contact Sandra Hambley with Decor and You DC:

Red Hot Franchise list: Read full article here

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• Our Team
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• Contact Us
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Decorating a home is a project and the process requires:

• Knowledge of design trends
• Access to a variety of choices for furniture, window treatments, flooring, lighting and accessories
• Project management skills for scheduling and budget management

We find many busy business professionals need to be just as productive at home as they are at work, yet they still find themselves too busy to accomplish everything they need to do when it comes to interior decorating. There are a wide range of services available to help you manage interior decorating projects. Working with a professional interior decorator can simplify your life and allow you to concentrate on the important things while helping you achieve your goals in a timely and cost-effective manner.

When planning your interior decorating project, here are a few things to consider:

Does the individual or firm offer full service interior decorating services which include color schemes, floor/space plans, selection of custom window treatments, furniture and accessories as well as the full execution of spaces and projects? For busy business professionals, project management skills are important for any project. And, especially important for interior decorating projects that include a myriad of details.

Design trends are important and frequently change. Consider solutions that are flexible and stand the test of time if you like to periodically change your environment. Gain an understanding of the choices you have for furniture and any larger ticket purchases. Can they be used in different arrangements? Do you like to switch out some of the accessories with the seasons?

A good interior decorator will ask you a lot of questions concerning your decorating goals that may not be obvious to you from the start. Also, the best interior decorators will be those that have experience with your specific project type. For example, if you are interested in a kitchen make-over, ask for references and examples of similar projects completed by your interior decorator.

When decorating a home, discovering the best sources for furniture, window treatments, blinds, artwork, and accessories is key. What works without breaking the bank requires multiple sources and knowledge of reliable suppliers that deliver on their promises. Does your interior decorator have experience with the suppliers?

Certain suppliers maintain they can provide almost anything but really specialize in certain products over others.  In addition, certain products you’ll find in the local home stores aren’t always “the deal” they appear to be on first glance. A certified interior decorator will know the difference and often can find higher quality products for similar prices from reliable sources. Understand that having multiple options is key to creating a unique look of your own. The goal is to obtain the biggest “WOW” for your investment.

Layout and traffic flow are very important for entertaining yet the design must be comfortable and inviting for everyday living. Is the design organized and does the lighting function well for both? Consider all of the uses of the space early in the planning process. This will help you make better decisions when considering your furniture and accessory selections.

Delivery and installation requires the selection of qualified contractors; ones that understand how to get it right the first, show up on time and meet the needs of your busy schedule. Ask your interior decorator if they have worked with the recommended contractor on similar projects? What are their strengths? Any surprises or challenges to overcome? Work with professionals that listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and understand you needs.

When meeting with your interior decorator, discuss your expectations concerning the completion date. What are your time constraints? Can the interior decorator commit to your deadline? How well have they done so on other projects? Review testimonials and ask about project details associated with the client feedback provided.

Decorating a home can be exhausting if you go it alone but it doesn’t need to be. Professional interior designers and decorators typically have decorating knowledge, experience and ideas to help you achieve your end result faster and with less cost and frustration. And, hiring a qualified interior decorator and designer is less costly more often than one tends to believe.

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• Janet Aurora

Are you preparing a home for sale? Our interior designers and DC real estate brokers agree on one thing; sprucing up window treatments is a fail-safe way to create a look that sells. But what sells? Instilling emotion with the potential buyer, and doing so quickly, is vastly important. People congregate in the kitchen – filtered natural light, comfort, conversation. In the bathroom, consider a smooth, soft-touch that reflects privacy without darkening the space.

And of course, cost. Given window treatments are most often attached to the wall, it is expected that they’ll come with the home (although this can be negotiated in some cases). Value is the word of the day. Consult with an experienced interior decorator that can readily access a large selection of window treatment options as well as manage and install the final product if you’re a busy professional.

For those staying home, entertaining and looking for comfort with style, custom-designed window treatments are a popular option. We’ll touch on the trends in our next post. But until then, here’s a few window treatment photos for you.

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Have you recently visited a beautiful home and realized it’s time to seek the assistance of professional decorators? Interior design specialists can help you get the most from your home investment in several ways.

Maybe it’s time to update your 1980s or 1990s kitchen decor with a fresh, new design that uniquely fits your personality and lifestyle. Kitchen and bathroom make overs are popular due to the high returns on investment but we’re also seeing home owners interested in bedroom and living room updates here in Northern Virginia and DC.

One of the benefits of hiring a professional is the incredible selection of custom furniture and window treatments, carpeting, and accessories you just can’t find in local stores. Having multiple options is key to creating a unique look of your own. Working with experienced interior decorators assures the biggest “WOW” for your investment.  Carefully selected merchandise that fits you as well as your budget – as much or as little as you need — allows you to live in the space of your dreams.

When you work with a design professional from Decor and You DC you have access to an exclusive selection of products from over 300 quality manufacturers. You won’t find “your” unique look in someone else’s home or at a store. Plus, our professional decorators handle everything for you – from ordering and deliveries to the flawless, final installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your credentials?

We train with the best.  We have studied under Mary Gilliatt, internationally acclaimed designer and author of 40 design books.  We have studied with her in the US and France, and are committed to continuous education – formal and field experience.

We offer full service interior decorating services which include color schemes, floor/space plans, selection of custom window treatments, furniture and accessories as well as the full execution of spaces and projects. In addition to our local team in Maryland and Virginia, Mary is an associate and assists with design on select projects.

How do you work?  How do you charge for your services?

We offer full-service interior decorating by the project, and also offer design consultation by the hour.

For partial or full projects, we offer multiple designs to enhance or completely update existing spaces.  We can work with clients in stages to assure that the items selected and purchased complement the desired look and style of the client.  Full project design is an excellent option for someone who wants someone to design, manage and install the entire project.

We also offer design consultations by the hour.  The sampling of services we offer include color scheme/paint consultation, new home selection and design consultation to builders and their clients, room redesign, preparing the home for sale, and shopping.

Do you provide references and referrals?

You bet! We can provide a list of client referrals as part of our mutual interviewing process. Additionally, we offer our clients contractor referrals for handyman services, painting, electrical and carpentry.

Do you specialize in residential or commercial work?

We work on both residential and commercial projects.

Do I have to buy everything from you?

Absolutely not.  It is not going to cost a client more money to order furniture from us. We work with over 300 manufacturers that are priced similarly with the prices of retail stores that carry merchandise of comparable quality.  We also work with manufacturers that are exclusive and only work with the trade.

Our job is to provide guidance so a client does not make costly choices they regret.  We want clients to love their new space and feel good about their investment. And, in this case, we prefer to let our clients tell you how it went (testimonials here).

Do you design in a particular style?

Like anything that has to do with fashion, what’s old is new – yet nothing is the same. We pride ourselves on appreciating and studying all styles from history through current trends.  We work with our clients to assure a look that is comfortable and unique to them.  Our commitment is to use excellent design principles, guidance and execution so clients have the space of their dreams.

Contact us if you would like to discuss your interior decorating project.

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Solid Surface Counters – While maintaining the footprint of the existing kitchen, enlarging the island to expand a bar and create more comfortable seating is easy.  Contrasting granite in the main kitchen area and island is often suggested.  The island becomes a fine piece of furniture and creates a natural focal point.  Quality, sealed granite averages $50-$80 a square foot installed to make a standard kitchen counter upgrade from $3,000-$5,000.

Tile Backsplash – Backsplash makes any kitchen look new.  Choose from subway tile in a natural stone, a 1×1 glass mosaic in 12” pieces, tumbled stone in 4×4 squares on the diagonal, or even some combination blended together to create permanent art.  Before the tile design is installed, be sure to add under cabinet lighting if it’s missing.  Lights will reflect off solid surface counters and tile backsplash to add dimension, interest and mood.  Installed tile backsplash in average-sized kitchens averages $2,000-$3,500.

Lighting Fixtures – Add new fixtures above the bar and eat-in areas.  Try burnished metal lighting fixtures to create a transitional look, or brushed nickel fixtures for a more contemporary feel.  Drum lights come in every style to create an updated look.   A few new lighting fixtures with high style can range from $500- $1,000.

New Cabinets – If tastes have changed or new cabinetry is finally an option, upgrade cabinets to a better quality, color and style.  With the proper resources and a reasonable budget, replacing cabinets is within the reach of many homeowners.  New cabinets which are installed and available in a mid-range quality for a 15×15 kitchen start at about $14,000.

Whether you have $2,500 or $25,000 to invest in updating a kitchen, consider a kitchen designer to ensure that a budget is maximized, while style and function are not compromised.

For more information, call us at 703.599.0648 or contact us online.

Kitchen photos compliments of Monarch Design and Remodeling.

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