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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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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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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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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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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This year, and over the next two to three years, color is evolving according to predictable influences: the Economy, given our recent recession woes, Fashion, as usual, and Nature, in alignment with a continuing concern for living “green.”

First, economic concerns have initiated a trend toward rising conservatism in decorating. Many homeowners are choosing to “stay in place,” and are looking for viable and affordable ways to refresh and invigorate their homes. Practical remodeling decisions are one way to do that—expanding living spaces or creating more storage, for instance—and color is another. The conservative trend is being felt in a resurgence of safe but updated neutrals, and a trend in pattern toward plaids. Gray is the new black—halfway between black and brown, gray can be warm or cool, but is always calming, solid and assuring. Plaids are reflected from menswear, seen as safe and traditional, easily updated with a color accent; a colorblocking trend in runway fashion also plays into plaids resurging in home design.

Despite economic concerns, a return to optimism is seen in bold, updated color as accent—just as a man’s tie creates that same color burst within his gray suit. This year’s showstopping color is yellow. The quintessential color for optimism, yellow is warming and energizing. Yellows with a citrus cast, in either green or orange undertones, dominate this year.

Fashion trends, however, are running counter to the conservative trend noted above; instead, Fashion is influencing Interior Design in a different way: focusing on fun, whimsy, and escape. Influenced by the runway, the bold accent colors noted above are adding the fun “twist” to otherwise neutral decorating schemes. Bold accents are easily—and economically—changed with the times or the trend. Colors reflecting this fashion forward trend are reflected in a significant return to purples, especially those that are red-based. Purple as accent will be seen in a variety of hues and saturations, and will even enter the neutrals category as a “grayed-out” plum.  Confident, luxurious purple runs a close second to yellow as accent for 2009. Bright pinks and oranges are also hot, along with a retro trend to paisley, spiral, and psychedelic patterns, as Fashion revisits the 60’s and 70’s.

Finally, the Environmental movement has us all going back to nature for inspiration. “Being green” is a fixture in society these days, and color trend is strongly influenced by it—though this year, the new green is blue! The spectrum of blues highlight the oceanic side of our Earthly concerns, as green takes a backseat to this soft, soothing color that is as changeable and versatile as the ocean itself. Blues translate to tranquility and calm, safety and security, and will be used in every shade from deep navy to watery aqua.  A return to nature also influences our bolder tones, bringing in citrus and other produce-inspired colors, as well as exotics, such as oranges, reds and teals.  As our world becomes more multicultural, and our access to formerly out-of-reach places extends, exotic colors and influences increase.  This will also be reflected in use of unexpected materials, such as exotic woods, reclaimed metals, shells, and grasses.

Color choice is a reaction to the world around us. When making yours, while trend and influence is important for inspiration, in the end, be sure to choose those that make you happy in your home.

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We regularly receive emails with various decorating questions and dilemmas. I’ve selected three interior decorating questions to answer this month, and hope my suggestions help you love the space you’re in!

1.  What do I do with my two story family room or foyer looks sterile? It looked so beautiful in the model home.

A beautiful way to turn any large space into a beautiful welcoming area for your guests and family is to use wallpaper.  Before you cringe at the thought of wallpaper from decades ago, please know that those who swore they would never use wallpaper have turned the corner and have become addicts.

First, the infinite possibilities of gorgeous wallpaper to fit your personal style will instantly add warmth, texture and interest in a way that straight paint and faux finishes do not.  Wallpaper instantly easily adds personality and “WOW” to a sterile foyer.  A qualified wallpaper installer who uses the correct adhesive and knows how to properly hang and pattern match the paper guarantees that it will look perfect when up, and be easily removed when you are ready for a change.

Once your wallpaper is in place, add accessories such as artwork or a tapestry on a rod with beautiful tassels, an area rug, and lighting!

2.  I have really small windows in my basement – What do I do with them?

Treat basement windows just like normal-sized windows.  First, start with 2-layer window treatments by hanging beautiful draperies on top while having a privacy layer underneath.  Put a light, transparent fabric as the first layer and have them drawn all the time. Now, add stationary side panels or a top treatment in the fabric of your choice.  This stunning treatment technique will fool everyone, who will be convinced you are fortunate to have regular-sized windows in your basement.

3. What are the “in” –but still neutral—colors? How should I use these colors to update my home for selling purposes?”

Use warm colors to invite potential buyers into your home: think of the color of buttered toast, toffee or caramel, and light, but bright browns with some gold undertones. Make sure that transition rooms are warmly painted in creamy beige with buttery undertones, for example. Never use bright white as it is cold and harsh, and will show every defect in your walls!

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Let us know if you any questions – you can comment below or contact us here.

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PRIOR PURCHASES
Your last home décor purchase can be a great indicator of your style.  Certain qualities about that piece attracted you to it so step back and really take a thorough look at it.  Think about what really stands out about that piece that led you to purchase it.

Where you shop for home décor also lends to your personal style.  Stores tend to cater to certain looks.  Think about what stores draw you in, even if just to browse.  A client in Fairfax frequented the same shop to browse but was never comfortable buying on her own instinct.  After talking more about that store, we were able to determine the contemporary style with clean, uninterrupted lines really attracted her but their fabric choices were not her style.  She loved the look but wanted to make it her own with bolder, more exotic prints.  Being able to pinpoint exactly what she was attracted to allowed us to move forward and decorate her home in a way that truly reflected her personal style.

WHERE YOU TRAVEL
Some designers suggest you look at your closet for a clue when establishing your color palette.  I suggest you also think or dream about your favorite vacation city or resort.  What stands out in your mind most about that location?  When we think about our favorite vacation spot, a strong image typically comes to mind that is rich in color, texture and feel.  Where you stay can also say a lot.  Do you prefer luxury hotels or cozy bed and breakfasts?   Resorts and hotels cater to establishing a certain image so think back to your favorite resort or hotel and the furnishings and accessories that made that space “feel like home” for you.

YOUR CURRENT HOME
Take an inventory of your favorite pieces in your home already.  Does a piece stand out more than others for you?  This my be a sign that you’re interested in incorporating that look into your home but may not be ready to fully commit to it or have over committed.

A client in Great Falls loves mirrored chests.  She wanted to incorporate a chest into her bedroom to create a chic look reflecting old Hollywood Glamor.  Unfortunately, when 2-3 mirrored pieces were purchase for the same space, it looked more like a furniture showroom than her intimate, sophisticated bedroom.  Less is more when integrating certain pieces.

I often hear that people feel their place does not look “pulled together.”  This is usually a sign that they have not committed to a single style, and are challenged with using color, lines of the pieces and varying forms to create a cohesive look.  Not to worry, sometimes a few new pieces can pull everything together perfectly.

That thread bare, lumpy sofa probably holds many insights into your design style and you’re afraid to give it up for fear you won’t be able to replace it.  The art on walls can be one of the best indicators of your personal style.  Art is very personal and the images and colors say a lot about your style preferences.  It clearly indicates what look you feel drawn to.

Defining your personal style can seem overwhelming at first but apply some of these basic guidelines.  I guarantee you will be inspired to decorate.

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