Publications.......

Why Hire an Interior Decorator? .... Why Not...

Hiring an Interior Decorator can be one of the most practical things you do in your home.

An Interior Decorator will work with you, the client, to solve decorating dilemmas and challenges to bring out the home’s potential and best features while creating a unique, innovative and livable space which reflects your individual taste, personality and style.

Using an Interior Decorator does not have to be costly, in fact using a decorator can stop costly mistakes. And in the long run, clients can end up saving money and time. In summary – You don’t need a big budget to hire a decorator or to have a beautiful home.

The secret to creating a high end look without the price tag is to combine a few less expensive materials with one extravagant accent.

Most people have good taste, but are too busy, with little time, to source exactly what they would love for their home. They are limited to resources available to the public only. Using a decorator enables clients to have access to products not available to the general public, have one of a kind design and a custom look. Decorators have access to hundreds of choices in all areas of home décor which in turn offers the client unique and exclusive design. Decorators have the technical knowledge needed to bring about great design. It is extremely important for clients to be informed about the products they select with respect to care required or the ease of use .

With so much variety these days, the search for anything new can become very daunting and in the end the client can just “settle” for something as they are frustrated with the amount of “foot work” involved to select the perfect products. A decorator works in partnership with the client to offer innovative and desirable results suited to the client and to maximize the home’s potential. A decorator gives guidance and the services provided can offer little involvement or total involvement on the client’s part as desired.

A decorator has no emotional tie to the home; allowing for an objectivity when making decorating choices. A decorator meets with the client, gets to know the type of style they want; their likes and dislikes in home décor and their lifestyle, by asking detailed questions; then responds to their needs by beginning to source the products to present. Usually there are several choices and finally the client along with the decorator will zero in on the look they want. The decorator continues to source the selections, can arrange for trades people and do the overall project management of the redecorating or redesign required.

How do we create that perfect space?

There are many variables involved – the correct use of colour, textures, lighting along with space planning and creative furniture placement, in order to maximize rooms to their best potential.

Colour and lighting; whether natural or artificial can impact on how we feel in the space . By using cool or warm hues we create a feeling for the space. A variety of textures add interest and depth to the space. There is no right or wrong opinion about neutrals vs colour; it’s all a matter of applying the colour in an appropriate manner.

Decorators are able to create functional yet fabulous designs, both being equally important. A decorator can lend that polished look, with attention to details, creative lighting, custom millwork and window treatments.

A decorator creates innovative designs, manipulating the scale of furnishings and prioritizing features for both function and style, especially in small spaces. A decorator can transform your space into the dream you have always envisioned. A decorator can take your ideas, make suggestions and in the end transform them into a perfect space.

An Interior Decorator can offer a full range of residential design options such as Color Consultations, Space Planning, Furniture Selection, Custom Draperies and Soft Furnishings, Flooring, Wall Coverings, Kitchen and Bath Planning, New home specifications and preparing the home for Resale, as well as Selection of Artwork and Accessories. A decorator can assist in the Refreshing of a room by Repurposing and Repositioning pieces to create a new look.

There is great deal of flexibility when working with an Interior Decorator.

A decorator will work with you to develop a decorating plan and establish a realistic budget. Any project can be broken down into manageable pieces to be completed at a later date.

Ultimately an Interior Decorator’s job is to add the icing to the cake.

featured in the Bronte Villager, Spring 2007

featured in the Oakville Today - Spring 2008

Interior Decorator….. Exterior Decorator

Spring has finally arrived! Everyone is moving outside to enjoy the months of warm weather. How nice to be able to enjoy your outdoor space as much as your indoor space. Over the years we have greatly changed our way of looking at our outdoor spaces. We now invest in furniture, which is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, and create wonderful outdoor rooms.

There are so many options available on the market today from very moderate pricing to very high end. We can select everything from dining furniture, living room style banquets and settees, chairs with ottomans, coffee and end tables, outdoor lamps as well as outdoor kitchens. Gone are the days when a couple of discolored plastic chairs and the small charcoal barbeque sufficed. We have evolved! We want to relax in style!

How can a decorator help you? Well, sometimes it is difficult to sort out just what would work best in a particular outdoor space. You have to decide how you want to use the space – will you be relaxing, entertaining, gardening? What exposure do you have? What type of green space is currently in place? What about your hard scape?

Furnishing your outdoor room can be a lot of fun and there are certainly a lot of whimsical as well as elegant items on the market these days. You do not have to spend a fortune to have a good looking and comfortable outdoor space.

Some of the main functions of a decorator when working on an interior space carry over to the exterior space. Decorators are skilled at placing furniture; making colour choices; fabric selection as well as carrying out the indoor theme and style to the exterior. For example, the interior of a home could be very ultra modern and streamlined, the transition to the outdoor space would flow better if the outdoor furnishings were also on the modern side, rather than rugged cottage style twig furniture.

Decorators can also help you with planning how your garden flows and the plant material, which will work well with your choice of furnishings and colour scheme.

When working on an outdoor space, it is definitely important to recognize that the plantings are best specified by a professional landscape gardener and not the decorator, however, decorators have been trained to know what works well together and can unify the overall look.

So let’s get outdoors and enjoy the summer in style!

featured in the Bronte Villager, Summer 2007

featured in the Dundas Star, Spring 2008

So You Have Decided to Hire an Interior Decorator… Now What??

After you have made the decision to hire an Interior Decorator for whatever project you are undertaking, you will now be asking yourself and the decorator – what now?

There are many different approaches to working with a decorator. You, the client, should have continuous input and, in the end, the final say.

Usually when you first contact a decorator there are questions asked about the type of project you are undertaking, the scope of it, with discussion relating to your preferences, lifestyle, and ultimately the cost involved along the way.

Your decorator will discuss their fee, which is usually an hourly rate or depending on the type of undertaking, could be a total project rate. For example, if you were having an entire basement renovation and finishing, there could be a project fee based on the total amount of work involved. For obvious reasons, this is best discussed at your home when outlining the scope of the project. Having discussed fee, the next step is an in home consultation for which payment of said fee is due at the end of the consult.

Now comes setting up a meeting at your home with the decorator. Many decorators offer the flexibility of evenings and weekends, however you may be required to meet during the daytime, much as you would if you had a repair person coming in or if you were going to the dentist. This is something based entirely on your decorator’s schedule and method of work.

At the time of the consultation the decorator will sit down in your home with you and discuss your plans. If you have ideas, these will be noted along with a brief outline of what ideas the decorator may be able to put forth at this initial meeting. Depending on how much work is to be done now or in the future, the decorator should also be taking a walk through your home to get a feel for your lifestyle and how you use your space. This is particularly important so as to be able to mesh the newly decorated space with the current surrounding spaces.

Ultimately an Interior Decorator can take you from discussion and ideas through space planning, sourcing furniture, fabric, floor and window coverings, accessories and art, paint selection, kitchen and bath plans & renovation ideas, appropriate lighting, contracting trades, to managing the project. You have the choice as to which part of their expertise you can utilize!

Your decorator will give you ideas of their own on how to approach any project. Depending on your budget you do have much flexibility here. Some of the different methods of working with a decorator are as follows –

featured in the Bronte Villager, Fall 2007 -

The Hub of the House…..

We have all known that the kitchen has and always be the central gathering place in a home. We have evolved through the years from the old farm style kitchen with the wood stove, table and most probably a sofa and other chairs.

It was the warmest place in the old farmhouses of days gone by.

During the mid century period we moved into having more utilitarian kitchens and formal dining rooms for entertaining. As we moved into the 80’s there was a resurgence of family style entertaining and the focus was on the great room The establishment of a great room by builders was addressing the need for families to be close together as they became very busy with 2 career households and the family activities involved all members. Great rooms afforded a space to cook, eat, help children do homework, and watch television or play games. As the boomers were so busy, they approached entertaining as a family affair with guests bringing their children. This hub was perfect for some group bonding.

As we approached the millennium we have taken the kitchen even further by opening it up to the living area and in some cases to the formal dining area. When we are entertaining we want our guests to be part of the entire process and we want to enjoy and be part of their conversation while preparing the meal. It has become the gathering place for guests. We also saw the incorporation of the unfitted kitchen, which is where there are individual cabinet pieces, giving the look of furniture rather than cabinetry.

Thus the kitchen has evolved again into a sophisticated room and in fact quite a showroom of the house. Many European kitchen suppliers have become more prevalent in North America and are offering the most state of the art high-end kitchens. The kitchen is still the gathering spot yet is has become a place of beauty and functionality.

When designing these ultra kitchens, it is important to look at the overall concept and how to incorporate it with the remainder of the house. Flow is very important as well as ergonomics and optimizing space in creative ways. When utilizing a professional we find them to be more knowledgeable these days and can offer the most appropriate finishes and products for each individual client. Overall the kitchen must function like a well-oiled machine, yet appear pleasing to the eye. In other words all the “unsightly” paraphernalia in a kitchen must be accessible yet hidden. We want to enjoy a less formal manner of entertaining, yet maintain a sense of elegance

The products themselves must be of the highest quality and withstand the test of time and have the longevity needed and to be worth the large sum of cash required to obtain such a space. Kitchens can be as inexpensive or expensive as you are prepared to spend and as long as they are properly planned and executed, they will function and be the place you want to spend time in.

featured in the Bronte Villager, Summer 2008

Cozy does not mean Cluttered……..

We have read all of the articles on de-cluttering your home and possibly tried it and found you enjoyed this pared down relaxed look for summer. Now that fall has arrived, we start to think cozy and warm. You can have a very cozy space without bringing all that clutter back into your space. If we look at the seasonal fashion trends, it is natural to remove anything but the essential for summer and bring back the layers for fall and winter.

This adding of layers can be translated into our homes without going too far and “cluttering” up the area. We need to realize that our homes are a reflection of our own personality so we should not be completely devoid of personal items.

How can we have a warm, cozy and inviting space without looking so cluttered you do not feel relaxed? A little knowledge of a couple of the basic design principles can help guide you to create a fabulous cozy home.

The use of color creates an emotional atmosphere and should complement or be in congruity with the design. Darker shades, high intensity colors and warm hues have more weight than lighter shades, cooler hues and low intensity colors. This in turn creates the “feeling” of cozy and warm.

Color works magic by communicating with our emotions. It creates an emotional atmosphere and should compliment the design. Color inspires, energizes, soothes, and enlivens. See how switching from a cool color scheme to a warm scheme changes the mood of a living room. This can easily be done with cushions, throws, candles and floral arrangements. Even the most modern space can be “cozy” in fall/winter by adding just these few elements. Perhaps a new area rug in a darker hue for winter. Books always add a wonderful feel to any room.

Texture plays an important part in creating a cozy atmosphere. Think of a nubby or faux fur throw. Add some really soft cushions. Texture is essentially a tactile characteristic, but may be perceived by either touch or sight. Texture may be rough, smooth, bumpy, fuzzy, grooved, or prickly. Tactile texture is felt, while visual texture is seen, imparting impressions of textures. Visual texture is often referred to as pattern. A pinecone has a texture one can feel as well a pattern one can see. Texture can be used to create different feelings in an environment—smooth textures seem cold and impersonal while rough textures seem warm and natural.

featured in Oakville Today, fall 2008 -

Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly…….

It always seems to just creep up on us – suddenly the stores are full of items for the coming months celebrations. Every year people say it is ‘too early’ for retailers to present their Holiday items and we are not in the mood to get ready for the upcoming celebrations, however, every year when the Holidays finally arrive, we say just the opposite “it seemed to come just too fast and we are not ready”.

When it comes to decorating, why not just enjoy the fun and anticipation.

Step back in time to when things were much simpler. Come up with new ways to showcase your treasured, current decorations along with adding new, simple refreshing additions. Have fun decorating!

There are many places to purchase décor items where you are not spending large amounts of money. One of the most inexpensive decorating sources can be in your own back yard or nearby parks – pinecones, fallen branches, anything organic is environmentally friendly and looks warm and cozy. You can re-purpose items you already have in a new and different ways. Since it is only seasonal, the look or theme can change each year without purchasing an entire new collection of decorations. What fun! Here are some different themes to ponder –

Natural Rustic/Organic Theme Collection based theme – Santas, Nutcrackers, etc. Natural Elegance

Suddenly, the Holidays will be upon us. We all have traditions and memories of what our own special celebration should be like. Create new traditions with simple decorating ideas that will both impress and leave more time for the fun part of these upcoming celebrations – entertaining family and friends; community events; walks in the woods; sitting by a cozy fire; making cookies with your children; decorating the tree or whatever your heart desires.

featured in the Bronte Villager, December 2008 -

COLOR – GO FOR IT !!

“Color is like food for the spirit – plus it’s not addictive or fattening” says Isaac Muzrahi

2009 color trends bring an abundance of variety to suit everyone, even the diehard neutral lovers. In looking forward to spring we think in color, so it only makes sense to add some of that refreshing color to our homes. Color trends in interior décor tend to follow those of fashion runways and this spring/summer is no exception with both fashion and decor very colorful.

Color is a fundamental and important design element. When used properly, color provides cohesion of design, and, color themes can evoke different moods or a tone to a room.

Linking rooms enhances any space. If rooms have good color transition and corelation, they have a smooth & harmonious flow. It is essential to create a flow in a house with an open floor plan or one in which rooms connect through wide openings, by choosing colors that relate to each other in a pleasing way. The challenge is to give each space its own identity according to its function and still achieve a feeling of unity. The connection can be as subtle as a recurring color in the fabrics, accessories and furniture in each room, tranisioned with wall colors that are closely related and similar in value and intensitiy. Using unrelated colors in adjoining rooms can make the house feel like a disjointed series of spaces, while colors that relate to each other draw the eye from one room to the next and create that pleasing flow.

Color affects our emotions and the effective balance of color will provide a harmonious setting, which in turn creates a pleasant “feeling” in the space. Decide on how you want to “feel” in the room - calm or energized, intimate or open, dramatic or playful; the use of different color will promote this “feeling or mood”.

It is also important to look at another factor when selecting color.

Lighting is one of the most crucial elements when selecting color . The room’s exposure; type of light – direct sunlight, indirect sunlight or artificial light; and time of day you will most likely use the room; play a part in your decisions. Since c olor changes when viewed under different light sources, paint and accessories should be viewed in the actual space and lighting where they will be used.

The use of color is the easiest way to transform a room. This can be done with paint, wallpaper, tiles, fabric, flooring, art & accessories. Paint is one of the least expensive ways to transform a space. Though more costly, wallpaper has made a large comeback this season, with contemporary, simple patters and graphics. Colorful accessories can add impact and freshen up a room without breaking the bank. When a space requires a sprucing up, color, no matter where applied, can make the largest impact.

The use of color does not mean you cannot have a neutral pallet. Adding a dash of color to the already neutral palette gives the room a new look and this color dash can be removed at any time. Keeping large items such as sofas, chairs and draperies neutral and enhancing with colored toss cushions, accessories, lamps, art, etc. adds style to your space. These small items can be changed by season, or as you tire of them, without great expense.

One of the first things most interior designers will tell you when it comes to color is to determine the paint for your walls AFTER you have selected the more expensive pieces in the room. The reason is simple, always match the paint to the furniture. Paint is one of the least-expensive decorating elements in a room and can be easily altered and changed as needed. There are more colors available in paint than any other medium available.

The best way to establish a color palette for your home is to have a starting point or inspiration piece, a painting, carpet, pottery chair, from which to draw out the color. L ook for a pattern that appeals to you. Use that inspirational piece and break it down in terms of color “priority" to create your scheme. Ultimately, select in the color family that appeals the greatest to you, while keeping in mind all the other factors involved – mood, lighting, theme - when making this selection. Most Important – Have Fun!

featured in the Bronte Villager, Spring 2009

Let’s Get Ready to Enjoy The Holidays……

Every year we say it is ‘too early’ for retailers to present their holiday items and we are not in the mood to get ready. Why the rush? Yet we all want our homes and entertaining to be special for these occasions. However, every year when it finally arrives we say just the opposite, it just seemed to come ‘too fast’ and we are not ready.

We hear about people wanting to embrace the spirit of the holidays. So how can we do just that, while enjoying the fun and anticipation of Christmas, Hanukah or any other upcoming celebration, without starting too early or too late in our preparations? We need “a plan”, and “a list”.

One of the first things you need to do is make ‘THE LIST’. It is a wonderful tool and the most organized host/hostess will have a fine tuned list updated as days and weeks go by. The list should be comprised by categories. We should have “T hings we want to do” as a family, “Things we have to do” and finally, what would be “Nice to do” as a family. Once you have your own personal LIST, you may see that it may be next to impossible to cover everything. Most people can handle the Necessary and the Important, and may desire the the Nice, but do not have the time for all.

We all have ideas and memories of what our own special holiday celebration should be like. This may be the time to decide what you will do alone, with family/friends and where hiring a professional may fit in. This is where a decorator or stager can be of assistance to enhance your home with the season’s décor. Working with a decorator or stager ultimately leaves you time and energy to plan and enjoy the fun part of these upcoming celebrations.

You may want a beautifully decorated home while keeping the annual tree trimming to a special time with the family or friends. Having a decorator do your holiday decorating is like hiring a stager. A decorator is often able to create new looks while utilizing what you already have on hand. It is re-purposing items you already have in a new and different way. Since it is only seasonal, the look can change each year without purchasing an entire new collection of decorations. What fun!

You may have many treasured and sentimental decorations you want used and you may need some refreshing and new items. Discuss it with the decorator who can come up with new ways to showcase your current decorations along with adding new ones.

Once a style and budget has been agreed upon the decorator will get going to “trim your home”. Often, someone else will view the decorations you have used every year and put in the same place with a different perspective and an entirely new look will emerge. It can make the entire process fun for everyone to go away for a few hours and have some quality family time and then return to a holiday wonderland in their home.

featured in the Bronte Villager, December 2009

Accessories and Lighting…..

Accessories and lighting are two of the most important factors in good design. A space can be completed with the best furniture, however without the correct lighting and some well-chosen accessories, it is flat and without personality. Think of the accessories as the jewellery we add to a nice outfit. When pairing our ‘jewellery’ to our outfit we keep the proportion and theme consistent. The same goes with accessorizing your home. It is more than just adding tshotchkes and some wall décor at the end of a project. It’s about well thought out design details that are put into the plan before completion. After all, finishing details are what make a well dressed home.

Too often with decorating projects, available funds are allocated to large-scale furnishings. Necessary to be sure, however, in my experience the ultimate satisfaction doesn’t arrive until the finishing touches are firmly in place. I suggest that you save 20% of the total budget for styling and accessorizing. If you do not allocate money to cover the cost of accessories, you will end up with a space that’s completed but devoid of character: lackluster and disappointing.

A room is boring and bland without the embellishments. It’s the extras that bring a room to life and make it warm and welcoming. Accessories transform a space and inject it with character. They should also be representative of your own individual personality and perhaps reflect your interests and travels.

Lighting is the other important factor in creating the perfect atmosphere in your home. It offers functionality as well as mood. For the most effective lighting scheme, you need a combination of all three types of lighting, comprised of task, ambient and accent. The ambient light will provide a general even balance of light throughout a space such as a chandelier. Task lighting will focus on a specific area such as a lamp positioned for reading. Accent lighting will draw attention to a particular area and add depth and drama, such as a picture light or a recessed pot light directed toward a piece of art.

When planning your overall lighting you need to consider the mood you want to create and the tasks to be performed in each specific room. When selecting your fixtures, obviously you would want to compliment the style of your room’s décor. The type of lampshade can also affect your lighting. The shape, material and opacity of the shade will affect the direction and diffusion of the light by sending it up or down and reducing glare. Using dimmers gives you more control over the brightness and mood.

These days, we cannot speak about lighting without mentioning the importance of Energy-efficient light bulbs. The original Compact Fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) that were introduced with the coils which appeared less attractive that the standard incandescent light bulbs we were used to have now been redesigned. They also gave off a slightly cooler and duller light than an incandescent but again manufacturers have worked on making them warmer and brighter.

When planning your lighting, it is important to speak with expert lighting suppliers in order to be certain that your final plan will serve your needs.

Accessories complimented with lighting!

featured in the Bronte Villager, Spring 2010

Let’s go “shopping”….. at home!

You have decided it is time to give your home a new look but your budget just isn’t up for a complete makeover. In times of tight budgets, not to mention all the attention to the four “R’s” – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Re-invent - it can be fun to “shop in your own home”. You probably have many good pieces that can be re-purposed. Home Re-styling without Spending Money is a great way to redecorate a room.

Pick the room that needs a makeover. Look at the space carefully; decide what you like about the room the way it is now, and what you would like to change.

The next step is to take pictures of your room and you will see it in a totally different way. Any flaws will stand out right away and this will assist you in your makeover. Be objective.

Now remove everything from the room including pictures and wall art. If painting is on the agenda go ahead.. You have a blank slate to work with.

When you have a general idea of how you want the room to look, decide what stays and what goes. Remove any pieces of furniture that will not fit in with your new design. For example, if you’ve decided on a more sophisticated look, the country style pine pieces will not work in the new design. Make a list of what needs to be done to make the room look the way you have visualized it.

You are now ready to go “shopping.” From the list you made, walk through the other rooms of your home and go through stored items to see what will be useful to you. To save yourself time and effort, measure any potential furniture pieces to see if they will fit in the intended space in the room you are redoing.

Once you have prepped the room and chosen the furniture pieces that will stay and the ones that will be moved from the other rooms of your home, you are ready to place the furniture. View the room as you would like to use it, and keep in mind what worked in its former set up. Before you start moving around furniture, draw up a floor plan on paper to decide where you want each piece to go.

Take into account any pieces of furniture that need to be near a power source like the end tables or the TV stand . Also, take into account the room’s traffic flow, heating vents, etc. Your room must not only look pleasant but it must be functional.

When everything has been placed in the room according to your plan, including decorative items rescued from other parts of the house, you are ready for the fun part – adding the finishing touches. You don’t want to spend very much, so prioritize the items you want to add. New accent pillows, decorative candles and picture frames don’t have to cost much if you get them on sale. Make a list and stick to it. The whole purpose of the exercise is to give your room a new look – you don’t want to end up spending a fortune.

featured in the Bronte Villager, Spring 2010

<a target="_new" href="http://EzineArticles.com/"><img src="http://EzineArticles.com/featured/images/e6.gif" border="0" alt="As Featured On EzineArticles"></a>