New clients assume that the size of their decorating budget is in direct correlation to how happy I and they are with the finished product. This is truly not the case. For example, I recently completed a one room project for a young woman living in her first house. She had a spare bedroom that she was using as an office but she wasn't happy with how it functioned ...
When describing a room, magazines will often use the word “Timeless” to capture the elegant and everlasting quality of a space. How do we design a room to be “timeless”? What is the difference between good design and great design? In the coming months I will start a series of blog entries on 20th century rooms and what makes them appealing to us today. I will also suggest ...
In my last blog about my daughter's rental property, the main living room was unfinished, but on its way to becoming a place that she could call home. In the ensuing months she and I have worked to create a homey feel on a very tight budget. The first thing we installed were her bamboo shades. An inexpensive choice for a room with a large window but also an attractive one. With a little ...
Decorating, like any other creative endeavor, goes through changes as styles and tastes change. Today I wanted to write about trends that I am currently seeing in decorating. Most of my clients want their homes to be current but not too trendy. For big ticket items, I prefer classic and timeless choices. I save the trends for smaller and easily updated items. The ...
You've painted the walls, re-arranged the furniture, and moved all of your DVDs into your media console, but your room just doesn't feel done. Why? Normally when a client asks this question it's because their room still isn't done. What makes a room feel finished and purposeful in its design? I would say there are a couple of key items that push a room from "yawn" to "Wow!". Specifically, ...
In light of the upcoming holiday, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge fathers. When it comes to home decor, men often take a backseat to the women in their lives. When it comes to family, men have a very important and difficult role to fulfill. I am fortunate to have many wonderful men in my life who have taken on the role of a father and done it well. First and ...
1 How to Use Mirrors In Your Home Why do we keep the flat, sheet mirrors that our contractors install? And why do we buy the mirror that matches the dresser? I find that clients imitate what they see in the furniture store, or do what the previous owners of their home did. But, why? There are so many creative and interesting options. Today's blog is about the many uses of mirrors ...
Before: Peninsula Separating Kitchen from Great Room When you picture a home in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, you might imagine rustic spaces, a roaring fire and cozy furniture. Well this house was so not that! The previous owners seemed to think they were in Palm Beach. Lily Pulitzer pinks, lime green and yellow were everywhere! This 70's era home ...
When people see beautiful pictures of a professionally decorated home they often think that they could never afford to hire a decorator. Many people believe that to afford a decorator you have to be wealthy but a home can be beautifully decorated on a small budget with smart choices and carefully selected pieces. Good decorators work together with their clients and their client's ...
Before Painting When my daughter first moved into her little rental property it had just been entirely renovated by one of our neighbors (her new landlord). Predictably, he painted all the walls in the entire house the same peachy beige color. Now, if you know anything about me you know that I love color, and this preference has rubbed off on my daughter. Luckily, we have a landlord ...
A fun project was presented to me recently in the form of a home office. The original space was overwhelmed with a desk and chair in the center of the room, allowing for no other activities in the limited space. To maximize the space, the client wanted to make the closet into an office, allowing the rest of the room to be a cozy relaxing place to hang out. Before: Desk is literally in ...
Those who know me best, know that there are two activities that I am passionate about ---- decorating and singing. Now, I'm no Carrie Underwood, but I have a little talent and a lot of enthusiasm. The (public) place I get to exercise my passion for singing is in church. This past Sunday was Palm Sunday which is a Sunday of celebration before the solemnity of Good Friday ...
Hello, again! Wow, so far this year has been a busy one for Gail Barley Interiors. In addition to many decorating projects with some great clients and interesting spaces, here’s a quick update to let you know what we've been doing. Gail Barley Interiors was a featured designer on Wayfair.com in their Inspiration Gallery. I was asked all kinds of questions about my design process. I was ...
Before Upon moving into her new rental space, my daughter found that turning a house into a home takes a considerable amount of work. As she was moving into her house she spotted some kitchen chairs on the side of the road and having a very small furniture budget and knowing potential, she picked them up. These four little chairs had seen better days, wooden, with ...
Most of the clients who contact me have never worked with a decorator before and don't know what to expect from me or the process. Assuming that you have chosen wisely, and you and your decorator have a good understanding and vision for your space, here are three easy steps to ensure a productive and mutually satisfying design partnership: 1. Be Decisive. This is the ...
An Interior Design blog that focuses on Before and Afters, Design Dilemmas, and Fun Finds.
