I was hired recently by a couple who were interested in redecorating their living and dining rooms.  The clients showed me images of a home of a south Florida friend who owns a local shop specializing in vintage and re-purposed products imported from Asia and the Far East.  They specifically requested that we purchase at least one statement piece to incorporate into their new space.   Because nothing currently in the room was staying, I decided to use this statement piece to kick-off my design plan so the wife and I went shopping.  We selected a long, somewhat rustic, cabinet to anchor the main wall in the living room.  We also found a mirror made out of an old window frame that we felt would bring just the right touch to the dining room.

Before & After

 When we started, the room felt small with nothing to draw attention to the high ceilings and architectural columns in the room.  The clients had already decided to replace the tile floor with a wood floor which added warmth to the space.  With our inspiration pieces selected,  I put a design plan together.  The color palette was inspired by the blue and green tones in the newly purchased pieces and I added orange to incorporate the warm tones the clients favored.  We emphasized the height of the room by removing a ceiling fan and the outdated dining room chandelier and replacing them with two different but complimentary gold-toned chandeliers.  We also hung tall drapes to draw attention to the windows, add height, and a big hit of beautiful color.  Most of the walls are painted a nice neutral gray/beige to let the vibrant colors really stand-out. We added one accent wall in a lovely shade of pale green.  My clients were hesitant at first about the color but they trusted my vision and I love the way the cream colored sideboard and blue painted mirror look against this color. Emerald green lamps and accent pillows bring the green into the living room and emphasize the green in our cabinet.

Before & After

One of the most stunning touches in the room came when we added the coral upholstered dining chairs. Our clients love the bright pop of color and added fun that these chairs bring to the space. 

Design Concept & Final Result

From design concept to final product, these clients encouraged me to give them a timeless look that also reflected their desire to have unique and one-of-a-kind elements.  I couldn't be happier with the results.  When we started, the wife said when it was her turn to host her book club, she didn't want to invite people to her home and she wanted to change that.  I hope now she will look forward to her turn to host and show off her beautiful rooms. 

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, every room needs: window treatments, art and accessories.

Window Treatments:

Window treatments frequently come with your home in the form of blinds, shades, or something equally functional and utilitarian. These are fine in that they keep the sun out of your space and allow you some control of whether or not you're going to be sleeping in on Sunday. But a room doesn't really have that finished quality until the windows have been thoughtfully dressed. Be it a tiny valance in your bathroom, or formal drapes in your dining room, window treatments can be the difference between bland and beautiful.  Fabric treatments are a great opportunity to add color, pattern, and softness.  I love installing window treatments because of the reactions I get from my clients.  They are usually amazed by how much difference they make in a room and how it elevates the whole design of the space.

Art:

Sometimes I go into a client's house and find art or pictures on every single available wall space, but more often I go into a space and find that there is very little art. Art is one of the last things we place in a room, and it is oftentimes the most personal. Family portraits and your art choices give a sense of the people who live in a house. Choose your art carefully, art is one of those things where quality shows.  So buy the best art you can afford, buy something you love, and hang it up!

Accessories:

Like art, sometimes I come into a home and every available surface is used for display, often this gives the impression of clutter. More often, however, I go into a home and find that there are empty bookshelves, bare coffee tables, and empty cabinets. Just as the right earrings or a great pair of shoes can make an outfit, great accessories can take your room to the next level.

When working on your home remember not to stop at furniture, or paint, but to finish what you have started. A home is a place you spend time in, raise a family in, and live life in, it should be a place where you feel happy and complete.

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 budgets to create a beautiful and functional space.

Recently I had the opportunity of working with a wonderful young couple buying and furnishing their first home. They had a small budget and they wanted to hire a decorator to help with much of the first floor of their house. The wife told me that she had interviewed several decorators that didn't want to work with her because the budget was too small but I was up for the challenge.  I am glad I took the job because they were wonderful clients and we all loved the results!

To furnish the living area, dining area and foyer within our budget, we used readily available pieces from a variety of retail and resale sources, nothing custom. We skipped drapes in the main area, but brought them into the front hall for big impact. These ready made drapes bring in some color and accentuate the height of the two story foyer. A large hanging light fixture also emphasizes the ceiling height while adding a bit of 'wow'.

In the dining space, two host chairs were placed at either end of the dining table for color, and antique store chairs (only $40 each!) were used along the sides of the table allowing seating for up to eight people. The oval table has a soft gray finish which relates to the gray sofas in the living area. Replacing the builder-grade chandelier with something prettier was the finishing touch.

We chose two sofas for the living area, a bit of nailhead trim makes these budget friendly sofas look more high end.  One pricey accent pillow on a sofa is surrounded by more budget friendly finds. An accent chair in a bold floral pattern brings in a bit of fun.  The media console was our biggest splurge and way over budget but we all felt it was the perfect piece for the room.  Finishing touches include a trellis pattern rug, blue-gray lamps and a silver garden stool to bring in a little shine.

 Overall, we came in right on budget.  We were able to offset our media console "splurge" by staying under budget on other pieces. I think this project proves that a space can be functional, pretty, and affordable!

So can you afford a decorator? The answer may be "Yes"! You don't know until you ask. If you have a room that needs decorating, you have to be realistic about what furnishings cost. But, with some savvy shopping, you can work within your budget, and have a better result, thanks to a decorator. Think of a decorator as an investment in your home. You want your investment to look its best, and a decorator helps you to accomplish that, even on a small budget.