How do I get started? Answer: Create a GAME PLAN and determine what areas you feel you need help with. Much of the work we do starts with a fabric, a wall covering, artwork or a rug that the client really loves. I pull the colors and pieces that I will use from that piece. Paint is an inexpensive way to experiment and can be easily changed. Bring texture into your home with rich, woven fabrics, area rugs and window treatments. How do I best use color in my home? Answer: Pick a neutral color and 3 complimentary colors to work with. Using less than 3 colors gets boring. Play with three colors within the neutral in different areas of your room. Have one color that is the common tie-in throughout your home. It's also important to get large samples of the colors you want to use and place them where you will use them for a couple of days and see what they look as the light in the room changes. If you love orange, don't paint the whole room orange; paint an accent wall or go for pillows, vases and other accessories in variations of that color. How do you use color in large homes with open floor plans? Answer: There are natural starting and stopping points even though it is considered an open floor plan. In most cases there are perfect walls to use as accent walls. Selecting a wall with a fireplace or built-ins OR selecting two walls to lead your eye into the room is often a way to use color to define the space. Use a nook for a darker color or paint the back panels of your major built-ins such as bookcases. How much can I expect to spend on decorating my home? Answer: My advice is to spend a little less on buying a home and putting the money into your interiors. It's what you see, touch and feel every day. It takes about $15,000 to $30,000 to make an impact. Although we help people in all budget ranges here, I advise my clients to create a game plan and spread the costs out over a period of 2 years or so. Do metals have to match in a room, say all gold or all silver? No, metals do not have to match. The more you mix, the more you can mix. I use copper, silver and gold leaf all the time. How do I choose window treatments? Window treatments are really considered art. Depending on where your windows are and the size, you can go with anything from a very elaborate curtain or a simple window board. This is where you want to put a little extra money and effort. We can come out and give you suggestions and that time will go toward your purchase if your treatment is over a specific dollar amount. I have a piece of artwork I love. What are your suggestions for hanging artwork? Answer: Artwork gives the eye a place to pause. It can be used to create separation in those combined room, obviously used over a fireplace and just about every where in your home. The key is to hang it at eye level on the wall and make sure that you have a beautiful frame. A piece of art doesn't have to be expensive. We do framing here and the difference a beautiful frame can make in a piece of artwork is incredible! What's your advice on accessories? Answer: Accessories can run the gamut from flowing fountains to Perfume bottles. It's a good idea to have a plan of just what you want to accomplish with an accessory. Does it need to be functional, such as a lacquered red bowl to hold fruit for your kitchen table or do you want an original piece of art that ties in your décor for all to enjoy? The key thing to remember about accessories is that they are very affordable and unique and a great way to add individuality to any home. What do you think is the most important thing in decorating my home? Answer: The most important thing is that you love it! Personal style means a lot of different things to different people. What we like to emphasize is that you don't have to be afraid to decorate your home and it doesn't have to be extremely expensive to get the look that you want. Don't be afraid and don't be intimidated by decorating. It needs to be fun. Our goal is this - when you walk into your home we want it to be your haven from the outside world. A place that you love and that loves you back every day. SO INVEST IN IT