I'm not sure, where do I start?

For the most part, the clients I work with know which room they want to redesign or remodel.  Then, there is generally a lot of "I'm not sure" and "I don't know" when I start to question them about their preferences for design style, color scheme, and in general, the base details to build on, so that the room evolves from something ordinary or outdated to something EXTRAORDINARY!

If you know what you want, have poured over hundreds of magazine pages, been dreaming about redoing the same room over and over again, down to the most minute details.....well then, good for you!  Get going. 

For everyone else, most people need some help or direction.  It's really easier than you think....just let go of your fears and dive in.

Case in point:

Years ago when I was pregnant with my first son, I went shopping for wallpaper to decorate the nursery.  I perused the aisles of the local wallpaper store for days on end.  I looked at each and every display, leafed through the books they had, and yet I kept returning to the same sample, day after day.  Had anyone asked me, I would have told them that I didn't particularly care for that pattern, nor the color-baby blue, how ordinary!  Finally, I decided that if I kept going back to that sample, there must be some sort of internal instinct guiding me.  I decided to take a leap of faith and go for it.  Was I surprised.  Not only did I absolutely love it once it was installed, it was just right with the adorable crib set that I fell in love with.  That room turned out to be the picture perfect nursery for my new baby boy.  Had I not followed my instincts, I don't think that I would have been so happy with the results.  In fact, I loved it so much, I kept it exactly the same, down to the diaper stacker, when we welcomed our second son almost two years later.

We all know what we like.  Consciously or subconsciously.   The trick is to bring it into a conscious plan of action.

The first thing I ask my clients to do, is get a manila folder and keep it handy.  I ask them to tear out pages that they like from magazines, advertisements, newspapers, etc and put them into that folder.  It doesn't matter if they know why they like it, just as long as they connect to it.  (The natural instinct.)  Once they have collected about 20 pieces, we lay them all out on a table.  It's pretty easy to see a pattern.  I set aside anything that doesn't immediately fit the pattern.  Colors, shapes, or style lines will be repeated throughout the pictures in one form or another.  Even the pages that are set aside will usually have one of the congruous elements somewhere.

Now, your turn.  Once you have collected your pictures, laid them out, and identified the similar threads throughout the pictures, go to http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/style-glossary/index.html.  There you will find a glossary of decorating styles.  By reading through the definitions, you will be able to find the elements that are repeated in the pages you have laid out.  Now you know your style, and have your starting point.

The Easiest Way to Avoid these Common Mistakes

Check out what Consumer Reports has to say about Kitchen Remodeling and some of the common mistakes that are made. Then come back.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/july/home-garden/kitchen-videos/overview/index.htm

Now, how do you avoid those mistakes?  One easy step-hire a professional.

Where can I find a professional who specializes in Kitchens and Bathrooms?  Start with the National Kitchen and Bath Association-http://www.nkba.org.  According to their website, the NKBA is "the premiere association for kitchen and bath professionals." 

The NKBA home page has a link, under "Homeowners" where you can find a local professional.  Listings are broken down into specific categories- Designers, Contractors, and various Trade Professionals.  The individuals and businesses that are listed, concentrate their business in the Kitchen and Bathroom industry.  While everyone listed is a professional, some have additional letters behind their names.  Those letters indicate members who have been tested and certified by the NKBA to have several years of industry work experience and posses a broad base of knowledge in the kitchen and bath industry.

There are many talented individuals and firms available to choose from.  The lack of certification does not necessarily translate into lack of qualifications.

A certified designer can prepare the drawings, and specifications that you will need to compare bids among contractors; thus, alleviating comparing apples and oranges, and possibly not having the end result you want at the price you expected. 

A certified designer can help you with space planning, functionality, design aesthetics, appliance recommendations that fit your needs, color, materials.

A certified designer can refer you to qualified contractors that they have had experience working with.  Some designers even have their own design/build firms.

So, don't be like the consumer in the video link above, and not be able to open your cabinets because they collide with the appliances, or vice versa.  Hire a qualified professional.  The money will be well spent, and might even save you money in the long run.

What color scheme to choose?

So many people are afraid of color.  Either they don't like any color at all, and want to stick with white, or they are so afraid that they will make a mistake, that they do nothing.

I say, put down that bunch of paint chips that you picked up last time you were at the home improvement store.  Lace up your sneakers, and go for a leisurely walk.  Look around you, notice the details, now look at the colors!  Mother Nature has done all of the work for you!  She has a fantastic eye for mixing and blending shades and hues of the same color, or blending complimentary, even contrasting colors.

Notice the different hues of greens, greys and browns on a tree, or even  just  the greens in the grass.  Look at how a meadow full of wildflowers magically blends a variety of whites, yellows oranges and even reds together into a pleasing quilt of colors.  Even the rocks below your feet have beautiful colors that will make a gorgeous decorating statement.

So next time you get frustrated, trying to pull your color scheme together, get some exercise. Even those puffy clouds overhead have beautiful shades of white and grey with maybe a little bit of blue, for the color shy.

Welcome to my world.......

I love art, color, design, puzzles and efficiency.  Being able to interchange variables in a space, and make them fit into a warm, inviting atmosphere that functions well, makes me happy.

As my husband can attest, my brain never stops.  I am constantly envisioning the next project or how something can be changed or tweaked to make it function better, look better, more balanced.  I drive him crazy!  You know the television shows where the wife is always moving furniture around and redecorating? That's me, only along with my own home, I am lucky enough to help other homeowners with their vision and dreams for their own homes.

Kitchens and Bathrooms are my specialty.  Within those spaces are the day to day routines that make our lives livable. There are simple rules of layout and organization that can make a huge difference in how those spaces function. My job is to make the ultimate use of those spaces so that they function effortlessly and look fabulous at the same time!

I have an insatiable passion for design, and I found a way to work with it every day! Lucky me!