How to Start

Christine-
First of all, let me tell you how much I love your website. I just wish you lived in my city and I could stop in to see you. We just recently bought what I hope to be our last house. It has sooo much potential. The problem is, I do not know where to start. I guess the logical place would be the living room/dining room/kitchen open area. I told myself a few years ago I would get an interior decorator when I got to my next (hopefully/last house) so that the house I lived in for the next 20-30 years would be my dream house. How do I go about finding someone to help me? I need a plan that I can do in phases, so that I don't "cheap" out but slowly acquire good furniture & accessories.
- Cindy

Cindy-

Sometimes I get a question and think... "I think I have answered this before..." Which I did. I did a little digging and found a few posts from '09 you should start with. Read these posts- then let me know which photos are your favorites- answer the questions in this post- send me a floorplan and some photos and we can begin. Together we can turn your house into your dream home. If you want to find a local interior designer- I would search by word of mouth- ask around- if you can't find any that way- interview a few.

- Thanks for writing in-

Christine

What is Your Style- Part III

1. Today's post is a continuation of the last two- Melanie does not know what her decorating style is- and so we are figuring it out for her- so- same thing today- which is your favorite- least favorite? Tell me what you like about a favorite- and specifically what you do not like about your least favorite.

2.

3.

4. 5. 6.

Melanie's response:

From favorite to least:

4. - absolutely love it!

5. - like it

3. - like it, it's a very comfortable feel for me, I just think it would require a certain style of home and location to work ... like New Mexico.

2. - like it, but not a fan of the antlers on the wall and the coffee table isn't my style.

1. I like a lot about 1, except for the couch, which I would think would be a big part of the room.

6. I hate those tables, and the couch really isn't my style.

Melanie,

Dear Melanie,

You're style is "Classic Pottery Barn." I find this so funny, as I scoured designer magazines and super expensive interiors, to find that you didn't like any of those, and absolutely love Pottery Barn. I don't know why- but that really makes me laugh :).

In this post- the two you liked were West Elm and Pottery Barn- and then in today's post the top two pics are West Elm, the bottom is Crate and Barell, and the rest- including the one you love the most and your two second favorites are Pottery Barn. :)

When searching to re-create this style- keep in mind that these rooms have fabulous built-ins, big beautiful windows and paneling- not just Pottery Barn furniture. Check out this post for more ideas. The part that should come easily is that you probably get their magazine every third week delivered to your home, and they are easily found on the web- so finding their furniture is easy one stop shopping. If you prefer bright colors- purchase their spring collection. If you like muted- buy in the fall. It's too easy huh?

What is Your Style? Part II

Today's post is a continuation of yesterday's. Melanie does not know what her style is- and we are going to figure it out :) So- today- same thing- I found photos that combined your two favorites from yesterday- so- let me know today- do you love any of these rooms? Which is your favorite? How about your least favorite? 1. Bold with Blue

2. Retro Orange

3. Chic Green and Gray

4. Funky Yellow

5. The Bookcases and Boat

Thanks to Coastal Living June 2009 and July/ August 2009 for photos.

What is Your Style?

Hi Christine-

My sister-in-law just forwarded me your blog and I'm so excited. We have a large brand new house in the southwest after many years of apartment living through grad school. So the entire house is a blank canvas, we barely even brought any furniture with us. While I'm eager to get the house set up, I'm totally overwhelmed and not even sure what my decorating style is so I can get started. Do you have any pointers to help me get the ball rolling?

Thanks for your insight,

Melanie

Dear Melanie,

Every time I start working with a client- the first job of mine is to determine what their style is. I ask them to prepare for our first meeting by selecting photos from design magazines that really move them. I will also ask them what stores they like? Do you prefer Ballard Designs, or West Elm? Do you like a clean simple look, or do you love beautiful accessories everywhere? Refined or rustic? After you find photos that you like, really study them- what about the room do you love? Are there any aspects that you don't like? Knowing what a client dislikes can be equally helpful for me. Think about the eye doctor. You know how he says, "Which is better? This one, or this one?" Well- we are going to do that exercise and determine your style. Today I start with five photos. Which of these do you most prefer?

Starting from the top of the post:

• Modern Edgy
• Cottage Comfort
• French Flair
• Today's Transitional
• Retro Fun

  

There are sooooo many different styles out there- but we have to start somewhere- so- we'll start with these. So- what is your favorite? What is your least favorite?

thanks to the photo sources:

photos 1 from Lofts and Condos 2009

photo 2 from Coastal Living 2008

photo 3 from Southern Accents July/ August 2008

photo 4 from Country French spring summer 2009

photo 5 from Dwell September 2009

It All Starts With a Plan!

This is Portico Kim- not Re-model Kim :)

She e-mailed me pictures of her basement, and said,

I am looking to create a warm comfortable space.

It looks like Kim is starting with paint. STOP! That is one of the last selections you make. There are infinite colors of paint- never select the paint before the furniture, rug, and window treatments. It is much easier to match paint to furnishings than furnishings to paint. I want to start by asking Kim a bunch of questions. these are good questions to ask yourself before starting a decorating project.

1. What do you want to use the space for? Just TV viewing? Games? Video or otherwise?- Reading? Homework? Dining? Cards? Conversation?
2. What are your storage needs? Books, videos, DVD's CD's Christmas trees?
3. How many people do you want to seat in your area?
4. What does the actual floorplan look like? (with dimensions)
5. What is your decorating style? How would you describe it? Sometimes you can answer this by tellling me your favorite stores- do you prefer Room and Board, or William Sonoma Home? Do you have any pictures that you have clipped from magazines that show me what you like AND some that show me what you don't like?
6. Do you have any existing items that need to be included in the design? Any art work or furniture to incorporate :) Stuff like that.
7. Any special needs?
8. What color pallet do you invision in the area?
9. How much money do you want to spend?

So- start with a plan. Be deliberate. Make the most of your area / time / money. Hey Readers- can you think of other questions Kim should ask before begining? Anyone NOT do this and regret it?