Rhipsalis, typically known as “mistletoe cacti” in a contemporary ceramic container sits on an antique mantle alongside a modern painting.  

Hi, All!

LivingLovelier is all about surrounding yourself with beauty and good taste both through interior design and cooking.

 

Let’s talk about interior design today.

Always get a swatch before you cut the fabric off the bolt!  Color wheels by Ben Moore and Sherwin Williams

Maybe you know what look you want and have started the decorating process but you don’t know how to pull it all together.

Or perhaps you are scratching your head and don’t know where to start.

Grammy’s steamer trunk which accompanied her from Ireland in 1915 

What if it is time to put your home on the market and need a stager to make it show- ready. You need a professional eye to make it present in the most appealing way to potential buyers so that you get the maximum price and a quick home sale.

Does any of this resonate with you?  You are reading the right post, friends!

I have years of experience as a designer. Let me help.

I found a set of tarnished antique ashtrays at a roadside shop. Polished up, they make great soap dishes. The birch candle sits on a silver rimmed wine coaster.

Most likely, I can save you time, energy, headaches, and money. Also, I can help you to avoid expensive mistakes.

For years, I have heard folks say the following about interior decorators:

• My house isn’t nice enough.
• I am embarrassed. My house is a mess
• I am afraid that I don’t have the  budget.
• A decorator would be appalled by my house.
• I would  not know how to say no to something that a designer suggested
• I don’t know what my style is

So, here is what I have to say to THAT.

My house isn’t nice enough. If you think your house can be nicer and you need help getting there then you need a decorator. If what you mean is that you are  not living on the fanciest street in town or that your home is not unlike many others then I suggest you stop being so judgy.

I am embarrassed. My house is a mess.  In the (similar) words of Forest Gump, “Nice is as nice does.”  A decorator guides you in organizing and setting up organizational systems so that you can keep your home tidy and beautiful. The fact that your house is a mess says that you need a better system! If you had the knowledge to set one up you probably would have done it by now. Call a designer.

I am afraid that I don’t have the budget. Start first by figuring out what budget you have. Maybe you do.  The sky doesn’t have to be the limit, Everbody! Pick a room, for example, and allocate a sum of money that you are willing to spend on the ideas and implementation. Maybe it is $ 1,000.00.Maybe more, maybe less. Maybe you want help choosing a paint color or a new faucet only. Be clear, though and be sure that you and your designer are clear on your agreement. Put in writing up front and FOLLOW IT.

I had a client who called me for help. She said she had a budget of $1,500.00 and needed help with her family room.  We organized the bookcases, adding some fun accents, rearranged the furniture, chose a paint color for the walls and tossed some fun and funky pillows and a throw on the sofa. She felt as if she had a whole new room.

A decorator would be appalled by my house.  If you have eighty cats, perhaps.  Designers have a job because people struggle with the task of creating beauty and functionality in a room. Consider your home a blank canvas or an exciting challenge.

I wouldn’t know how to say no to something a designer suggested.  A good decorator is able to appeal to different tastes. That is a talent. In addition, decorators are artists who understand that opinions are objective. Not everyone loves the same art, right? Speak up and don’t feel bad about saying no.

I have had success with my design skills for many years but I have had PLENTY of people speak up and tell me that they were not too keen on an idea of mine. THICK SKIN, friends. Thick skin.

I don’t know what my style is. A designer is able to determine and identify what appeals to you and then build upon it.

The good news is that you can dip your toe in the water without committing.  Look around, ask friends, check out magazines, make some calls. Schedule a consultation with a designer (me!) whose work speaks to you. Then you decide if it feels right, the budget works and whether you are ready to start LIVINGLOVELIER.

Sparkle On, Friends!

Echeveria in a birch container adds a contemporary yet rustic look.

My fees range starting at $75.00 per hour and up, depending on the project. Contact me at LIVINGLOVELIER@gmail.com for more information. I am available within the 617,978,781 and 508 area codes.

Sparkle On, Friends!

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