Go Ask Alice

"It's a 12-part series that answers homeowners' questions about common design dilemmas," Fakier says. Each segment addresses a specific design challenge and demonstrates a do-it-yourself solution. "I hope viewers are inspired to try some of these ideas at home. We really chose affordable projects that could actually be done with a minimum of tools and by yourself," Fakier says. "We want to be inspiring, not overwhelming." The show was shot in her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

In one of her favorite episodes, Fakier transformed a small bedroom for a teenaged girl. "The challenge was that there wasn't a lot of room for storage or furniture. We used bookcases to flank a bed and created a fabric canopy," she says. The result was a multipurpose unit that created a focal point in the room, included a headboard and storage. "I really like that the unit was unique and one-of-a-kind. You can tailor it to any child or decor with different fabric. And the child has that essential space for all of the stuff he or she likes to surround themselves with, from trophies and books to pictures of friends."

Fakier, who is Japanese, has her own special brand of decorating that is a meld of cultures and influences. Raised in the South, Fakier has lived in Louisiana and Texas and graduated with a degree in interior design from Louisiana Tech. She's developed an appreciation for traditional styles of decorating, but has traveled extensively to explore new ideas and resources. Her own home, a classic ranch house on the outside (just like the one she grew up in), is eclectic on the inside. "I have some traditional pieces and some things I've inherited mixed in with modern pieces. It's in the mixing that you come up with a more personal result," she says. That's why her freelance design company is called Galimaufry, a French word that means "a mix of good ingredients." And why the guest room in her home is her favorite: "The things in it have sentimental value. My husband built the bed from antique posts. My parents bought me the dresser. My husband gave me the bedside table as a gift. That's what makes it all special."

In spite of her passion of design, Fakier doesn't think people should take it so seriously. "It's not like it's brain or cancer surgery," she says. "It's important but it's supposed to be fun. If you make a mistake in design, it can usually lead to some thing more interesting. Or, at the very least, it can be redone." She worries that people become paralyzed with fear about doing the wrong thing and so do nothing. So she eases the way with new clients by simply talking with them about what they like and what they want to change or enhance in their space. She listens carefully to what they're saying and takes pictures of the space.

What's one of the most common design mistakes she sees? "It has to be bad lighting," Fakier says. "How many times have you walked into a beautiful room and you look up and there's this cheap light fixture up there that came with the house! A light fixture can be a centerpiece of the room but often it's the last thing to be addressed." She tells her clients to consider a great chandelier in the guest room or a whimsical fixture in the bathroom or nursery. "High quality lighting is pricey," she admits, but it can make a room.

Fakier is also a fanatic of fabulous fabric. Whenever she has time, you'll find her in the local fabric shop. "I can wander through fabric stores for hours. Fine fabrics are like art, each is individual in its creation, color and texture," she says. "Think of all the things you can do with fabric: freshen up a bed or sofa by changing out the pillows. All you need is a remnant and stitch tape! Or stretch fabric over a frame and use it as art, or hang it like a tapestry. The possibilities are endless!" Endless, just like Alice Fakier's enthusiasm for design and storehouse of creative solutions. Whenever you have a design dilemma, go ask Alice.