Designer Advice

My philosophy is to "Live life like a movie." Ask yourself, what movie (or television show) do you want to be living in? Is it a Merchant-Ivory film set in the English countryside? Or maybe the Jetsons, with its futuristic yet retro sensibility? Go ahead, pick your own movie. Thinking in terms of a movie or a movie genre will help you visualize what your ideal home would look like. It will aid you in choosing colors, wall coverings, furniture, accessories, everything. Just close your eyes and imagine that movie. This approach is much richer and gives you something more tangible to work with than just saying you want to go modern or antique.

A related, but simpler, approach is to think of each room like a specific movie location. For instance, I wanted my bedroom to look like an upscale New York hotel room. You may want your living room to look like a medieval throne room (I know someone who did), or your dining room to look like a Moroccan bazaar. Again, putting your vision in concrete terms gives you more to work with.

Jonathan Fong
Creative Director
Jonathan Fong Style
E-mail: info@jonathanfongstyle.com
Website: www.jonathanfongstyle.com

Over the years of decorating I began to sense that a key to a beautiful room is not only the inventory of the furniture but the emotional feeling that the space is thrilling, harmonious and happy. Establishing that feeling takes years of experimenting with your taste and style. Observing and paying attention to designers and what is around you leads to your sense of style. If that style evokes the right emotion to you, whether it is peace and serenity or excitement and fun then you are falling into the right place. Then expound on these feelings and find things that bring into the space those emotions. Maybe you are a practical person or a flamboyant person and go with those feelings that make you happy.

Jennifer Bevan
Jennifer Bevan Interiors
E-mail: contact@jenniferbevan.com

How does the average person go about choosing a design style that best fits their home, family and lifestyle?

Color, texture and patterns along with the confidence to put it all together are some of the tools that begin forming a design style choice for your home. Developing and creating an interior style fitting your family needs can be inspired by many avenues, such as magazine articles that fashion beautiful room settings and style challenges. I find that the average person can educate their abilities through the vast array of television programs and books that feature at home do-it-yourself design formats. These helpful programs and books can influence and train you with helpful hints and ideas to express yourself through a design flair that is unique for you.

Treasured items can be integrated with new furniture, colors and pattens creating an eclectic feel of warmth that creates a patina of age to your room setting. Walls and floors are the most obvious choice for color that will develop a theme for your interiors. I always recommend making choices that are visually appealing to you and that the level of performance should also be considered for your family needs.

Warm colors can be stimulating and create a sense of energy while cooler shades seem restful and relaxing, but our response to color is completely individual. You may love bright and cheerful colors or prefer the order and simplicity of tone-on-tone, monochromatic shades. The cozy softness of natural shades and splashes of color and design should be pleasing to you.

Your central design theme can be built through simple techniques that portray easy and obvious decisions, arranging your colors (paint, wallpaper), textures (fabrics, flooring) and furniture (photographs/ wood samples and upholstery) on a "story board" (poster board or folder organizer), which will begin the process of forming your choices. This representation is a smaller version of what you will be seeing in your room on a larger scale and assists you as you shop for major purchases, along with the accessary items.

Whatever your style don't be afraid to tailor your choices that will create the personality and image of your home which will suit your budget and taste.

Susan K. Goans, IFDA
Artistic Adventures/ White Dove Media
Website: www.artisticadventures.net

Design is a passionate endeavor, like creating artwork. I enjoy colorful treatments, adding sparkle, depth or drama to each area. If I have any signature, its adding a touch of fun,something unexpected, joyful. Style should reflect a clients individuality, its important in the initial interview to get a sense of a homeowner's lifestyle and personality.Make your interior reflect who you are and who you want to be. I have the word "believe" on the back of my business card. Interior design isn't cut and dried, it's INSPIRATIONAL. Everybody wants their dream home, and that's where the excitement comes in. I want to develop a trusting, communicative relationship, become a cheerleader for my client and help them envision the and develop the space they have always wanted. Budget is important in finding the very best for your client.

My own living room is done in a rather Bohemian, eclectic style, a mix of old and new. I don't like my furniture in my rooms to look like they were all purchased from the same showroom. You can create an exciting look by mixing the expensive with the inexpensive. It takes an eye to achieve the right balance and keep scale, color, texture and proportion in mind.

Peggy A. Sellwood
P.S. DESIGN
E-mail: sellwoodpj@aol.com
Website: www.inchbyinchdecor.com

"What style represents your work best?" is the question I am asked the most. As easy question to ask, but far from easy to answer as no two clients are alike. "Individual style which is discerned after extensive meetings with a client," is my usual response, wherein actually I could write a book on Defining Your Style.

Where to begin? A simple checklist helps. It may seem cliché, but it will give the framework for building and achieving your goal.

1. Budget (this will really set boundaries)
2. If your home has a truthful architectural style, consider that look or a style that incorporates some of the influences.
3. Recall places you have traveled and look through magazines for feelings and ideas.
4. Figure out if you are into practicality over beauty, or if you are a slave to beauty and will put up with a look that requires extra care.
5. What represents you as far as your home being 'totally you'.
6. What works best with your family life? Comfort, clutter, minimalism? A combination?
7. Color. Figure out what you want to live with and what you don't want to live with.
8. How long do you want to wait to put together the perfect home? Finding the perfect antique or custom design can take time.
9. Can all involved in the household agree on one vision? Chances are you'll have to mix it up to satisfy all. Then go over the checklist for each person involved. At this point, someone has to have veto power if another is holding up the project in an unreasonable manner.
10. Hire a professional interior designer.

Kathryn Waltzer, ASID,CID
E-mail: info@kathrynwaltzer.com
Website: www.kathrynwaltzer.com

Your "personal style" means just that, YOURS! Not your mother's, not your sister's, and not your best friend's. Look past the trends. These are important to shape your style, but you need to dig deeper finding what really makes you feel good expressing yourself. Are you formal or casual, do you entertain with intimate dinners or large groups buffet style, are you single, married with/without children, do you have pets, are they big or little, what colors do you like, dark or light, earth tones, neutrals, or bright hues, do you feel good with patterned fabrics or prefer solids and textures? Pour through design magazines pulling photos of rooms you respond to, go to home tours, and visit home furnishing stores. Relate this to your home. Does it have a contemporary open floor plan or traditional well defined rooms? It takes a lot of careful thought. Your style is not written in stone. It is a process changing as you're exposed to new things through your travels and life experiences, as your children grow, leave home and have children of their own, and as you age. Remember to have fun with it.

Bruce Kading, ASID, CID
Senior Interior Designer
William Beson Interior Design, LTD.
E-mail: brucekading@williambeson.com
Website: www.williambeson.com

How does the average person go about choosing a design style that best fits their home, family and lifestyle? One must look through books and magazines, cutting out or isolating the styles that feel good to you. If you have no experience at this, the best thing is not to mix too many styles..either the garden (shabby chic) look, or colonial (Tommy Bahamas) look. There are so many...or just classic looks using color for interest. Follow the picture details. Never use just white walls--you'll never get the warmth you want with white. Even if you want to go with a monochromatic color scheme, use a shade of
beige for the walls. Don't worry about the room looking smaller--you want it to be inviting and cozy. Color is the least expensive thing you can do for a room but it has the biggest impact. Don't be afraid to use several shades of the same color. Decorating is a process so don't try to do it all at once. Start with a pillow, piece of clothing--something you LOVE for color and build around it.

Susan Lane
Designer, Susan Lane Designs
E-mail: lanewerth@aol.com