Six Must Haves before You Decorate!
Hello There Design Aficionado!
Happy New Year 2024!
As I sit here and reflect on the past year there have been so many things that have happened. The good, the bad and the ugly. And we have overcome the ugly and come out on the other side. I’m sure you can relate on some level. One reason, the primary reason is that I made a decision a few years back that I would choose to find something to be grateful for each day in many areas of my life. This I believe has had a profound change in me and those who I love. I will continue this. Don’t think this was easy. There were health challenges, money challenges, mindset challenges. Babies born, and the loss of special people passing too. And as long as I am breathing those will continue. However, I will continue to choose gratefulness, to the point of choosing a word that I will focus on this year—Colorful. Yes, color makes me happy. Not a fleeting happy, but a deep down joy almost. Last year my word was flourish. Colorful is almost the same thing to me. To add color to my wardrobe, to add color in my home, to add color to my life is to add something to smile about. There’s so much to life why not add a bit more that makes you smile. Do you have a word for 2024? I pray it brings you clarity for the upcoming year.
Preparation
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today”
Decorating your home can be a daunting task. We want a beautiful home that brings us joy and happiness and supports us in living. I believe that once you have prepared well these six elements you will have a more successful decor project.
Values You Hold Dear
As you can tell gratefulness is a value that I have. Gratefulness for my family, friends, my career and what it affords me. Your values shape your life. What do you hold dear?
Is it fun, travel, entertaining?
warm and cozy and slowing down?
How does your home reflect that?
Lifestyle
How many kids do you have? Do you have pets? Do you travel for work? Do you cook every night or get take out. Understanding your life style is so important to getting a home that functions for you.
Investment Guideline
This can be a hot button item for many. But my desire is to give you the tools you need to take the emotion out of it. But really knowing your numbers is such an important component to have a handle on. Then it becomes an aspect that you have mastered.
Mid Range: between 7-10% of the homes value
Luxury home: 25% of the homes value
Allow for contingencies, pad estimates by 10-20% of your total budget. Setting a clear interior design budget at the start enables you to stick to your spending goals and avoid nasty surprises.
A Word to the Wise
Fast, Cheap and Easy is what we think we want. However, cheaply made, trendy design that is readily available to the masses is ultimately detrimental to the environment. The design industry is responsible for much of the landscape waste problem that we have in America. American consumers produce 12 million tons of furniture waste! Personally, this saddens me that an industry that I love so much causes harm to our future. As a designer, I am called to offer wise solutions. My solution to this problem is that I encourage you to source quality furniture in a timeless style that is made to last by real people who care about what they produce. A quality designer will curate according to your guidelines.
Timeline
Do you have a event that you are preparing for?
Are you determined to be able to host that beautiful Christmas dinner next year?
To be able to have out of town guests overnight?
To have a game night next month?
Have the girlfriends over to watch the red carpet walk Oscars?
Furnishing a single room with no renovation component: 6 months
Main floor project including some basic cosmetic renovations, like painting, a fireplace upgrade, flooring, applied trim and molding, etc. but with no kitchens or bathrooms: 7-9 months
A full renovation from planning to completion will require a minimum of 8 months
That Christmas dinner you want to host, get started in January!
Design Style
We are venturing into a time more than ever that personal style can be uniquely you. Translating into a Signature Design Style that reflects you. Consider where you live and the architectural style of your particular home. Sometimes it helps to have a muse.
The Hamptons for a Coastal style
Santa Fe for a SW Style
Francophile who adores tall windows, parquet floors, and ornate applied mouldings?
Dig into Pinterest and Pin everything that speaks to you. Then do a deep dive and begin to see what types of things drew you in. Is there a pattern? That is your secret sauce.
ColorPalette+
Color is foundational to your design scheme. So many design styles have a certain color(s) that dominate it.
What is your favorite color? When you put it on does it make you smile? When you surround yourself with it does it welcome you in? Maybe you have some inspiration with the current years COTY. There are five ways to help determine your Signature Color Palette+.
Do you prefer?
Light or Dark?
Cool or Warm colors?
Muted or Clear?
Which room?
What is the desired feeling?
Determining your Signature Color Palette+ creates a palette not just for one room but for your whole home. No jarring color change. Just peace and harmony as you move through your home.
Do you want Peace and Harmony in the home?
Life is stressful enough isn’t it. Decor should be fun, right?! Today’s preparation for tomorrows success!
Take the quiz!
I hope that your creative juices flowing now that you know what you ought to do to get your project moving forward with a handle on real investment guidelines and timelines.
And if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, I’d love a call to discuss how we could work together.
