I hope we can change the idea that Interior Design is expensive. It can actually save you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars! You know you're guilty of buying 4 gallons of paint for the living room. Or how about returning a rug, lamp or end table two to three times because you take it home and it's not the right one?
Wouldn't your time and money be better spend hiring a Design Expert to do the research for you so you can make the purchase one time??
I thought I would share with you some of the mistakes I see most often in hopes to keep YOU from making any of the same.

1. Choosing paint colors before you purchase bedding/furniture/draperies for your room.
Remember: you can always find a paint color to match the furniture and accessories for your room. You can't always find furniture/pillows/draperies to match your exact paint color. You can certainly find a paint color that you love and WANT to paint your room but search for the items to work with your color first before you committ. It may be your color is good but you may need to adjust it a shade or two that works best with your furniture and other items you want for the room.

2. Buying a home without taking into consideration the furniture and artwork you already own.
This happens often when families merge together. A newlywed couple decide they are going to buy a house together. They move in and they both bring all of their stuff and then don't know what goes where or what to get rid of. Of course he wants to get rid of her stuff and vice versa. Now what??

HIRE A DESGINER!

This will save you alot of money and alot of arguments!! Really!!
A designer can look at both spaces and at your current furniture and help you decide what to keep and where it goes. You can sell what doesn't work, store it, or recover it. But don't wait until you are in the home and the stuff is sitting everywhere. This will cause you grief you don't need.

3. Pictures/Mirros/Accessories
I always say..purchase things you love. Although this is true, it doesn't mean every piece needs to be in the living room on the mantle or bookshelves. Purchase with intention. Purchase pieces for a specific place with a specific purpose. Mirrors can make spaces appear larger. Pictures can add color and used in a collage or as a set, can fill spaces adequately. Accessories bring color, personality and style, when chosen correctly. Just because someone gave you a crystal vace or a clock, doesn't mean it has to be placed in your newly designed living room.

4. Yes, cover the windows with something! If you have a great view and don't want to cover it that's fine but there are soo many choices to add warmth, color, design to any room with a variety of shades, panels, valances, etc. Adding window coverings to a room is like putting on jewelry or lipstick; it's that little extra that makes a big impact. This does NOT have to cost alot of money! Again, call your favorite designer and look into options.
 
Creative Design has a new program that you can use select fabrics and have custom size treatments made for significantly less than custom!

5. Building new? Make sure you take into consideration all that you want to achieve in your new space!! Consider all of your storage needs, pet needs, future in-law needs, holiday decorating, outdoor lighting, office space, furniture placement, outlets, etc. A floorplan can look great in a catalog but make sure you design it to fit your lifestyle! A designer or architect who has years of experience can help you consider all of the "little" things that make a big difference after you move in.

If you need assistance with any design projects you're working on or considering in the future, you can call us for a FREE consultation! We would love to help you design SMART and STYLISH spaces!!

Donna Houghton
57.215.3476
Lifestyle Specialist

I work with many homeowners that live on the water and they don't want to miss their fabulous view. Who could blame them? However, you can cover your window or at least dress them so they add the color, personality and style that every room deserves.
Consider using solar shades that protect from the glare but still allow the view. How about a cellular or roman shades with a cordless, top down bottom up option for optimum versatility? We can also get creative with all types of fabric valances, side panels etc. to spruce up your space without alot of heaviness or coverage.

If you're building a new home, keep in mind the type of window coverings you may want to have when you're choosing sconces, light switches, window trim etc. Sometimes window treatments are not thought of until later and homeowners are disappointed when they realize they have to reach around to get to light switchens or that they will cover the expensive, detailed trim that they purchased around their windows.
As always, call us for assistance with your window coverings, we're so happy to help.

Would you like to be one? If you already think you are one, you
may want to be a part of a new group.  

Definition: A women that takes  charge of her life and designs it the way she wants to. She figures out how to  balance her career, her family and her health. She doesn’t make excuses or fly  off the handle when things don’t go her way; she creates the path she wants to  travel on.

 A Woman
that Rocks can be a domestic engineer or the CEO
of a corporation or a small business owner.  Whatever  she does, she does it with the utmost integrity and passion. She doesn’t settle  for second best nor is she perfect at everything. She realizes her strengths and  knows when to lean on others for support. 


A Woman
that Rocks has a certain influence and draw to
her that is sometimes unexplainable yet you know somehow you want to know her.
She is someone that others desire to be like. The great thing about this type of
woman is she is happy to share her secrets, her passion, and her style with
anyone.  She isn’t selfish or rude but is absolutely self-confident and reliable. 

The world needs Women that Rock because they believe in things
and they fight for them. They create businesses, they launch new products, they
make things, they mold and support their family, and they build life into their
children, and are a great friend when you need one. 

If you are wondering who you know that is a Woman that Rock s
consider these examples:

Mother  Theresa… A woman of notoriety that loved those less fortunate. She showed us
all how to love and care for one another. 

Susan B Anthony…She fought for 50 years for women’s  rights.

Clara Barton…She founded the Red Cross.


Harriet Tubman…This woman started the Underground Railroad and brought slaves to
freedom.


Oprah  Winfrey…She came from a very poor family and lived in times when people
treated colored people very poorly. She rose above her circumstances and gives
back in big ways to others.


Whether or not you agree with everything these women did or
  shared is irrelevant. The point is they believed in themselves and created
  change. They saw a problem and they solved it. They had a passion and they
  followed it.


I’m not saying that the only way to be an incredible woman you
need to create something massive or be a TV show host, but know that you are a
leader; of your home, your children, your relationship with others. We need
leaders. We need people with passion, strength, integrity. We need people that
care about relationships. We need moms that want their children to grow up in a
world that is safe, caring, responsible, with rights like freedom, job security,
home ownership, fulfilling careers, etc. 

A Woman that  Rocks takes her place in the world and accepts the
challenge to make it better because she believe she can and accepts the
responsibility of bringing her gifts and abilities to serve others. 

If you’re ready to Rock on with us, please visit our Facebook
page titled Women That  Rock or email Donna at donna3267@sbcglobal.net
and ask for an add.


If you are someone reading this and your heart is pounding
because you want to be this person but aren’t sure what your unique
contribution is, email Donna for a free 15 minute consultation about how to
become a Woman That Rocks!!!