Q: What is the easiest way to make a dramatic improvement to your home?

A: Paint makes a world of difference, and a paint project can usually be started and finished in a weekend, if not one day.
---For a weekend paint job, go to your favorite home improvement store during the week and pick up several color swatches that you like. Attach them to the walls and eliminate the ones you do not like until you are left with one color.
---For walls, I would suggest a good quality paint with an eggshell finish (Pratt and Lambert, BEHR, American Tradition, and Sherwin Williams have worked well for me in the past).
---Whenever you do a very dark color over a light color, or a light color over a very dark color, I would suggest 2 coats of primer and 2 or 3 coats of paint. You need to use lots of paint in order to get a nice rich color. The less of a color difference, the less paint is required. When using a very dark color, such as burgundy, I would also suggest painting the walls a chocolate brown first as a primer; this will help make the walls look very rich and you will probably need less coats of burgundy paint. Usually one can of paint can cover one coat on a standard dining room or large bedroom.



Q: What are some finishing elements that work well in most rooms?

A: I would suggest 3 things:
(1) Install a dimmer switch to your light switch so that you can control the lighting. This will allow you to set the correct mood for the room.
(2) Candles, candles, and more candles. Everyone looks better by candlelight (or a fire in the fireplace). I would suggest lots of different sizes and shapes of the same color - such as white or creme. I would not suggest scented candles near food as they might distort the flavors.
(3) Plants of all types. Plants seem to go with everything, and they adds life to a room. If you cannot grow real plants, faux plants are fine, however purchase the best quality plant that is in your budget, and keep it free of dust. Whether real or faux, make sure young children keep away from the dirt, moss, fertilizer, and pesticides.
***Please keep in mind that half of the challenge in designing a nice room is obtaining nice things, and the other half is presenting the nice things properly. Notice how beds linens are made in photographs - probably not the way your mother taught you.



Q: What are the most common design issues that people have?

A: Here are some things that I have noticed:
(1) Many people are afraid of either doing something wrong or are afraid of change in general. I would suggest to take a chance. If you paint a wall in your home and you dislike the color, all you have to do is repaint it. Get rid of your white walls and give your house some character!
(2) Clutter everywhere is very common, especially in homes that have been lived in for long periods of time. In order to de-clutter, remove every nonessential item from your room - picture frames, magazines, coffee table books, trinkets, figurines, family heirlooms, etc. Next, put in only the items that add to the room. People usually find de-cluttering very liberating and helps save dusting time. If you have a tendency to collect alot of things that you want displayed, consider putting your collections out at different times. Usually putting all like items in a collection in one area works better than spreading them all around your house.
(3) What are your mirrors reflecting? Many mirrors, especially over fireplaces, look wonderful when someone is standing up, however when someone is seated on your sofa, all you see in the mirror is your ugly ceiling fan. Trick - angle your mirror to where the top is further from the wall than the bottom.
(4) Not removing the protective coverings off of interior furnishings. Whether it is plastic on lamp shades, dining chair cushions, or a sofa, please remove the plastic (if not for everyday, at least when you have guests).



Q: What if I don't have a huge budget?

A: Many discount stores are realizing that we require more style in our home. Take a look at Target, Wal-mart, or eBay. You might be surprised at what types of fashionable items you can purchase there for a minimal cost.



Q: What concerns people the most when hiring an interior designer?

A: Most people are afraid of their home turning into what the designer wants instead of what they want. Interior designers are supposed to guide homeowners into making appropriate decisions and help them discover their vision. Basically "Enhancing the Quality of your Home". Please keep in mind that many of the designer shows on television are geared toward drama, not homeowner satisfaction. If a designer gets bossy or does not value a homeowner's opinion, it is time to start shopping for a new interior designer. Your designer does not live in your home - you do!



Q: What are the most common "rules" that people break when designing themselves?

A: I have heard tons of design "rules" - many of which are conflicting. Unless the "rule" has to do with safety, I consider it a suggestion, not a rule, of what has worked well for someone in the past. Breaking the standard "rules" can actually be very interesting and innovative. As long as people are happy (and safe) with their own home, let them break all the "rules" they want.



Q: I am interested in a career in interior design - how would you suggest I get started?

A: First off, the state of Texas requires you to be licensed in order to call yourself a "registered interior designer" or "RID" (anyone can call themself an interior decorator or interior designer just as anyone can call themselves an artist). In order to become a registered interior designer, I would suggest attending an accredited interior design school. A listing of accredited interior design schools and the proceedure for becoming a licensed interior designer is on the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners website. Many states have similar legislation, however legislation differs slightly from state to state. For more information, click here.



For more information, check out my articles on www.InteriorDesignInfo.com.