Over the next two posts, we’ll be exploring the importance of color and some design rules regarding color placement. There are several ways to approach color in decorating. In my book, “The Styleprint Design System,” we decorate first for use or function and then bring in look and feel. You’ll eventually identify your color theme, read more…

In my ultimate design guide, “The Styleprint Design System,” we consider light from four different perspectives: 1. What is the reaction of the people who live in the space? How do they feel about its light? 2. How much natural light is there? Natural daylight makes a big difference. What are the exposure, number, and read more…

Trends in lighting change. When you assess a space to update it, changing the lighting fixtures can have a huge impact but is often overlooked. In today’s kitchens for example, we’ve gotten away from the old fluorescent rectangles and are trending toward pendants that hang down over an island or work area. Under-the-counter lighting is read more…

When planning a room, select the scale of furnishings that will enhance the room. If it’s a smaller room and you want it to look and feel bigger. Do things like: • Go with lighter colors because lighter colors open up space and make walls recede • Look for other ways to add light to read more…

As you prepare to design your room, be sure to note its components and unique features. Review the windows; other architectural features such as built-in cabinetry or moldings; and the material of the walls, floors, and ceiling. You’ll want to evaluate what is working in your space by listing the specifics of different elements throughout read more…

If you’re starting or contemplating a decorating project, you’re bound to run into a few fears and limitations that may cause you to get stuck. Here are four great ways to stay motivated and moving ahead: 1. Enjoy the process of the project. 2. Stick to your plan, and avoid project creep 3. Set a read more…

People’s color preferences have a lot to do with their own personality and lifestyle. People have preferences for color. Some people like blue; others don’t. Rarely will someone not like any of the hues of a particular color. For example, there will be shades or tints of blue that people prefer or dislike.   If read more…

The 1970s and early 1980s boasted particular decorating styles, be they traditional, contemporary, or country. In the late 1980s and 1990s, home inhabitants morphed styles to be less strict, with greater blurring of the lines between them. Style became “personal” or “eclectic” and later, “transitional.” This mind-set continues in decorating today; people decorate in a read more…

I worked with a client we’ll call Sally. When I arrived, she had moved into a previously occupied condo that was unfurnished. She had a budget and an idea of what to do first. Her thought was to rip out all the carpet and put in new carpeting. This was a five-room condo, and doing read more…

I worked with a client we’ll call Sally. When I arrived, she had moved into a previously occupied condo that was unfurnished. She had a budget and an idea of what to do first. Her thought was to rip out all the carpet and put in new carpeting. This was a five-room condo, and doing read more…