The best garage sale, heavy on the antiques is right around the corner!

For the "Do-it-yourself-er"

Trust Your Intuition - If you found it or own it and LOVE IT, it will work in your home.  Other than to 'redesign' with your own belongings, your room will never be completed in just a few weeks.  The best rooms will look collected.  The items most people love the most or the ones with a story or significance behind them.

Create a Decorating File - If you've attended ANY of my classes or ever had an appointment with me, you KNOW I am firm believer in keeping it all together.  I just completed a bathroom remodel in my own home and followed my own advice.  It was a huge help!  Read the full blog article, including illustrations, here.  What's in yours?

• Magazine clippings of rooms the inspire you.
• Use an online gathering place and print out the ones that excite you the most. HOUZZ is a great place to start online.  Their Idea Book is a great tool. 
• Don't hesitate to snap pictures if you have a camera phone when you're shopping or carry a small digital camera and take pictures of hotel lobbies, retail stores, your neighbor's table vignette....whatever inspires you.
• Your room dimensions including the window measurements.  You might find an awesome 'find' that you can't return and you'll need these.
• Paint swatches - either what you have if your project is under way or what you've selected.  (next:)
  

Paint a Room - Paint is one of the most cost efficient tools to update and freshen up a room.  It might sound overwhelming, but you really can paint a room in a few hours.  Take the extra time for good prep work and DO purchase a quality paint.  I'm currently LOVING Sherwin-Williams paint and will happily send you a 20% off coupon if you email me!  Be sure to include your address!  Be bold!  Don't stick with the lightest shade.  Put a little muscle in it and select a mid-tone the complements your artwork or your furniture.

Edit your Space - View the room through the eyes of a house guest.  (gulp)  Keep only the items you LOVE it, NEED it, WANT it  AND works with your plan!  Sell, donate or relocate those items that don't work.  Think how soothing the space is the functions cleanly and seamlessly!

Empty the Space - When you you've made the stay/go decisions, empty the room completely except for the major pieces that are the "bones" of the room.

ReBuild the Space -Work with the architecture of the room:  The windows, the view, the fireplace.  Put those large foundation pieces in place...even if it's exactly where they were due to lack of option...just the replacement and editing will make the room feel fresh and new. Try out one new thing the room.  A new table, a seating vignette in a corner, a small game table and chairs, whatever...something different and distinctive.  Make sure the arrangement as wonderful conversation areas.