The Magic Of Design

The Magic Of Design
By Melody Foster, Fri Dec 9th

There was a time people thought the world was flat. At anotherpoint in history it was believed that women didn’t have theknow-how to run a business or change a tire. Then there was theone about man not being able to fly. Over time all of thesefairytales have proven untrue.

So it is with interior design. Until recently, many people heldthe belief that having their home decorated by an interiordesigner was reserved for the rich and famous. Nothing could befurther from the truth.

Fact is, many people of average income who live in a middleclassneighborhood are frequently surprised to learn they can easilyafford the services of an interior designer. In other cases,many folks prefer to learn tips about design so they have theflexibility to redo a room on a whim. Either way, you have morechoices today then ever before.

It is not uncommon to completely redo a room for a one timesocial event such as a birthday celebration, a graduation or awedding. With some simple tips, even the most inexperiencedperson can easily spruce up a room.

Before you begin, think about the style you are interested in.Is it art deco, traditional, Mediterranean, western, modern, orcontemporary? These are only a few of the multitude of choicesyou have. Think through how functional the room will be withwhat you have in mind. Avoid rugs and chairs that stain easilyif there will be a lot of traffic in the room.

Be very careful to scale your furniture to the size of the room.If you have a very large space you can break up the area intolittle sitting groups or area groups. You can easily shift the“feel” of a room with the use of lighting and/or plants. Arearugs are another tool many designers use to break up largespaces. A variety of paint colors and wall textures can makeeven the most mundane room come to life.

Small space decorating is fast becoming a favorite topic formany people as real estate prices rise. Think priorities when itcomes to small spaces. Do you need to use an area of the roomfor more than one reason? In some cases you can easily convertthe kitchen table to your workspace provided you have cabinetspace handy for supplies. A chest of drawers can easily servethis purpose by holding office supplies, linens, or evencomputer components.

If you are considering utilizing the services of a designer, doyour homework. Check their portfolio and references. Find outhow they are to work with, did they deliver on time, were theyeasy to work with and did they listen to the homeowner. If youget an affirmative answer on all of these and their fees aresuitable to your budget, then take the leap. Often, interiordesigns services are provided at no additional cost to you, andwill give you the extra edge you need to create exactly thefeeling you want for your home.

A great designer can make recommendations you may not havethought of. Ultimately, their goal is for you to be ecstaticwith what you were able to accomplish together. After all, youare the one that has to live in the space long after thedesigner has done their magic.

About the author:Melody Foster is the proprietor of The Cozy Home. The Cozy Homerecently received the award for Best Interior Design for 2004from the Parade of Homes and Salt Lake Home Builders Associationfor homes in the $400,000 - $700,000 range.mfoster@speakeasy.net