7 Benefits of Hiring A Designer or Decorator

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Many people think hiring a decorator/designer is a luxury service that only folks with disposable income can afford. Truthfully this is a luxury service however; the price tag doesn't always equate to it being unattainable or even unaffordable.

Interior design and decor services have come a long way from what you and I remember. Gone are the days when this service was only available to the rich and famous (a picture of Robin Leach holding a glass of champagne just popped into my head). With the invention of e-design and other creative options; many folks now have access to design and decorating service more than ever. The spectrum of individuals servicing this industry is also broad; from designers specializing in one room makeovers to full service remodels. The sky is truly the limit!

Hiring a designer/decorator is a wise and sensible choice when you think of what all their services involve. Below are 7 benefits of hiring a designer or decorator for your next project.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #1- Save Time

You've heard the saying "time is money". An interior decorator will save homeowners the dreaded task of sourcing all the products and furnishings to coordinate a space. Designers and decorators are tasked with measuring a space, creating a color scheme, sourcing the furnishings and accessories and coordinating the delivery and installation. Unless you have the passion for this work; there are a lot of moving parts to this that I've found people just don't have the patience or desire to visualize a space and plan out the elements accordingly.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #2- Save Money

It seems counter-intuitive but its true that hiring a designer will save you money in the long run. This is one of the most important benefits of hiring an interior designer in my opinion. Let's see a show of hands to those who have impulsively bought paint samples or perhaps a rug only to find out it didn't match the theme of the room. The paint colors looked great in the store but horrible in your living where there is lots of natural light (learn more about how light affect paint colors here). Or the "blue" in the rug is a completely different blue than what you'd hoped would match your sofa. Mistakes can be costly; its better to work with someone who can readily advise you in these areas in making the right choice the first time.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #3- Professional Assessment

Working with a designer offers a trained set of eyes to see and notice things that you may not. A designer can provide a professional assessment of your space and guidance to homeowners on a design plan and realistic budget to put into action.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #4- Increase Home Value

When you are in the market to sell your home; it goes without saying that a professionally decorated home will appeal to more buyers and put your home ahead of the competition.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #5- Perfect Mix of Form & Function

Along with identifying furnishings that properly fit a space, designers and decorators are also tasked with pulling this all together to create a sense of fluidity or harmony within a space. Design is a constant balancing act between what looks great and the intended purpose of space; this is where that trained set of eyes can be especially helpful.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #6- Wow Factor

Everyone wants their home to have the wow factor. Designers and decorators can deliver on this through their trained eye and being able to think outside of the box.

Benefit of Hiring a Designer #7- Availability of Resources

Because of their connections with to the trade programs, designers & decorators have access to furnishings and merchandise that is not available to the general public. These connections benefit the homeowner in creating a more custom look to their space.

As you can see, there are several benefits to hiring a designer or decorator. If you have no idea how to begin a decor project, or you simply just don't have the time because of your busy schedule; hiring an interiors professional will set you on the right track and truly serves its purpose of delivering a space that reflects style and personality.

Do you need help with decorating your space? Be sure to check out my design consultation only services page here for any decor dilemmas you may find yourself in. It's the perfect start for anyone getting their feet wet with interior design services.

Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams!

P.S. Here is a picture of Robin Leach for all the young folks reading this.

Design 101: 4 Common Decorating Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

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There is so much gray area when it comes to decorating. Everyone has their own style and ways of doing things. Decorating is subjective; it allows us creatives to take risks with things like color, art, and accessories. This can be seen as a gift and a curse. While I love the freedom of expression and personality that is captured in decorating; there are some things that are just downright awkward.

Full disclosure: decorating mistakes happen to the best of us. This includes design professionals. This includes me. I'm able to write this post with such candor because I'd like to think that I've learned from these rookie decor snafus. So let's take a walk down memory lane as we discuss common decorating mistakes (that I've made) and how to avoid them.

Not Testing Colors Before Painting-Decorating Mistake #1

When my husband and I first moved to Atlanta, we bought a gorgeous one bedroom condo in the City. It was built in 1925 and had plastered walls, squeaky original hardwood floors, and crown molding that was swoon worthy. I was in love.

Before we moved in, we decided to have the entire space professionally painted. The condo was only 990 square feet and the living room and sitting room took up at least half of that space. So knowing this, I decided to choose a burnt orange for the living room and a deep chocolate for the sitting room. Yes you read that right. I chose 2 of the darkest colors on the planet to make an already small space feel..smaller.

Although there was lots of natural light coming in from the 3 windows in each room, the space felt moody and dark ALL. THE. TIME. I lived with this decorating mistake for 5 years. I now know the importance of testing out paint colors in a space with both natural and artificial lighting before you make a commitment. I've also learned that paint colors will look different depending on what direction your space is facing. Rooms facing north, south, east and west will affect paint colors differently depending on the direct amount of sunlight each space receives. I know that sounds weird but it's true. Learn more about it here.

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Not Measuring a Space-Decorating Mistake #2

You walk into a store and see a sofa that makes you do a happy dance. Its just what you've been looking for and it's within your budget! Before you can blink twice; you've handed over your credit card and arranged a delivery date for your new beauty. Within a week it arrives and is set up in your living room. Although it looks the same as what you saw in the store; there is something slightly different about it. As you stare around the room, it hits you like a ton of bricks- your lovely sofa is too big for your space. Many people make this decorating mistake of purchasing things on the spot before measuring. It's important to understand the scale of your space and measure how much room you have for large furnishings before you make a purchase. I would also suggest to maybe sketch a very general plan of your space to get an idea of your layout and to understand what may or may not fit. This will save you money and feelings of sofa resentment in the future.

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Choosing the Wrong Rug Size-Decorating Mistake #3

Choosing the wrong rug size ties in with proportion and scale. A rug that is too small will get lost under furnishings and a rug too large will make a room feel small and cluttered. This is a common decorating mistake but it doesn't have to be! A general rule of thumb is that the room size and furniture layout will dictate the size of the area rug. And bigger is better; you want to select a rug that is large enough to have the furniture placed entirely on the rug or at a minimum just the front legs.

Lack of Focal Point-Decorating Mistake #4

A lack of a focal point makes a space feel chaotic. On the other hand, creating a focal point gives a room direction and order. Its the statement piece in a room that the eye lands on when entering the space. A TV or fireplace is an obvious focal point. However; there are others that stand out and can make a room feel grand. Try using large artwork or a floral arrangement. Your space will look well thought out and balanced. In the picture above there is a beautiful chaos occurring with all the patterns, colors and textures however; its pretty obvious that the focal point is the dog snoozing on the couch. I kid-your eyes should immediately be drawn towards the gorgeous artwork display.

"When you know better, you do better" is such a true statement. These are simple mistakes that are easily overlooked when starting a project. However; my common decorating mistakes doesn't have to be your common decorating mistakes. Now that I've shared my dirty decor laundry with you, its time for you to do the same! Schedule a Decorator By Your Side session and let's get your design dilemmas worked out before you get started on that next project.

Unique Gallery Wall Ideas: DIY Framed Art with Rifle Paper Co. Calendar

Designed by: Decor By Demi

Gallery walls are all the rage. I knew I wanted to create a grid style version in my family room but wasn't sure what to use as art. My primary colors in the space are coral, sky blue and chocolate. I wanted to come up with a unique gallery wall idea since I knew original art wasn't in the budget. So I perused Etsy. Seriously, every art piece I looked at in that color scheme was created for a nursery. Little hearts, arrows, animals...you name it. Too bad I'm not having a baby. Moving on to Plan B.

I searched high and low and couldn't find anything I liked. Feeling annoyed, I began to think maybe I should scratch the unique gallery wall idea and just invest in a big art piece when the time is right. After all, my living room wall has been empty for the last 8 years so what's another 2 (insert major dose of sarcasm).

Then I saw a post that caught my eye. It talked about using creative items for art like calendar pages, post cards, graphic t-shirts, etc. The sample picture for the calendar idea used an old Rifle Paper Co calendar. I love the quality of Rifle Paper products and knew this was the answer to my problems.

The next day I purchased a calendar and got busy with my DIY gallery wall. The frames that I used were 11 x 14 and included a mat. First, I tore out each calendar month and placed the mat on top. Next, I then taped the mat directly on the calendar page and cut any excess paper to customize the look.

Finally, I framed all 12 pages and arranged the layout. I decided on 1/2 inch of space between each frame to keep the look neat and clean. I also left about a feet of space between the bottom row of frames and the top of the sofa. I didn't want the frames too close to the sofa in order to avoid accidents with the kids.

And voila! My unique gallery wall idea is complete. The quotes bring a burst of inspiration and color into the space. I also love how easy it will be to simply change out the art according to future color schemes.

Do you have a DIY project you've been tossing around but aren't sure how to get started? Then a Decorator By Your Side may be the perfect option for you. This is a consultation service that I offer on an "as needed" base. Depending on your needs, I can assist for a minimum of 20 hours. Let's work together and get that DIY project started!

How To Choose the Perfect Paint Color? The Secret Sauce is in the Light Folks

I'm a fan of color if you didn't know. There is something about seeing a cohesive color palette that makes me smile. In my home I have an orange room, 2 blue rooms, and I painted my kids' bathroom a cool turquoise! I've balanced these colors out by also including grays and tans in other rooms so my house doesn't look like a circus tent I promise. Now most people would never be this daring. I think the fear actually comes from not being able to pick a paint color confidently. And this is because most colors end up looking completely different from the paint chips in the store compared to when you put it up on your wall. The culprit: light. Let's dissect the different ways light plays a part in choosing a paint color.

Natural Light

This is also known as sunlight and is never the same throughout the day. As the amount and angle of the sun changes in a room, so will your paint colors. Sunlight gives off a warm glow during the early morning and evening hours and can make colors appear warmer. However; colors appear washed out midday during peak sunlight hours.

Room Direction

The exposure of sunlight on a room facing north, south, east or west plays a part in whether that "sassy brown" ends up looking like baby poo on your wall.

North: Sunlight is less direct during the day and has a cool, bluish tone. Warm colors in the red, orange and yellow family would complement this space.

South: In contrast, south facing rooms receive more sunlight during the day. Warm colors are intensified and look brighter. To offset this, cool colors in the blue and green family are recommended instead.

East: Sunlight in eastern facing rooms is warm and have a yellow tone through noon, then turn a cool blue through the evening. Warm colors are best suited for this space if often used later in the day or evenings.

West: Sunlight in this space is minimal and dull during the day however; is warm in the evening. If this space is being used often in the evening, cool colors would be best.

Artificial Light

The type of bulbs you use in a space can affect your paint colors too.

Incandescent: The yellow tone in these bulbs will enhance warm colors while muting cool hues.

Halogen: Resembles daylight and has the ability to make all colors look vivid.

Fluorescent: Will enhance cool colors while diminishing warm tones.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs): More flexible than other bulb types in that you can control the level of color. Complements most paint colors.

Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs): Depending on the bulb, it can produce either a warm white or bluish white light.

Tips for Choosing Your Perfect Paint Color

-Try to determine the direction your room is facing. I'm horrible at this and if you are as well, I suggest downloading a compass app on your phone.

-Apply 2 coats of paint to a poster board and move it around the space during different times of the day to see how sunlight and artificial light affects the color.

-Turn on artificial lights even during the day to see how your paint color is affected.

-Remember that paint sheen also affects paint color. A glossy finish reflects light and will alter a color while a flat finish will be less reflective and showcase a true color.

Now that you know the secret sauce, go forth and conquer choosing a paint color like a pro. Your walls will thank me.

How Did I End Up Here...

I'm Demi. Welcome to my little corner of the world! This is my first blog post and I thought it would be befitting to chat a little bit about me and how I got here. This helps to get all the niceties out of the way and helps us start to feel comfortable with one another. You know-kind of like a consultation but not really. After all, interior design is personal and subjective; I couldn't imagine anyone being okay with letting a stranger in their home without vetting them first.

It's funny how your interests and desires change as you get older. No one could have ever convinced me 20 years ago that I'd get excited about shopping for cutlery and bedding. But I guess that's what happens when you settle down, have kids and start adulting. In my former life, I had dreams of living in Washington D.C., going to law school, and working for the FBI. I wanted to be a criminal defense attorney. However, due to the fact that I didn't have a job lined up after college and couldn't afford law school; I ended up going to graduate school instead. I'd won a full academic scholarship for grad school so the decision wasn't hard. Plus, my path had crossed with this wonderful dude who I secretly didn't want to move away from. That dude is my hubby you see in the "about" section!

After graduate school I began working in the field of Contracts & Procurement. I loved it because it allowed me to work in the legal arena without the headache that comes with being an attorney. I've lovingly worked in this field for the last 13 years; 9 of those years have been served in federal contracting. My primary responsibility has always been to mitigate the risks for my firm. This entails me reading construction contracts and determining the risks involved, mitigating those risks and negotiating terms & conditions that ultimately benefit both parties.

I've always loved the comfort that a 9-5 brings. You always know there's a paycheck coming your way in 2 weeks. But here again, your desires and interests change as you become more seasoned in life. Towards the end of 2015, I began to feel a little tug in my spirit. Work started to feel like work. My babies were 3 years old at the time and I hated the lack of flexibility that comes with working for someone else. To top things off, my firm was also going through its second year of layoffs and it left a taste of instability in my mouth that I couldn't rinse away.

Feeling as if there has to be more to this "hamster wheel" life I was experiencing, I began to explore other opportunities. I thought initially that another job might be the answer but soon realized, I enjoy my colleagues and really didn't want to have to start over with another firm. I work with a great bunch of people that I wouldn't trade for anything. My teammates are like family; we've been together through the birth of children and celebrated birthdays together. So, I decided to stay put. Around this time, we also decided it was finally time to update our house. We'd been living in our home for 7 years and hadn't done much besides painting and doing a small update to the counter tops and back splash in the kitchen. So we began a small renovation project.

Let me be clear in that the renovation project was all me. My husband has no interest in this sort of thing but knew we needed to update for selling purposes down the road. I selected 3 contractors to provide a bid and went to work HGTV style. I am an HGTV OG. I watched it profusely back in the days of "Trading Spaces" with Vern Yip, Hildi Santos Tomas, and Doug Wilson. I also have a serious girl crush on Genevieve Gorder. She can do no wrong design wise. Back to the story-once a contractor was selected, I provided my selections on paint, fixtures, and finishes and worked with the contractor over a 4 month period. Once the dust settled literally, I was a little sad. Then I had a eureka moment-I wanted to do this again. Could this be something I could do but maybe for someone else? Could all my mindless years of watching HGTV and providing advise to friends and family amount to something? Could I actually make money doing this and have it be a second career? Once I stopped talking to myself, I got to work researching this possibility.

Through my research I've learned that interior design is not just about fluffing pillows; its a perfect blend of art and science. It allows me to use both my left and right side of my brain; I get to explore that creative side that has been held captive for so long. Because of this, I decided to enroll in a Degree program cause I obviously have too much time on my hands. But seriously, its important to me to have a working knowledge of the industry with this second career and I'm a firm believer in teaching an old dog new tricks.

So that's how I ended up here folks. I took a long scenic drive to get here but I made it. Through the process of self-discovery and introspection, I've learned that what once fulfilled me can change over time and that's okay. I'm still with my firm and enjoying my co-workers. My perspective on "work being work" has changed now that I get to explore this other path. This job provides me the flexibility to work on other passions; because I know what I'm doing and can prioritize accordingly. Being in a new work environment wouldn't be so forgiving. My ultimate goal is to work this second career into being my prime career so that I get to spend more time with my little humans before they get to a point where "mama isn't cool". I hope that day comes sooner than later. Me giving up my 9-5 is what I meant; I'll always be cool to me.