eNewsletter Archives
April 2008: Decorating 101, Determining Your Personal Style
Hello, this is Dana Smithers from Sun On My Back Redesigns,
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. YOU inspire me to keep providing new information to you to make your home makeover projects more manageable for living or selling.
From last month’s newsletter you should now have your Starting Point, your Inspiration Piece to help you move forward. If you are selling your home remember that you want your home to look great for your target market. Most buyers are ‘buying up’ and they like newer looking spaces with more contemporary styling. If you are decorating just for your self, well what could be more fun!
DECORATING 101
One of your important steps is determining Your Personal Style.
There are 4 basic styles that we refer to in the interior design & decorating world. Once you know what your style is, stay with it in everything you purchase or keep. By adding your Personal Touches you make your home a reflection of who you are. When it works, you know it!
TRADITIONAL – think elegant, formal, layers of everything and predominantly bisymmetrical balance and groupings in pairs. Window treatments can be lavish and have many layers with sheers, swags and jabots and lots of trims. Fabrics are rich in colour and texture with lots of matching patterns of florals, stripes and sophisticated plaids in silk, rich damask, tapestry-like fabrics. Flooring can be thick carpet or dark hardwood layered with gorgeous Persian carpets. Art is typically oil with landscapes and portraits in gilded frames; accessories are clocks, candelabras, family photos in silver or gold frames, crystal vases, and lots of antiques. Is this you?
COUNTRY - if you think warm, cozy, lots of wood and more laid back than traditional, typically you are thinking of American Country. It can be really rustic or more cottage looking with lighter tones in everything. Window treatments are often tab tops and fabrics are cotton gingham, natural fabrics with nature motifs, checks and plaids. Flooring can be stripped wooden boards strewn with rag rugs or faded oriental carpets. Art and accessories abound and their themes are usually farm life, animals and nature. French Country on the other hand can have a fancier look and be quite sophisticated! Does this describe you?
MODERN/CONTEMPORARY – think minimalist with lots of neutrals and contrasting dark wood furniture in leather and microfiber fabrics. Window treatments are kept to a minimum and can be the more popular 2” white faux woods or plain drapery with brushed nickel grommets. A few pieces of abstract art of sculpture create a nice balance to this look. Flooring is hardwood, ceramic tiles with beige carpet. Art is abstract and canvas, black and white photos framed with black borders and glass or interesting sculptures. Accessories tend to be in brighter colours and more trendy with lots of metal, glass and crystal. Think dramatic with lots of texture. This is the best look for home staging! Might you be this?
ECLECTIC – good eclectic is a mix of any two of the above styles with one more predominant than the other. Antiques (Traditional) mixed with contemporary pieces (Modern) work beautifully together. Having more than two styles together well not so good. Could this be your style?
*****************************************************
SPECIAL: TRAINING HOME offers for REDESIGN & HOME STAGING
If you think you can’t afford a professional designer then consider becoming a Training Home! Our training home results get rave reviews like this:
"WOW. I went home yesterday to what felt like a new home. As a person who is never without words this was an occasion when I was almost speechless. The changes to my living room and dining room area opened up so much space and yet it felt warm and inviting. The entrance way now looks so modern with the use of some furniture I had in my living room and family room. It will certainly impress my guests. The family room off the entrance is now uncluttered and looks more up to date. The suggestions left to me about adding and changing a few things in other areas of the house along with the rooms they changed will be very valuable when we decide to put our house on the market this summer. I certainly am a supporter of using professionals to assist home owners who want to have a "change over" in their house. Job well done ladies! Earleen, Victoria BC
April 21st – April 25th – VANCOUVER BC - imagine your home with a whole new look - in just one day -using your things - for living or selling!
May 12 – 16th – Vancouver June 9 – 13th - Kelowna
Special Offer:
$75 Consultation & $150 for our One Day Home Makeover!
Each month we are looking for the 'right' Training Homes that we can teach our students Redesign for living, and Redesign Staging for selling. All of our Training Programs involve some component of hands-on work in real Check out our website for more details under SERVICES.
To be eligible for our REDESIGN OR STAGING TRAINING HOME you need:
- enough furnishings for us to work with - rearrange, regroup, showcase
- 3 rooms we can make over such as living room, dining room, family room, etc.
- typically you will have 1500+ square feet in your home
*******************************************
UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Looking for More Information On How To Make Your Home More Harmonious for Living or Selling?
Come and join me on April 30th at the George Mackie Library - 8440 - 112 St. Delta, BC
Cost: FREE
Registration: Is required @ 604-594-8155.
For Program Information Check out: www.fvrl.bc.ca
SPECIAL OFFER 5 Day Redesign & Staging Course
Register One Month early and save $100! Register on line or contact us NOW to save your space, or be Wait listed.
In Complete Gratitude,
Dana J. Smithers
Google Search: If you are not sure what your style is have some fun and type in these key words: What is my decorating style? and take some of the quizzes.
Dana J. Smithers 
