Lately I've been pondering the topic of
style. Is awesome interior panache available only to a certain privileged group of people? Do you have to be rolling in cash to have an awesome space? Is it possible for regular people, maybe living with kids or pets
or not, to have a way-cool home turf too?
When I tell people that I'm an interior decorator, they immediately assume that I'm out there working with incredibly wealthy people. People who have limitless budgets to splurge on shamelessly marked-up items. When actually, I've had the privilege to work with many people who have great, fresh style and decorate their homes on an average, or below-average budget.
Many of my clients already know what they like and what they don't like. They can often pick out awesome art, carpets, and furniture themselves. Sometimes they just want input from a decorator for wall colour. Or placement of pictures on a wall. Or a furniture arrangement that works for their life and looks fabulous. Sometimes when I show up at their home, we spend time sitting in the rooms that they want to update and we talk about the possibilities and their preferences.
I'm passionate about
not spending crazy amounts of money on décor. Of course, money that's been saved and budgeted for important quality items can be well spent after careful consideration.
But what about fun? And your home representing who you are? Where you've travelled? Colours that make you happy? These are all important factors in creating a personal, comfortable space to put your feet up and relax in.
Frown lines popping up on your forehead because your décor is stressing you out?
You can do this. Trust in your sense of style. Look at pictures in magazines and tear out the ones that you love. Form a list of what you want and what you don't want in your space. Become informed about your dreams for your space. And if you need more advice and input, call me up! I'd love to help.
that perfect piece.
On Saturday I took my family to Lorraine Lithgow-Nolan's fantastic shop, that perfect piece in Shakespeare, near Stratford. Her shop is filled with reclaimed, restored, recyled and retro furnishings and gifts which are unique, one of a kind. Lorraine, and her husband John, have made it their mission to bring new life to vintage and antique items. Fueled by their creativity and their environmentally conscious mindset, they repurpose these items on site, or source them out from their suppliers. Quality, affordability, functionality or just plain "cool" describe their mantra.
Located right on Highway 7/8 in the midst of the Shakespeare Ontario shopping experience. Second shop on the right, immediately after the traffic lights. Hope you can go for a weekend jaunt soon. Enjoy!
