I stopped in on my friend (and former decorating client) Susan last week since I was in the neighbourhood. She loves primitive country decor but she’s a bit eclectic in her style. She likes the old farmhouse feel - old barn windows refinished with a crackle paint and a new mirror tucked in behind, small (but heavy) cast iron gates and bed rails hanging in the sunroom for her vines.

Now although her house is gorgeous and everyone feels right at home the moment they enter, I get a little nervous when I see such heavy items hanging. We talked about this and then I decided to share some thoughts with you here.

First and foremost I won’t attempt to explain a process that could steer you wrong if you just visited the average hardware store. The wall decor I’m talking about here are 25-30+ pounds and they’re being hung on standard drywall or panelled interior walls.

To ensure your satisfaction, the integrity of the wall, and the safety of your home visitors, you don’t want to take any chances with hanging these items correctly. read the rest…

You may be wondering, “Can I Decorate My House in True Country Style?”

That’s nearly as silly as asking yourself “Am I creative?” as far as I’m concerned.

Of course you are! We all are! And when it comes to our own living quarters, all that counts is that ‘we’ like the colors, the accessories, the art prints, etc. What matters is not is it creative enough to be seen in a magazine?

Decorating creativity can be very subtle and you should never feel as though your ideas and designs won’t quite ‘cut’ it. Designers have been at the business of decorating for years and not everyone can afford one for any room in their house, much less an entire house and garden! Your own eye for country decor will grow over time as your tastes in home design changes.

Although creativity is an important quality to have when considering interior design as a hobby or a profession, most of it is dependent on originality - not on matching a room to a page in a magazine. You’ll be happiest with your own rooms (as will your clients or friends whose houses you decorate) when you offer a look that nobody else has.

A Few Tips to Finding Your Own Country Decor Muse

Begin by looking at what you have available and turning those items into something new - a conversation piece perhaps or a work of art. Here are some tips: read the rest…

After spending considerable time with clients, friends and in designing my own living space I’ve come to realize that primitive home decorating is a task that always seems to be ‘under construction’, but lovingly so.

As you grow and change and discover your personal style, your home changes with you - room by room. You may find that you have naturally created a French country decor in your bedroom, a farmhouse primitive look in your kitchen and so on. Even though a verbal description makes your decorating style sound unpolished, such is not the case on a walk-through.

Primitive home decorating encompasses, blends and matches many similar styles and gives your home uniformity. A uniformity that matches your distinct tastes and styles. read the rest…

Still thinking about doing interior decorating work?

If you are inclined toward a creative home interior design, residential design is right for you. Now let’s get your design style on!

Most designers specialize in one or two rooms with one or two styles. Kitchens and bathrooms for instance are mine. Primitive country and farmhouse country are my favorites. What are yours? Where does your talent, interest, or style fall under?

Much of your specialty will depend on your biggest interest.

It doesn’t really matter which area you choose - they all have their own rewards and challenges. The best reason to specialize is to set yourself up as an expert in your field. Many people would prefer an expert. It adds to your professional status. read the rest…

Interior Decorators often specialize in one area of design. By focusing on one or two specialties and perhaps dabbling in other related areas of decor, a decorator can concentrate more on each individual client and less on trends.

Whether you are looking for a decorating specilist or are thinking of becoming a decorator, specialization is desirable. A focused designer is a sought-out designer. A decorating specialist who understands, and perhaps even sets, the trends for a ‘decor genre’.

Let’s talk about you, and your home now. Once you’ve defined your favorite style, enhanced your eye and skills in that mode of design, you then set out to showcase and display the variety and range within.

Here’s an example using my own home. Since the style I love the most is country, my decor varies throughout the rooms. While the kitchen is farmhouse country, the dining room and bath are rustic or primitive country. And my daughter’s room, as well as the living room and office are what I like to call ‘up country’.

As you can see there is a lot of freedom in any specialization as you learn to blend and mix ‘looks’ with the personality of the room or the inhabitant. Once you go out to decorate for a living it becomes very easy at that point, to give your clients the same consideration. You’ll often be given free reign to let your creativity create a beautiful space for them - assignments that may begin with just one room but which could blossom into redecorating the entire house, the deck, guest houses, and yes, even gardens! read the rest…

Have you ever seen a beautiful country home and wondered how the owner knew just what colors and styles to employ in the decor?

Or for that matter wished that you could do the same in your own home?

Many of us, who love to decorate, wonder what it would be like to be paid to be a decorator, consultant or interior designer, but few take the next steps. If you’re really serious you’ll want to not only study design, but also the ins and outs of the home decor business.

At the most primitive, an interior designer is a fashion or style consultant for the home. Your job will be to beautify a room or rooms and explain your vision and recommendations. Clients seldom desire to be kept in the dark, they often want to know every detail and the reason behind each decision you make for their homes.