by jeff rice

Just in time for Thanksgiving and in the spirit of giving, I have just announced a community outreach program for my company called “Healing Touches by Décor Designs”. While I took my inspiration from projects by other SDP members, I had to find something that I felt passionately enough about to commit the time and energy. Healing Touches is the evolving result.

by jeff rice

We’ve all heard it before. “If you don’t learn from past mistakes, you’re condemned to repeat them.” And, “what goes around comes around”. Well according to industry experts, the same holds true for paint colors.

I recently attended Benjamin Moore's “Color Pulse 2010” at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Our speaker, Mary Hoffman, and the other color specialists with Ben Mo have determined that those lovely mauves, olives and golds of yesteryear are fighting for a comeback. They’ve already started to appear and will feature even more prominently in fashion and design as we head toward 2010. Think Brady Bunch kitchen and you can envision what we may be in for. God save us!

I am happy to report, however, that there are some encouraging color notes coming up. Look for resurgence in blues which have fallen out of favor for a number of years. The real color story will come from purple which is reportedly going to be THE color for 2010. Guess I was ahead of the trend when I chose shades of purple for my logo in 2004. Who knew?

Among others, here are some trends to watch for:

Photos from Paula's TV Segment.

Pumpkin dressed up with a little spray paint.

Paula A. Henry, ODSDP, IDP, CCP
Simply Put Interiors, Inc.
Voted Baltimore's Best Home Stager by Baltimore Magazine, August 2007!!!

(410) 252.9911

The Society of Decorating Professionals, Charter Certified Member

My segment was about using grocery store purchases to decorate for fall (see photos in another post.) Lots of planning. Lots of preparation. Lots of schlepping. And, set-up. I was set up in the employee cafeteria as was the cooking segment which was to air after mine. Our mikes were checked, we knew who was standing where, how the camera would follow my lead and ready to go. Just a few seconds into it, the screen went BLACK and they immediately cut away to a commercial. Now, when you are watching commercials they seem like they are on for an eternity but not so when you are in crisis mode with technical difficulties and only have a couple minutes before going live again. I was standing there trying to stay calm while watching the chaos and listening to the reporter have a conversation into her ear piece. I remember hearing her say, “I am not doing this. If we lose our picture again it will be mighty embarrassing. I am not comfortable with this.”

Of course, it was all about me and all I could think about was how much time and effort had just gone out the window. Then I heard the plan. With literally 45 seconds, we had to make it to the news room to continue and hope for some video of my display. I told you we were in the employee cafeteria…on the ground level. We had to cover 2 flights of steps and get to the opposite side of the news room and seated at the desk…in 45 seconds! I am not a sprinter. I am not a jogger. In fact, I am not even a power walker. However, I really didn’t have a choice and there was no time to think about it. They said “RUN” and I ran! Guess what? I actually made it even though I felt like I was panting like a dog!

We continued the segment, I drew a complete blank about anything I had done (I was too worried about catching my breath) but with the guidance of the reporter, determination, and finally some video, we got through it. When we were finished, I knew for sure it was horrible. Especially when everyone in the studio was telling me how sorry they were.

I did not dwell on this. I knew there was nothing I could have done to avoid what had happened. I could only control how I dealt with it. I stayed calm, completed a sprint in record time, made it through the segment and was proud of what I had put together. I was also thankful. Thankful for the opportunity to be on TV. Thankful for the exposure and FREE advertising. Thankful to share inspiration with viewers. Thankful it was behind me. And, when I got home and watched it, I was thankful it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, under the circumstances, it wasn’t bad.

In our lives and in our businesses, we often encounter things we cannot control. The key is not to sweat what you can’t control but to control yourself and how you deal with what comes your way. Whether you are on live TV or sitting in a client’s living room, stay focused and positive, and you will have plenty to be thankful for too!

Paula A. Henry, ODSDP, IDP, CCP
Simply Put Interiors, Inc.
Creating the "WOW" factor one room at a time! CALL US FOR ALL OF YOUR DECORATING NEEDS!!
Voted Baltimore's Best Home Stager by Baltimore Magazine, August 2007!!!

(410) 252.9911

The Society of Decorating Professionals, Charter Certified Member

Window Fashions magazine will launch its newly rebranded magazine, Window Fashion Vision, in November. After 30 years as the leading industry publication, providing inspiration and education for interior designers, Window Fashions is taking its mission even further.

“We are raising the bar. We are on a mission to elevate window fashions in the minds of designers and consumers,” said Grace McNamara, president and CEO of Grace McNamara Inc., parent company of Window Fashions. ““The re-design and re-naming of our product better represents what we have to offer, which is the industry vision for our readers and advertisers. We are the voice, the views, and the “vision” of the industry.

“There is much we in the window fashions industry can do to gain back lost market share,” she said. We must make window fashions a hot product choice in the minds of consumers and designers. Our new magazine—which is designed to be even more inspirational for designers—is part of elevating that perception.”

We are also campaigning to reach designers who don’t work with window fashions now but should, said McNamara, and who need to learn more about window fashion as a “must” design element to add to their projects.

The November edition of Vision includes an interview with designer Jamie Drake; a story on designer John Buscarello’s Park Avenue apartment makeover; a piece about high-end window fashions from the workroom perspective; the new trends report from Maison + Objet; and more.

“Throughout, the magazine will have more the look and feel of an inspirational magazine geared to all designers and window fashion design professionals,” said Sheri O’Meara, editor. “We aim to speak to their passions and give them inspiration and information to create beautiful work for their clients. The new look and feel of the magazine speaks to and through design professionals—be they designer/decorators, workrooms, installers or manufacturers.”

The November issue will go out to a record-setting total of 85,000 readers, who will receive either the print or digital editions.

In addition to the magazine, Vision will also launch a new website, www.wfvision.com, to reflect its new vision.

For more information, call Beth Hansen, publisher, (651) 762-2012.

by jeff rice

As Redesigners and Stagers, our projects often require for us to be a "Jack (or Jill) of all trades". While we all offer various design services, I think it's safe to say that color unites us all. At some point, we all recommend paint colors, finishes and products for both redesigns and stagings.

by beth batke

Last month I had the unique opportunity to be on the receiving end of a redesign. In a crazy moment I offered to host the Ohio chapter SDP meeting at my home. We meet twice yearly and have always met in an environment more typical for decorators (home decor-related venues). This time, however, we found ourselves nearing our meeting date with no place to meet, and I thought "why not?" It wasn't long after that I wondered "why am I having all these decorators to my house?"

First let me say that the Ohio SDP gang is one fantastic group of women. Smart, talented, creative, sophisticated, and just plain fun to hang with! Our meeting focused simply on decorating rather than business and marketing as in previous meetings. We had fantastic presentations by Diana Hudson Kresnye, Ramona LaChapelle, Wendy Pecikonis, Nancy Buck, and myself on topics such as Fall decor, tablescapes, decorating bookshelves, how to dress a bed for staging, and trash to treasure ideas. After a catered lunch, we had a hands-on redesign in my very own living room.

Just try and say that one of you decorators, redesigners and stagers out there haven't wondered what it would be like to have a team of redesigners do a room in your home! Who hasn't been more than a little curious about what ideas would come out of someone else's head? What fresh ideas would be born to someone who had never been in your home? Someone who didn't already know your stuff like the back of their hand? Was it even possible to have my furniture in a position that I haven't had it in a thousand times? Was it possible to do anything different at all?

I want to mention that the room had been unaccessoried and all the furniture pushed to the center so not to give these talented ladies any pre-conceived ideas. True, that is atypical of a real redesign in the real world. Normally we arrive for an initial consultation and see the space "as is". But these ladies needed a challenge and this would make them get to the root of their creativity. At first, we role played and our newest Ohio member Amy Euller played decorator while I played client. She asked me questions and then I left the room as the ladies went to work.

What a great opportunity it is to know what it feels like to be in your client's shoes. How it feels to trust another individual with your precious belongings. How it feels to wonder if someone else will judge your things, and if so, what will they reveal about you? How it feels to leave and just let someone "have at it".

As a client, I now know about the wonder and excitement that grows while the job is in progress. I now know about the "other end" of the reveal. I now know what a natural reaction it is to say "I never would have thought of that!"

As a redesigner, I now appreciate (all the more) what an honor it is to be entrusted with my client's precious things. I now appreciate (all the more) what a powerful impact I can make in my clients homes, and therefore their lives.

So not to leave you wondering.....the redesign was fabulous! My talented colleagues in Ohio did in fact see my things in a new light. They did in fact have my furniture in a way I had not ever (not exactly anyway) had it. They did find new and exciting ways to accessorize. Moving Grandma's antique mirror over the piano (hello...was it clearly not the same size, shape and feel of the piano?) Why had I never had it there? Using the legs from a plantstand with a decorative tray as an occasional table...brilliant. My marble topped piano bench as a coffee table...an obvious choice...yet one I hadn't thought of. Of course I would have tried that in someone else's home, yet in my own, I did not.

Attention SDP members: DO TRY THIS AT HOME! Host a meeting, host a gathering, host a few fellow members to your home for a redesign. I wholeheartedly encourage you to experience redesign from the receiving end.

Beth Batke

Hellooo...... Hellooooo...(echoing)? Is anybodyy....outtt.....theree.....?