www.selifestyle.com · ocToBeR 2009 · soUTHeAsT Lifestyle 3 h h It's a Visual World, Start a File by Denise H. Osborne have available, because color retention is hard for the eye to retain. You don't want to end up saying, "I thought it matched when I bought it!" Many people have tried to explain their rooms to designers, but it just doesn't work that way. How does that room relate to the rest of the house? What are your traffic patDesigners are people that listen and will help you in whatever way possible. They work with you and your builder to help you plan out your project. The more you want to do, especially in the upfront portion of the project, the better you will understand the logic. Designers can offer advice and often save you from making mistakes. Too many people come to see us after they are halfway through Renovated Master Bath a project and don't know how to pull it together. We try to help them, too. A good designer will assist you in making a house into a home. And we make design files every day. Come in and show us your file. Bring in all your thing-a-ma-jigs and we'll help you get started. u when you walk into that room? Make ow many times have you gone some copies of the photos, because into a store to seek help or ad- that is the second piece you need vice? Have you ever gone in to have when you come for advice. not knowing what an item is called, Next, what existing elements do or come in with a piece of something you need to replace? I feel like giving up in hardware stores, Ideal Home Show Room with the names of nuts and bolts and thing-a-ma-jigs. Has this ever happened to you? In the field of interior design, it's extremely hard to work on a space without "seeing" it. So how can you prepare to work with a designer? It's really not that hard. We just require certain information to help you make better decisions. Designers are "visual" people. We talk with our hands--I probably couldn't talk without mine, using them constantly to draw. However, if you would like to work with someone, there is definitely one thing you need. It is called a design file. Want to D-I-Y (do it yourself)? Look at your room. Is it square, rectangle or L-shaped? Take a piece of paper and draw the shape. Then take a tape measure, and start measuring the floor. Then draw in the walls, measuring the height and you want to work with in the room? width. If it has a window or door, draw What needs to be tossed or rescued? that in too. Measure from the corner of On a separate piece of paper, list the the wall to the window, then the width items you have, and then measure of the window, frame to frame, and them. Take all the information you've then the window frame to the next collected and put it in a book. It sure is corner. Then start on the next wall. helpful to know your space before you Save that piece of paper. This is the start shopping. How many times have first part of your file. you gone out without measurements, Next, if you have a camera, you and brought home something that will want to take pictures of the exist- wouldn't fit? Then you have to lug it ing room. Make sure you photograph back to the store and shop some more. all four walls, so you can show a per- Have a tape measure with you, along spective. What does the room look like with your measurements, when you when you walk in? What challenges go shopping with your file. It you want do you face? What do you want to be to match up colors or coordinate with able to do in this room? What colors existing fabric, bring a piece of fabric do you like? What will make you smile or an arm cover. This is very helpful to terns? What works and how does it flow in other spaces? Are you planning to tear down a wall? That's when it gets a bit more challenging. Do you need more lighting? What is the problem that you are trying to solve? Take your design file. Denise H. Osborne, AIDP owns Accessory Design Services in Pleasant Garden. She currently serves on the National Board of Directors with the Association of Interior Design Professionals. Her dogs, Cody and Levi, go to work with her most every day. They are the shop greeters. (Remember Pet Day!) 674-2150.