Interior Decorating with Cynthia Havens

Interior Redesign, which has been frequently featured on HGTV and in many decorating magazines, is the art of transforming your home utilizing the wonderful and not so wonderful things you have accumulated over the years, with the assistance of a talented person who has a passion for making homes look beautiful. The goal is to create a space that is balanced and harmonious while reflecting the personalities of the family that lives in the home. There are many names for those that offer this service…interior redesigners, interior arrangers, interior stylists, one day decorators, visual coordinators, interior refiners…are just a few of the terms you may encounter while searching for a professional.

What is Home Staging?
You only have one chance to make a good first impression. When selling your home you want to insure someone does not overlook that it may be the home for them. Our homes are usually the most valuable thing we own and yet many people do not take the necessary steps to guarantee that their home “shows” in it’s best possible light.

I borrowed these definitions for the Interior Redesign and staging directory- I think the writer put it very well and I am often asked these questions.

When you plan the home of your dreams, no detail should be overlooked. Among the many people on the jobsite, one key player must be there–the interior decorator. Having an experienced, savvy interior decorator with precise vision will help turn a new house into a home that reflects your unique personal style and needs.  Working with a decorator can save you money, because it helps with costly mistakes or re-dos.  I have had several clients tell me that I saved them a lot of money on their project by giving them solutions that created beauty and at the same time reduced cost.

An interior decorator can be your advocate and go-between with the other hands in the project. Decorators know exactly how to take a mental picture and make it happen by communicating it to everyone involved. They relay the concept to construction teams, pick out interior and exterior materials; to make your work much easier.
The layout should be influenced by the interior decorator so that all the desires of the homeowner are met. For example, flooring creates the first impression in any room. Therefore, decisions for types of flooring take into account color, texture, and materials. Also, window placement is a crucial element when designing the indoor atmosphere. Casual or formal dining areas, quiet and comfortable bedrooms as well as media centers will be placed with consideration for where the sunlight enters at various times of the day. A window in the perfect spot, like a breakfast nook or cozy study will add ambience and energy. Indoor plants are also worked into the design. If the designer brings in major pieces of furniture or special features [mention some?], these should be reflected on the blueprint.

In addition to the architect, there are other people on location who need the input of your interior designer. The electricians will be placing specific lighting fixtures and structures based on the overall design plan and feel for the space. Choices of hardware and location for directional, adjustable, or ceiling spotlights can be made by the designer who thinks about function and mood. Parts of the home that need this extra enhancement include any bar areas, work stations in the kitchen or study, reading areas, and focal points that include artwork, antiques, or collections. The designer works with plumbers to assure that fixtures are conveniently placed.

From doorknobs and switch plates to fireplaces and sunrooms, the interior designer plays a vital role in the construction of a new home. Their input can make the difference between a good design and a spectacular one. Choosing one before building a house will help you with the details, leave you with a refined look, avoid costly mistakes, and most importantly, add irresistible character to your home.

In today’s real estate market you have to be competitive with other homes on the market in your area. When you put your home on the market, it worth every penny of your investment to have a home staging consultation from a certified professional. The curb appeal is the first thing that 74% of all potential buyers check out, virtually or in a drive by, before they schedule that all important appointment to see your home. As a Real Estate Stager, my job is to evaluate your property from the time I drive into your driveway, adding suggestions for you. Remember first impressions! The prospective buyer will formulate an impression in the first few moments of viewing the home for sale.

Awesome Interiors will increase your chances of selling your home for maximum dollars in the shortest time frame, by applying the principles of staging. Call us today for a staging consultation.

Ok so you have an empty canvas and we are going to create your beautiful room makeover! Here is where we begin:
Layer 1- Paint.
Layer 2- Flooring.
Layer 3- Upholstered furniture.  This layer includes all upholstered furniture in the room. This is where you are going to spend some money. Good quality upholstered furniture will endure the test of time, this is why it is important to buy quality upholstered pieces. Comfort and beauty are a must! And yes you can have both!
Layer 4- Accent Fabrics. This is the draperies, rugs, throw pillows. This layer adds  the personality to the room. It creates the “wow factor”!
Layer 5- Non-upholstered furniture (workhorses). Workhorses– what does that mean? These are the coffee tables, hutches, side tables, storage cabinets, the surfaces in which we live and hide our necessary clutter.
Layer 6-
Accessories. I like to call this layer the whip cream and cherry on the top. It finishes off the space and makes it interesting. It includes your collectables.
Layer 7-
Lighting and Plants.

This is my formula for creating a beautiful, balanced, comfortable space. Give me a call and let’s get started on your beautiful space.

Think of the rug as the foundation for your room. The rug should be big enough to anchor the furniture grouping, however rugs are not floor covering. For many rooms with sofa and a couple chairs, the size of 8×10 is a good starting point. If you want to make the room seem as large as possible, go with the largest rug that your room can accommodate. Be sure to leave a nice proportion of hardwood!
For dining rooms, the rug should be big enough that the chairs can be moved away from the table without falling off of the rug. The rug size should be based on your day to day needs. We have found that an 8×10 rug is a minimum size to fit most tables seating six day to day.

To easily determine size requirements, use some old sheets or newspapers and cover up the floor to arrive at what looks right, then measure.

Standard sizes include 3×5, 4×6, 6×9, 8×10, 9×12, 10×14, 12×15, 12x 18. We can accomodate most size requirements , including unusual or custom sizes.

This is a dining room that I decorated. We added new artwork, custom draperies, new beautiful rug. My decorative artist and wonderful daughter Ashlie, faux glazed the niche in this dining room, here are the before and after pictures. Small changes add so much! What do you think about the before and after picture?BeforeAfter

Without having a decorating plan for your living room or kitchen or master bedroom or whatever room, you are basically out there twisting in the wind. You must know where you are heading (design-wise), you need to know what you will need to purchase, you need to know what you are looking for, you need to know how much money you have to spend, and the list goes on and on. Awesome Interiors offers a step by step plan to help you design your rooms in your way so you know exactly what you need when you go shopping. A road map gets your were you need to go, a decorating plan is the beginning to the beautiful space you deserve. Contant me to get started!

We are starting our new year. A wonderful start is to declutter, remove items in our spaces we no longer need. If there is any thing broken or something in the space that you do not like, simply remove it. Sometimes less is better. A furniture rearrangment gives us a new look and new start in our homes. I rearranged the furniture in my own home last week and I feel like everything is new and I didn’t even buy at thing. Our spaces effect us– give your living space a facelift, without spending a bundle of money!A room rearrangement can do just that! Happy New Year…and remember your space in your new year resolutions.

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Great Area Rugs

Area rugs are a very important element to your space. They add color, coziness, and anchor your furniture. We carry a great line of wool rugs at an affordable price that will transform your space for cold to cozy. alhambra_rs