Nashville decorator on How to design a room-Where do you start?

Along with the constant doe eyed question of "give us your loot-I mean design tips" I always get the question-Where do I start? Clients often get so overwhelmed with the design process they give up before they even step foot in a furniture store. Just like buying a car, there is a P-R-O-C-E-S-S. Too often consumers see a show, flip through a magazine, (or worse, Betty Sue across the street just had her house done!) and that sparks the urgency of redoing a room, NOW. They run out to the nearest hardware store animated and thrilled like a three year old, only to get engulfed into an overwhelming color quandary of decisions. Which blue is the right blue? Do I like blue? Maybe green is better. Maybe I should pick furniture first? Do I need to repaint the trim? Do I even have trim? And the whirlwind of terror begins! Before they even start they get stuck in a paradox, close the book on any conclusions, and find that getting lunch and a martini is much easier. (nothing a little vodka can't solve!)

My first tip, call a designer. They are worth their weight in gold. Too often consumers think they can not afford a designer. But more often than not, you can't afford not to. Wouldn't it be easier to have a designer select those colors, build you a space plan, and help you select furniture that will work for the next TEN years instead of two? I cannot tell you how many times I go into a home of "recent purchases" that just don't work. Mistake after mistake, throwing money down the drain. When you get sick you don't self diagnose. You go to the Doctor for advise. How many of you cut your own hair? You don't, you go to the hair stylist who is an expert on what you need.

So when you need help with your home why not get some advise from an expert who can help you avoid making costly mistakes, remove the frustration and actually make it a wonderful experience? Wouldn't it be great to walk into that room and feel joy, instead of annoyance? No one wants to remember the salesman that talked them into a bad decision, or the day they walked out of the paint store with lime green paint cans in their hand!

Ok-Where do you start?

1) Find your inspiration. Whether it be a magazine, a jelly donut or a plate, find something that speaks to you. Not sure how? Read my post How to get inspired for more help

2) Try to narrow down some ideas on colors. You don't have to pick the exact color-let the designer do that for you-but get an idea of what you like.

The best book on furniture styles, if your a serious furniture guru

3)Furniture styles. Are you traditional, transitional, cottage, modern, or contemporary? Don't know? Your designer can help you with this, often times no one is one particular style they are two or three. Find some pictures of things you like. From there the details can be selected and narrowed down.

4)FOCUS!!! This is where a designer can be your most VALUABLE asset. Choose a path and stick to it. Going into a paint store or furniture store can be overwhelming. SO many pretty shiny things to grab your attention, shift your FOCUS and before you know it you catch A.D.D and once again your running around the store like a screeching three year old hopped up on candy! (might I remind you it has SUGAR in it-one of THE most important food groups!)

The best book on how to be a designer

5)Scale-Make sure the items you are looking at are the correct scale and proportion. These two elements are what make a space "right". Ever been in a room that felt "off"? Generally one of these two things is incorrect. This is where a designer REALLY helps. Many of my clients are really good at pulling a room together with a little designer guidance. But scale and proportion is not learned, you either have it or you don't. Get this wrong and the whole room will feel off. Can't afford a designer? Purchase the book above. It will save your life.

6)Accessorize-Now you have all these big things: sofas, chairs, tables. Most consumers that make it this far fall short because they feel that all the hard work is done-HARDLY! Now the heavy lifting begins. The accessories are the pearls and Louboutin's with the black dress. Without these key components, it is just-a-dress. The accessories add personality, flavor, and style to a space. Without these items the room falls flat.

A word of caution, contact your doctor, I mean designer if you experience any of the following while shopping for accessories: Urges to buy green ivy from Michael's, (or any fake plant for that matter) including but not limited to, the fake ficus tree! Thoughts about dying if you don't purchase fake columns, and gilded gold chubby cherubs holding harps immediately. Anxiety over tchotchkes, feeling restless and agitated, if you don't buy MORE (it needs more stuff!). Panic attack's and difficulty sleeping over missing out on the hobby lobby sale down the street. Any other unusual changes in behavior or mood when you get the urge to buy a poly filled pillow, as this will cause a feeling of depression and irritability. (NO MORE POLY PILLOWS!)

Do use items that are special, and smart like

Sid Dickens tiles

Popular designer accessories to hit mainstream

Designer lamps with style and personality

Some additional tips with a side of humor on updating your home

Need additional advice? Email me. Let me know your questions. And as I have mentioned, if you need help with your room or rooms look up a designer in your area. You would be surprised at how delighted and charming (absolutely delirious and crazy!) we are to work with, (just do what we say) and NO MORE POLY PILLOWS!!!!

How to get inspired by expert Nashville designer, Amanda Burdge

Design Circus

Here lately, my life has felt like a bit of a circus, and for good reason. You see I'm a designer, a creative, with a big "D" on my chest. Inventive and innovative, add in a little crazy, and you have yourself a bonafide DESIGNER. See label for full list of ingredients:

How to make a designer 101

Modified cleverness, unbleached canny, gifted, enriched imagination, experimental, pasteurized originality, expressive, microbial resourcefulness, radical, advanced hydrogenated vision and a whole lot of crazy. Yellow #5, Red # 3 and Blue # 7

Warning! If allergies are of concern, may also contain: unconventional, off the wall, offbeat, and unorthodox genius. With a side of short attention span.

Distributed by: Old-fashioned ingenuity and passion, Super Market INC .

Serve with a side of Curiosity, attention and fascination. Mix well, drain but do not rinse.

Voila the perfect designer

As a designer I gain inspiration from the wildest things. Some intentional, some accidental. Probably more accidental than anything. With a premeditated vision I head in one direction and by the end of the day Im headed down I-40 when I should have been on I-10. But that is ok. I have found that the best ideas have come when chaos erupted and serendipity set in. Why else would we do it? It's moments like these that keep us on our toes, and keep the excitement alive. We thrive on it. We get bored easily so when the unexpected occurs it is our moment to sink or swim, (hope you brought your floaties!)

Curiosity, fascination, innovation=genius

I often get the question. How did you come up with this? What was your inspiration? Dare I say a jelly donut, a bag of Dorito's and a beer? Well probably not that crazy...( gotta look more interesting than that, but keep in mind it is in our ingredients!) But inspiration can strike at any moment! If you feel that you are not a creative person you need to broaden your horizons. We are all creative in our own way. For instance, if you tend to be more left brain you will see things more analytical, logical and straight. To us this is symmetrical. If you are right brain we tend to see this as design MAGIC! But no favoritism here. (if you're right brain looking for a designer-call me! haha)

So how do you find inspiration in ordinary things to make them extraordinary?

1) Determine what it is you are wanting to accomplish. A room redo or a house redo?

2) Flip through magazines that cater to the room or rooms you are wanting to work on. Try to collect at least 3-5 tear sheets.

3) Look through your tear sheets. Is there a pattern? Possibly a repeating color, wood stain, chair style, etc.

4) What do you want your new room to be? How will you use it?

5) Once you have an overall direction inspiration can come from anything. A coffee cup, an antique, perhaps a jelly donut?

As children we are encouraged to be free and creative. As adults we are morphed into a label that we feel we must stick to. You may not carry all the ingredients to be a true designer, but open yourself to curiosity, maybe a little crazy, and you will be amazed at the results it will yield! Here are some ways I get inspired:

Inspiration 1

This is an excellent source for inspiration. It is fun, colorful and with several color schemes to work with

you won't feel constricted to pick just one. It fancy's the child within us and brings out a sense of humor. Who could't use more of that?

Inspiration 2

Colorful and imaginative these decorative glass eggs spark amusement, hilarity and lightheartedness. Great for inspiration these enjoyable sculptures could whisper all sorts of ideas in my head.

Inspiration 3

For those who are a bit more serious this lamp has a beautiful pallet of earth tones, with an unexpected rim of thistle. With beautiful beiges, and browns this could develop an entire backdrop for a bedroom, library, family room, or even a dining room.

Inspiration 4

What would life be without a little arts and crafts? One of my truest passions, I am always drawn to the quirky eccentrics of clever art. I love things that make me smile and make a space truly unique. And what better to help you on your journey than a cunning piece that starts you off on the right trunk, I mean foot!

Much ado about NOTHING by Amanda Burdge Nashville Interior design

Nothing was founded in 2009 by Michael Jansen and Bas Korsten, one of the most awarded creative teams in Europe.

Nothing is not an advertising agency, not a design agency, not a product innovation agency, not a brand experience, or a research agency. Nothing is whatever the client’s opportunities needs it to be. Thats why the term “commercial creativity” ie all ideas that help brands grow. It is essentially, Nothing.

Nothing is an Amsterdam-based, independent entrepreneurial agency that delivers innovation and commercial creativity for local and international clients out of a cardboard box. Literally. The Nothing office, built entirely of cardboard, was designed by internationally recognized designers Alrik Koudenburg (www.alrik.nl) and Joost van Bleiswijk. Yes ENTIRELY from cardboard!

Using the same method of construction as his No Screw No Glue project, van Bleiswijk created the interior using over 500 square metres of reinforced cardboard. The 1500 separate pieces were slotted together using NO GLUE or FIXINGS.

Michael Jansen says:

“Nothing is about the power of ideas, about how a single idea can transform nothing into something. Using a cheap throw-away material to build a unique and memorable work space, seemed a good way to materialize this thought.”

Nothing’s goal is simple: turn consumers into brand advocates by any means to hand. This approach sees Jansen and Korsten creating meaningful brand experiences ranging from product innovation and store design, to employee training programmes and, yes, even TV campaigns.

Congratulations to us!

We have had many exciting changes occur over the past month. One very exciting announcement is that AB HOME now carry's the wonderfully charming, FUN, and colorful line, by none other than, Jonathan Adler! We hoped. We prayed. We crossed our fingers that we were WORTHY and IMPORTANT enough. So when the news broke that we had been "APPROVED", my girls and I skipped through the halls of AB HOME with joyous glee, smiling ear to ear. Could it be true? All this hard work, sleepless nights, and endless functions? Playing the bookkeeper, sales clerk, manager, assistant, stocker, receiving crew, and janitor? Has it really paid off? OMG, yes!!

We at AB HOME are so proud of where we are today! My staff and I have worked so hard over the past year to make this little company that could, into something GREAT! 2010 is proving to be a fantastic and optimistic year, and what better way to bring in the NEW YEAR, than with one of our most favorite designers. Did I mention we are EXCITED??

Well as a little treat I have posted a few of our favorite things from the JA line. We are doing a complete overhaul on our website (another new and exciting change!) and we will hopefully have all our new JA products up on the site with in a month! WHOO HOO! Hope all of you have a fabulous Saturday and I will continue to post about all our new and exciting announcements over the next couple of weeks!