MAKE HOME DESIGN EASY
I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure in the landscape… Andrew Wyeth
The Winter Home
Warm up your home with these “Top 10” cozy and comforting ideas…
Sit by a Fire
Make your fireplace a focal point by using it often. Have dinner by the fire or pull up some comfortable chairs so you can gather up all of the fire’s warmth.
Warm up a Bed
Add fleece blankets, flannel sheets, and down comforters to add warmth without weight. An electric mattress pad or blanket will provide instant coziness.
Decorate with Warm Colors
Red, orange and yellow color schemes provide a cozy feel year-round. Go for hues with deep golden undertones to warm and envelope you.
Drape a Throw
Whether it be fleece, cashmere, or wool, a luxurious throw will keep you toasty. Drape one across the arm of a chair or back of a sofa, or leave one folded on an ottoman.
Soften Hard Edges
Use pillows, throws, draperies and rugs. Cover a chilly glass tabletop with a runner or tablecloth in deep, warm colors and a textured fabric.
Add Black
Black grounds any room. Try painted furniture, picture frames, accessories, flooring or trim to decorate with this sophisticated hue.
Set up a Reading Room
Spend a snowy afternoon snuggled up with a good book in an upholstered chair, or on a windowseat or loveseat. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace or bookshelves nearby, all the better.
Hang Drapery Panels
Hang long fabric panels of velvet, corduroy or textured fabrics at the windows, on the walls, or from your bedframe.
Roll Out a Rug
Where there is hardwood or tile, a rug will soften the look and feel of your floors with pattern and provide warmth underfoot.
Revise Accessories
Rethink the accessories you have displayed for winter. Try twigs, pinecones, seeded balls – the wintry, textured look is great. Alternately, dark boxes, tapestry pillows, and wooden trays also work well.
How to…Hire a Decorator
Working with a design professional isn’t as mystifying as it seems –
read this to help you get the ball rolling
Assess the Scope of Your Job
Is it one room, a spruce up, or a whole house makeover? Some designers will take on small, one-hit projects, but not all do. Ask whether the designer is willing to incorporate your old furniture into their work.
 Calculate Your Budget
Hiring a designer can be a big financial commitment, and may cost more than you expect. It is worth it! You are paying not only for creativity, but also for expertise, managing and busywork. Your designer will know where to find the perfect furnishings as well as ensure that the painting and installations are running smoothly. The designer will give you an estimate, but remember, this is only an estimate. Chances are, the job is not going to come in precisely on budget – so be realistic about how much you can actually spend.
Arrange a Consultation
This is a chance to scope out the designer and ensure that you have compatible sensibilities. Explain what you can pay and what you are looking to achieve.
Get an Estimate
If you and your home are high-maintenance, you will probably want to put your designer on a retainer (an up front flat design fee that covers the entire job and is paid in installments). If you don’t need a lot of hand holding and just want some advice every now and then, an hourly rate might be better.
Seal the Deal
If you like all you have heard, you’ve found your designer! Your next meeting will be to discuss the design plan, and the two of you are off and running.
How Payment Works
Up Front Design Fee – This is a non-refundable flat fee set up by your designer either by the entire job or by the room. Once you have agreed on this, you will proceed with a design plan, which can be anything from basic sketches of furniture layouts to carefully plotted out rooms. Color palettes, sample swatches and furniture arrangements may be included in this.
Hourly Rate – The design fee may be calculated by the hour. Rates generally start at about $100 per hour, depending on the region.
Markup – The designer will tack on a percentage for personal shopping – she will buy your furniture, fabric and other “to the trade only” specialty items and then charge you a commission (generally, this is anywhere from 30-50 percent). Agree on this rate from the get go with your designer and you will now have access to the designers taste and knowledge as well as to the items you would never find on your own. The designer should keep a list of the items purchased so that you can keep track of your costs and what you have bought lest you have to replace anything in the future.
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