Small Town Charm Meets Decorating

I found this great book in a small bookstore during my latest travels. Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews is a book that would be well appreciate amongst interior designers. The lead character, Keeley Murdock, is an interior decorator and is one snappy chick! Andrews takes you on Keeley's adventures and drops a lot of design/antique lingo, which is fun. So if you love a good read with a little mystery, a little sass and a whole lotta Southern charm this is the book for ya'll.

'The night before her wedding, in the middle of an oh-so-smart rehearsal dinner, interior decorator Keeley Murdock chances upon her fiancé and her maid of honor "doing the deed." Keeley pitches the hissy fit of the century, storms out and earns herself instant notoriety in her tiny hometown of Madison, GA.'

Enjoy!

Decorating With A Budget

Sometimes finding the perfect artwork for a room can become quite a task, not to mention pricey. So why not design your own? Using scrapbook paper that coordinates with your decor, adds some flair to your favorite pictures with just a little double sided tape and viola! How easy right?

Stop! In The Name Of Decorating

So, I found a list of decorating faux pas that I'd like to share as well as decorating cliches we just can't get enough of! After each so called faux pas, I give my opinion, but at the end of the day it's your call on what to take or leave from this list, it's just all good to know right?

Too many throw pillows on a bed.
-I feel it depends of the style of the home, if your style is clean and simplistic then any more than 5 decorative pillows on a bed is probably not the best route to go.

A TV above the mantel.
-In some homes, the mantel is the only place to place a television. However, if you can avoid this, you should.

Art hung too high.
-Art for the most part should always be hung at eye level.

Curtain hardware hung too low.
-The higher the ceiling, the higher the hardware should go. But make sure your draperies at least brush the ground. Drapery panels should never be more than 3/4" off the floor.

A sofa placed on a diagonal.
-It depends on the space you are dealing with. Sometimes furniture placed on the diagonal can tend to chop up a room.

Pairs of everything—too stiff and contrived.
-This is what I call the "matchy-matchy syndrome". It's always good to be diverse in decorating and it's important not to feel as if everything has to have a matching mate.

Rugs so white, they require shoe removal.
-Okay, this is just annoying people. Unless you're last name is Trump, I suggest you 86 anything on the floor than can dirty easily.

Uncomfortable antique sofas
-Once again, unless you're expecting a visit from The Antiquaries Society, your furniture should be welcoming as well as comfortable. There is nothing worse than going into someone's home as a guest and feeling if you make one wrong move somethings gonna break.

Overdone curtains.
-Window dressing should be functional first, then stylish.

Overly styled bookcases.
-It's called a BOOKcase for a reason. Having more decor than books, probably not a good idea.

Absurd quantities of flowers.
-K.I.S.S.=Keep it simple stupid. Okay, sorry that's a little harsh. But when it comes to flowers, a little goes a long way. Especially fake flowers. Don't get me started on those things.

Scented-candle overload!
-One is plenty folks. If you insist on having more than 1 of these headache causing accessories, make sure it is the same scent. No one wants to smell peppermint delight in a rose garden, okay?

Karate Copped Pillows
-There isn't anything better than giving pillows a good chop every now and then. Some designers feel it's over done, I'm still not over it yet. So therefore in my opinion, chop away!

Styling with branches of coral.
-A couple here and there never hurt anyone, right? But feeling like you just swam into the The Great Barrier Reef, now that's a different story. K.I.S.S.

Bathroom Toilet Rugs
-How do I put this nicely?...Ew! Never stand barefoot on someone's toilet rug, okay? It's obviously there for a reason.

Christmas in July
-You know that one vase you like to use all year around with the etched holly and mistletoe? Ya, well, D.N.E. (Do Not Exceed) past January people.

Color Me A Perfect Room!

Color is one of the most, if not thee most, important element in design. Color should not only create a mood, but it should reflect the person who is utilizing the space. As a designer, you would not want to use a warm muted pallet full of browns, tans and beiges for an artsy free spirt would you? No, you would use more vibrant colors, such as reds, pinks, yellows etc. Each color signifies a different feeling and color psychology should always be considered.

Grey=Can represent elegance in an interior if it is used properly and sparingly. Grey overload could make one feel sad and depressed. But accents of grey can make a space feel formal.

White=Purity, cleanliness, and simplicity. However, too much white can make people feel uncomfortable and we all know white isn't the best color to use in a home with little ones.

Black=Timeless, power and unity. Too much black could start to make one feel sad and depressed.

Red=Great color to promote energy, passion and hunger. Red is a popular color to use in restaurants and if you notice, movie theaters. Ever wonder why you suddenly crave pop-corn and M&Ms? Blame it on the red curtains. Red is not always a good color to use in a bedroom though. A bedroom is supposed to be a relaxing place, red is not considered a restful color.

Blue=The most popularly used color. Blue promotes tranquility, harmony and unity. Too much blue however, can make one start to literally feel blue. So, blue walls on top of blue carpet and blue furniture will equal one sad homeowner.

Green=Nature, calming, harmony and balance. Unlike red, green is good for bedrooms, because it is calming and relaxing.

Yellow= A good summertime color, yellow represents happiness, intelligence and sociability. Yellow is good for a child's room.

Purple=Creativity, royalty, and romance. Yet, too much purple could start to make people confused. Great for creative work spaces.

Orange= Similar to red, orange reflects energy, enthusiasm and playfulness. Orange would be good in a child's playroom.

Brown= Richness, nature, tradition and boldness. Brown is a great color for the home, but should be partnered up with something light and airy such as blue or pink.

Pink= A mostly spring time color, pink symbolizes femininity, health, love and joy. Perfect for a girly nursery or perfect to use when you want to make a feminine statement.