The decoration of homes has captivated people throughout recorded history. Interior designers put style, their creativity and experience to work to help a home reach its full potential….whether it is a small studio or multi-million dollar property. My clients believe that having a designer has saved them considerable time and money by finding unique objects and also by avoiding costly errors. By helping a client make a decision on paint color or the direction you want a room to go can be a time saving experience for a client and not a stressful, worrisome one. What I try to do for each client is make the process as hassle-free as possible. Take a look at the two photo’s …a before and after of a kitchen. As you look at the photo you could say, “Well I could do that!”. But in reality there are so many decisions to be made when re-doing a kitchen from appliances, cabinet style, tiles, counter tops, flooring and the list goes on and on…and making a wrong decision can be a costly and disappointing mistake.

My experience has been doing residential homes, ranches, beach houses from Los Angeles, Montana, Las Vegas, Toronto, Raleigh and of course Dallas and beyond so let’s get together and discuss what we can do together with your next project…big or small.

Now is the time to plan your Royal Brunch for April 29, 2011 to watch the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. CNN starts broadcasting at 4 am our time. For all the latest news on the wedding go to http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/. Here you can find out information on how you can send the newlyweds a wedding gift and find out all the latest information. To the left on the photograph is the picture of the Official Programme for the wedding. I have some friends who will be in some special viewing boxes with the Canadian government and my daughter will be there as well as it is a national holiday in the UK, so we will keep you posted on what they have to report.

You’ve got to pick up the May issue of Traditional Home magazine to see the article about my dear friend Kimberly Schlegel Whitman. Traditional Home magazine followed Kim to Paris while she attended classes at the famous Catherine Muller Floral Design School. It sounds like it would a wonderful trip to do with girlfriends and a great excuse to tour Paris! Go to http://www.catherine-muller.fr/ to find out more about Catherine and the designing classes.

One of life’s biggest milestones is getting married and to celebrate that many couples have an engagement party. Anyone aside from the bride and groom,is welcome to host an engagement party but more often than not it is the bride’s parents who do this at their home. Sometimes a favorite aunt and uncle or close friends will host a party as well. Do not invite anyone you will not be inviting to the wedding. This is a party and should be fun, relaxing and being enjoyed by your closest relatives and friends.

This question comes up all the time….should I bring a gift to the engagement party? Etiquette suggests that a gift is not required and is not expected. You are there to celebrate the couples upcoming nuptials! Toasts aren’t just for wedding celebrations they are traditionally included at engagement parties. The father of the Bride-to-be is generally the first to toast, followed by the groom and then whoever else might want to say a few words. Toasts usually start two-thirds of the way through the party…so when the guests are enjoying dessert would be an excellent time.

Coordinating the colors of linens with what they are doing for the wedding would be a nice touch. Find out what the brides favorite flowers are, their preference in music and coming up with a signature cocktail is always fun for everyone!

These engagement photo’s were taken for a couple who love the move “The Notebook”. I thought that was very clever.

Questions??? Drop me an e-mail.