You read it right - I said NEW! Imagine my shock and awe when I opened this past Sunday's Chicago Tribune Magazine to read that an interior designer has expanded his business to include "arranging what the client already owns." Heck, I even had my new Readers on, could it be, did I read it right - Interior Designers offering..... Re-design? Instead of looking down their noses at us - They're copying us?  Cool...

Since the inception of my business over 10 years ago, my business philosophy has always been, "Let's use what you already have 1^st, then go shopping..."  It's pretty much the mantra of all of us specialty designers, also known as interior re-designers or arrangers. Throw staging in there, and we're all a happy bunch.  My clients are smart cookies, they love what they already own, like to shop, love their home, but some how struggle to pull it all together.  They really love that I do not ask for a $10,000.00 retainer, nor do I hold my nose when viewing their stuff...

We're pros at looking at a space and being able to instantly come up with a new floor plan for a room, over, and over and over again. We're a spa day for your space - In a day you get a whole new room.  Bonus, it's your stuff - Bonus, Bonus, you get a very happy husband!  We are masters at accessorizing, using color and corralling collections.  We can shop your home like it was a super Home Goods at the Mall of America. The best part - we make that old stuff look fresh, chic and new.  And if we need you to shop, we give you a list. A list! We were GREEN, before we knew what GREEN was!

So, here are a few tricks of the trade and the inside track to the NEW design concept for 2009- Rearranging Your Space. Whew...Welcome to the 21^st Century!

•  Start with a Clean Slate - Before the 1^st piece of furniture is positioned, take an inventory of all furniture options in your home.  Could something from another room give the space a whole new look? Could you give a new look to an old piece by reupholstering, painting, or using for something else - like a drop leaf table as a sofa table?
• Start with a Focal Point - Every space has something fantastic about it.  Great view, fireplace, built-ins .... Position your main seating arrangement to take full advantage of the focal point. Focal points can change from season to season.
• Stay in Scale - Make sure the furniture placed in the room is in scale to each other.  Your Grandma's petite sewing chair will look odd next to your overstuffed reclining sofa.
• Remember the Room's Purpose - If you are planning on reading in the space, make sure to have the right lighting; if you are planning on entertaining, have enough tables for each of your guests to place a drink on.
• Wall Art can be Anything - If it can be hung on a wall, its art.
• Be Creative in Accessorizing - Short lamps can be made taller by a stack of books.  Three or more of a similar thing is a collection.  A vignette is at its best in odd numbers
• Mantle Mantra - Mantles look their best when a few large accessories are placed on it.
• Add a Bit of Fresh - Every room look great with a vase of fresh flowers, a real tree, or something organic.
• The Unexpected - Make sure to add one thing that is a bit different, a little odd, or is something unexpected.  It adds character to a room and creates conversation.

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