Page 14 - Marysville Tulalip Life Magazine Fall 2017

The Colour Coach
Is it a waste of time to hire a decorator or designer? Is there value to hiring someone who can help with color, décor, room configurations, or other such choices? I’ve heard of this often enough in my experience helping folks with their decorating, downsizing and staging needs. Many time, I have even been told by those who find out what I do that they can just watch HGTV or buy a magazine to get the desired look in their home, or to learn how to organize or reconfigure a space. When I ask them how their projects turned out, they either avoid telling me... or they admit that it wasn’t as easy as they expected. Some will even admit they need help.
As a designer and certified life coach, I think I can help explain why: Life coaching helps guide a person towards their goals and/or healing. As a designer, you learn there’s an actual science behind a lot of art. One can look at a magazine page or a show on TV thinking that it just takes a few hours of tidying up, or buying items from certain stores, and things will come together like magic! It’s actually more about techniques and application. By putting my life coaching skills to work alongside artistic ones, it helps me to understand how we can apply a person’s personality and learning style to help make their decorating or downsizing goals come together.
It goes beyond making things “look pretty.” Studying design in particular, one learns methods that help understand color, space, furniture styles, textures, space flow and the like. Then when you get into more of the organizing side of design, many learn about techniques like Feng Shui, or use ideas about color healing and therapy to assist in some of the decorating decisions. There are methods and steps to go along with all the suggestions given. It’s also important to know on a very basic level, that there is a difference between an interior designer and interior decorator: the decorator focuses more on the colors, fabrics, space configuration, and aesthetics. The designer studies these things, too, but he or she also has the knowledge of which walls to tear down, building codes, etc. It’s good to know which would fit your needs best.
So the next question I usually ask is: How much do you value your time? How much is it worth to be able to free up a few hours to do something you enjoy? How much is it worth to come home to a space that brings you peace, tranquility, and inspiration? If we use the example of organizing a room or downsizing a space (especially in cleaning an area out after losing a loved-one), how long would it take you to do it? Do you have steps you can take to make it easier or faster? How long has it been since you planned on cleaning out the attic, garage, or even a closet? Does it feel overwhelming? Do you feel peace in your space, or do you avoid it?
There are many questions to ask during a decorating, downsizing or staging consultation. Besides getting to know what your goals are, and time lines. We will see what techniques work best for your end result. Do you just need a list of things to do? Or perhaps you need a little more guidance, as we work on things together? I always look at budget and priorities. I love the challenge of “designing on a dime,” as well as being practical. Often just applying Feng Shui, rearranging a room, or painting a focal wall can do a multitude of good!
For the upcoming holidays, I’d like to offer a drawing for a 3-hour session (valued at $75), alongside a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond (valued at $100)! Like BOTH my Colour Coach page on Facebook, as well as Marysville Tulalip Life page on Facebook, and get entered to win the package. Just make sure to like BOTH pages, to be eligible. Winner will be announced October 15th. :)
Also... I’ll be doing a Christmas Decorating Workshop at The Living Room Coffee House on Saturday 11/4 at 9am. This workshop will focus on how to identify a particular style you want to create for the season, basic color interpretations, and how to implement those ideas using what you already have (or by purchasing the basics). Entry is free and will include refreshments.