Changing seasons: Decorating tips to take your home into spring and summer

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida, May 4, 2024

It’s one of my favorite times of year. These beautiful days of spring (which arrived in March) and lead into the first days of summer (arriving in June). I find that the change of seasons is more a state of mind than anything else. A slight change in perspective. An important one. For me this time of year brings back happy memories of carefree days at the end of the school that meant summer vacation and the beach.

As a Bonita Springs-based interior decorator serving homeowners in Southwest Florida, I always encourage my clients to acknowledge the seasonal changes, as subtle as they may be, in our tropical paradise. It’s a good time to make a few healthy adjustments in our homes to mark the new season. They can be as easy as a new front door mat and plants for your entry to trying a beautiful wallcovering in a powder room.

Go from spring to summer with a refresh that includes a pretty table set with flowers. The blue shutters against a crisp white background are easy to do in any home looking for a happy color pick-me-up. Shown: Serena and Lily’s Terrace table and Riviera dining chairs. Photo: Serena and Lily.

The forecast for this season is bright and bold. Give it a try with a few of my tips. They go from easy ones that you can do now to a few that require a little more planning and investment. All are fun and will make you happy to come home this season. And that’s what we all want, right?

Do these first

Deep spring leaning. Baseboards, cabinets, the dreaded dusting, organizing.

Declutter. Don’t love it? If you don’t need it in your home. Donate it. Sometimes it’s painful to say goodbye to something that meant a lot to someone else. Remember: your home is not a storage garage for other’s memories. If you find decluttering to be overwhelming, start with a junk drawer (we all have at least one) or a section of your closet (shoes).

Pick a few of these

New artwork.

Pop color into a room with a collection of painted shutters on a wall.

Plants in colorful pots or grape leave baskets.

Flowers in a pretty vase.

Spring doormat.

Colorful garden stool.

New color for front door (try a pretty blue or green).

Style your fireplace mantle for spring.

Style coffee table with new accessories (a book or two, vase with flowers, bowl of shells of colorful glass balls) on a pretty tray.

Set a pretty spring table: dishes, napkins, accessories. This does not have to be a huge expense. Try a flea market or big box store to pick up trendy colors and a fun, new look.

Fill a bowl with one of these: shells, seaglass, lemons, green apples.

Try a new scented candle or diffuser.

New sheets and pillow cases in a pretty color or spring pattern.

Create a bar cart. It can be a traditional cart or on a table top. Ice bucket, colorful glasses, pretty napkins, umbrellas for drinks, flowers.

Add a vintage piece to a room.

Green continues to have its moment and Thibaut Design’s sisal wall covering in 17 gorgeous shades bring an unexpected pop of color to a home as an accent or entire room. Complete the look with new artwork, a plant, fresh flowers and a vintage table to tie it all together and the result is stunning. Photo: Thibaut.

Put a colorful runner in the kitchen.

Replace lampshades with a color or crisp white.

Change a few accessories for something bright and cheerful: pillows, pretty books, lanterns, candles, baskets.

Bring a little coastal home all year with new pillow covers from Thibaut’s Lagoon Color Story from the Locale Collection with shades of jade, seafoam and stripes. Photo: Thibaut.

Make a list of projects

Change outdated hardware in kitchen or bathroom.

Add a new light fixture over dining or over your eat-in table.

Refresh baseboards with a fresh coat of paint.

Want to try a new color but not sure if you are ready to make a commitment? Paint the ceiling or trim to see how you like it. Or call a decorator. We are really good at color!

Tired of an old coffee table? Replace it with a colorful ottoman and use a tray for accessories.

Happy spring! Happy summer! Only 236 days until Christmas!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. Based in Bonita Springs with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces, color palettes and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Decorator Show House dazzles with bold color and joy!

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida, March 16, 2024

Take a peak at some of the dazzling, beautiful rooms at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in West Palm Beach. And read about the takeaways and ideas on how we can adapt them to our own homes!

What you will not find: minimalism. There is a lot to see. What you will find: room designs that are filled with joy and happiness.

Located at 230 Miramar Way in the “SoSo” neighborhood of West Palm Beach, the home is anything but so-so as it showcases the creativity and design expertise of 23 of the nation’s most acclaimed interior designers and architects. It’s also a major fundraiser for Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I look forward to this event each year and come away with inspiration, trends and ideas for my clients. Each room is packed with the latest and most creative designs as each of the designers display their best and most exciting work.

Love your home again: decorating ideas from the heart

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network Feb. 4, 2024

There’s a pretty townhome in Notting Hill with a bright pink door and a window just above that says “Love.” I read about it in a travel article and on my last trip to London, tracked it down because I will do just about anything to see a home so loved that its owners would install this window. And there it was. Just a simple window with a huge message to anyone walking by.

In a time when we need more love more than ever, we find ourselves welcoming February, a month that’s all about hearts, love and showing a little extra kindness to others, ourselves and to our homes. With the holidays well behind us, it’s the perfect time to make a few changes to make you love your home again. And to do that by refreshing some spaces in your home.

Our homes are our sanctuary. A place that we return to shake off the day and find peace and comfort. It’s also a good time to think about what your home means to you. Is it a place to pass through and sleep with a busy schedule that keeps you on the run? Is it your happy place surrounded by things that you love? A place of love, warmth and happy memories?

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I help my clients decide what is most important and how to best create a space that makes them love their home the minute they open the door. No two homes are the same and the relationship with our homes can be complicated. With some thought and a solid plan, you can soon be on your way to creating a home that you love and one that’s in step with your lifestyle.

Throw a teddy faux fur heart-shaped pillow on Pottery Barn’s curved silhouette swivel to round out any space. Photo: Pottery Barn

Love really is the operative word when you refresh. Love what you surround yourself with. Love it or don’t buy it. If you don’t love it, donate it.

Four rules to keep in mind to love your home again

Find your inspiration. Is it a new color, light, mirror, piece of furniture? If you need a change but don’t know where to begin, it may be time to call a professional to help.

Classics never go out of style. Trends some and go and can be fun to sprinkle here and there but you can’t go wrong with the classics.

Stop scrolling. I call this one “facebook envy.” We are bombarded daily with the latest and greatest, most gorgeous ideas for our homes. Before you go off the deep end making a pile of changes, take a deep breath and think about what really matters. To you. No one else.

Purchase mindfully. Before you buy, think carefully about what would make you love your space. Do your research, go on a few shopping trips to look. Take your time. And take photos.

Refresh old pendants with something fresh and new. Shown: Scallop rattan suspended from an antique bracelet chain. Photo: Serena and Lily

A few ways to give your home a loving refresh!

• Make home repairs that you have been putting off.

• Set a pretty table.

• Give your entry a new look with a dramatic color.

• Paint your front door.

• Wallpaper a powder room. Something outrageously beautiful.

• Add some sparkle: a chandelier in the living room or bedroom (you really don’t need a ceiling fan in every room in the house). Or hang one in the master closet. It will make you happy every time you walk in.

• Soften the harsh, recessed lighting in the kitchen with a lamp on the counter or island. You won’t believe the change.

February, a month that’s all about hearts, love and showing a little extra kindness to others, ourselves and to our homes. Shown: Benjamin Moore’s Valentine color favorites. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• Hang something colorful in your laundry room.

• Change your drapes or drapery panels over the sliders. Make sure you hang them high: just below the ceiling or molding.

• Delete what is no longer working in your home. I do this seasonally as things do tend to accumulate no matter how hard we try.

• Add a little glam to each room: a tufted sofa or a chaise lounge. Pick a color that you love. Or a new mirror or a few glass accessories for some sparkle.

• Want color but afraid to commit to an entire room? Fine. Paint the ceiling that color that you have always wanted to try. Yes, the ceiling!

• Create a gallery-style wall with your favorite art.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces, color palettes and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Moody blues and other trending colors for home interiors

 Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network Nov. 11, 2023

Coming up with creative color palettes is pure joy for this Southwest Florida interior decorator. I love nothing more than to walk through a home getting to know the space and people who live there, and giving them a color plan that will provide happiness every time they walk in the door.

 Just when I think I have used every possible color combination that includes a variation on the color blue for my area clients, Benjamin Moore pulls out another option for the blues.

 It’s always fun to see what paint companies come up with for their Color of the Year. And this year is no exception with Benjamin Moore’s Blue Nova 825. It’s what the company calls an “out of this world,” mystical shade with just a slight hint of violet. Its inspiration comes from “the brilliance of a new star formed in space,” according to the company.

Benjamin Moore announces that Blue Nova is its Color of the Year 2024. It’s what the company calls an “out of this world,” mystical shade with just a slight hint of violet. Photo: Benjamin Moore

 A velvety hue with classic appeal, it’s a great alternative to navy. It’s an easy color and reminds me of a beautiful nighttime sky. But a new color to consider does not mean that we rush to have our home repainted just because of the hype surrounding it. It just gives us something to think about and to place on our inspiration board.

 My take on Blue Nova and how to use it

And there are many ways to bring Nova Blue into your home. Here are a few suggestions.

 ·       Use it in rooms with good natural light and incorporate accents including oranges, yellows, light blues. Think: sunset colors.

·       Paint an entire dining room in Blue Nova. Use White dove as your ceiling and trim color. Spectacular!

·       It’s perfect for a small powder room. Think: chrome, black, antique or gold fixtures.

·       Love it but not ready to commit? Use just a splash! Try this or any color that you love but aren’t sure about committing to a full room, by using it to highlight architectural features: molding, windows, doors.

Try a color that you love by using it to highlight architectural features: molding, windows, doors and especially the ceiling. Shown: Benjamin Moore Regent Green. Photo: Benjamin Moore

·       Paint a bookcase including the back of the bookcase.

·       Paint the ceiling! It’s the fifth wall and under used. Just a splash on the ceiling may give you all the color you need/want.

·       Color drenching. If you haven’t heard, this is a huge trend. Paint everything in the same color. Everything. Ceilings, walls, woodwork. doors. Color drenching is for brave color warriors and if you are undecided, call a professional for input! 

Color drenching is the latest paint trend. Literally everything drenched in the same color. Only for those brave enough to try it! If you are undecided, call a professional for input.  Photo: Benjamin Moore

·       And if you love this or any color but don’t want to use it on your walls, try it in fabric for drapes or upholstery or pillows, wallcoverings, rugs, accessories.

Bright and cheerful, Benjamin Moore’s Honeybee from its Color Trends palette. Photo: Benjamin Moore

 ·       Paint the front door! Just in time for the holidays and picture your Christmas with Blue Nova as a backdrop. Beautiful.

 But wait there’s more (color)

Benjamin Moore has also released its trending colors for blending traditional and modern design styles. It’s always fun to see some new colors that you may not have considered for your home. Even if it’s just for a new accessory. And such yummy names: White Dove, Topaz, Pristine, Teacup Rose, Honeybee, Regent Green, Hazy Lilac, Polar Shy and Antique Pewter.

 Why is color so important?

• It updates your home without spending a fortune.

• Pulls the space together.

• Makes your home look clean and fresh.

• Color creates a personalized look for your home.

• It makes you happy!

 A few more color tips

Creating a spectacular space in your home doesn’t just happen. It takes thought, effort, planning and careful implementation for a quality result. This is especially true when coming up with a color plan.

·       ALL color has undertones. This is where the mistakes are made. This is where a professional can help.

·       Think about the rest of your home. Color needs to coordinate throughout. A good rule that I follow: No more than three paint colors in the home.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces, color palettes and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Fall is a time to refocus and find comfort at home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network Oct. 21, 2023

 Fall sort of slips in without a lot of fanfare and for a while, the changes are subtle. But there are so many things to love about this season and it’s important that even in Florida, we acknowledge the shift in seasons, both personally and in our homes.

 Fall reminds us that Halloween is only a couple of weeks away. We begin dreaming about cooler days. Pumpkin spice is all the rage. Farmers markets have returned. Days are getting shorter and we “fall” back on Nov. 5. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Hurricane season ends on Nov. 30. And I won’t tell you how few days we have until Christmas!

Pretty and simple, a bouquet of sunflowers will bring a touch of fall into any home. Shown: Portside expandable beach house dining table with chairs in sage. Serena & Lily

It’s the time of year when I like to head to North Carolina. My fall memories there are very sweet and always make me think of heading to college, football, beautiful leaves and the anticipation of change. It calls to me and my heart tells me that it’s time to go look for fall. And so I do each year.

 For me, fall, even more than New Years, is a time to reset, readjust and refocus. It’s about finding thing those things that give us comfort. Just as the trees shed their beautiful leaves, we’re reminded that it’s important to let go of what no longer serves us or supports us. And that’s what fall is all about. Letting go. Hope. Comfort. Change.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most difference when it comes to making changes to mark the coming season. Pumpkins and fall colors from Benjamin Moore. 

 As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I make homes pretty. Solve problems that bother the homeowner. Pull everything together for a calm, cohesive look. The ultimate goal: happiness when you walk in the door. And sometimes it’s the little things that make the most difference when it comes to making changes to mark the coming season. Some of my favorites include:

·       Start with a good decluttering. It will make you feel better. Say goodbye to anything that no longer makes you happy or supports your lifestyle.

·       Go to your closet, bring the long sleeves and jackets and boots to the front.

·       In the pantry, clean out all of the old spices and make room for the new as we get ready for the coming holidays.

·       Visit fall art shows and flea markets to invest in a new piece of art or an accent piece.

Fall fabric and pine cones. Photo: Kravet.

·       With shorter days, now is a good time to take a look at your lighting and perhaps add a new lamp or two. As the days become shorter, I like to add more candles in the evenings.

·       The change in seasons is a perfect time to invest in new linens, towels, throws, blankets.

·       For an outdoor space, add string lights. They are cheerful and add atmosphere to an outdoor dinner.

·       Change your fireplace mantel or tablescape with creamy neutrals accented with seasonal tones, gourds, pumpkins, leaves, baskets, accents.

·       As you spend more time outdoors, add some new pillows and throws (for chilly nights) to your chairs.  

·       Start at the front door with mums, a new welcome mat, wreath and faux pumpkins (Tip: spray paint the pumpkins to reflect your color scheme).

·       While you’re at the front door, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Think about some yummy seasonal colors from Benjamin Moore: Peach Cider, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Seeds, Autumn Cover and Witching Hour. For tips on painting a front door:  benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/exteriors/paint-a-front-door

·       On the first cool morning: open all of the windows and let the fresh air into your home and breathe it in.

Happy fall!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

The soul of a home: telling your story

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network September 3, 2023

Since Hurricane Ian swept through our area last September, I’ve been privileged to be invited into homes to help homeowners with many different types of projects. From rebuilding and deciding what comes next, renovating, painting, making changes for a new look, downsizing, new color palettes. One thing has become clear: everyone wants a home that makes them feel happy and safe.

As Southwest Florida interior decorator with a passion for design and writing about design, I’m reminded daily that there is very little about the process that is quick or easy. It takes a lot of effort and planning to create a happy home without making mistakes.

When you see a room that you love, there is usually one big reason: the room is designed with the appropriate scale and it flows. A lot of planning and thought went into pulling the room together. It didn’t just happen.

No matter what your style, the sofa is the most important purchase you will make. This Chatam sofa in sky cotton velvet by Serena & Lily with two swivel chairs is the perfect arrangement for seating and comfort. Photo: Serena & Lily.

If you’re thinking about making a few changes to your home or a lot of changes, there are some basic ideas to keep in mind. These are my top 10:

Forget perfection. When it comes to your home, it doesn’t exist. Creating a happy and beautiful home is an ongoing project that evolves over time. So, relax, enjoy the process and don’t stress out!

Have a plan. Before you head out to every furniture store in the area and return home exhausted and confused, make a plan. Include inspiration photos. List your priorities. Put them in the order of importance and check them off the list as your schedule and budget allow.

Have a budget. Everyone has a budget. There are very few of us who have the luxury of doing absolutely everything at once. Once you determine your priorities and have a plan, assign some dollars to each room on your list. It’s all part of the plan that will keep you from making mistakes.

Rule #1. Stop rearranging clutter. It’s still clutter. You can create the best plan with all of the right guidelines but if you don’t get rid of the clutter, your home will never be yours. Which brings us to rule #2: your home is not a storage garage for other people’s memories. If you don’t love it, donate it. Is it easy? No. But it will give you space for new memories and that is worth something.

Tell a story. Your home should tell a story about who lives there. What you love, where you have been, what gives you peace, calm and happiness. What’s important to you. Your story is what gives your home a soul.

Do it once and do it well. Don’t make the mistake of grabbing furniture just to fill a room. If it’s worth having in your home, it’s worth the time and investment to be sure you’re not making a mistake. Ask the questions: is it timeless? Will I still love it in 5 years?

Your home should tell a story about who lives there. What you love, where you have been, what gives you peace, calm and happiness. What’s important to you. Your story gives your home a soul. Serena & Lily’s Brookings floor lamp, Mirimar chaise. Photo: Serena & Lily.

To make a change, you have to make a change. I see this all the time. A client wants to do a refresh or update their home. But when it comes time to actually replace a piece of furniture or try a new paint color, they just can’t do it. They want a change but just can’t make the change. Solution: establish your priorities and move forward.

Create a focal point in every room. This can be an architectural feature, view, mirror, accent piece of furniture or something eclectic. It should be the first thing someone notices when they come into the room. Shown: Serena & Lily’s Pimlico chair and Breakers rattan floor lamp. Photo: Serena & Lily.

Create a focal point in every room. This can be an architectural feature, a view, mirror, accent piece of furniture or something eclectic. It should be the first thing someone notices when they come into the room.

Your sofa is the most important purchase. When it comes to budget, this is where you don’t want to skimp. Make sure you sit on it. Don’t buy it online. And be bold. Try a beautiful new color. Select a style that fits your space. A sectional, two sofas facing each other one sofa with two chairs. Make sure your feet touch the floor.

Blend old with new. This is one of my favorites. A blend of vintage and contemporary gives a room the feeling of having evolved over a period of time. If you have ever been into a designer show house, this is done very well because designers only have a couple of days to create a room that looks like it has been there for a long time. A room with character takes time. Don’t rush it.

Go easy on the accessories. They are the jewelry that complete the look of a room and transform the space. Adding accessories to your interiors gives it a splash of style and personality. Select carefully, edit your collections and only use what you love. If you love too much, put some away and rotate them.

Wrenda Goodwyn is an ASID associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit her blog at spectacularspaces.com/blog