Looking for home inspiration?
My @Home interior design articles appear in the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network on the first Saturday of each month. As a Fort Myers interior designer working throughout Southwest Florida, I share tips on how you can create the beautiful home you have always wanted. Need a little inspiration? Check out the articles below. And if you need help getting started, we will help you create a plan that allows you to move forward with a home that makes you happy each time you walk in the door.
2024-2026
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2017
It began its life many years ago as a “foot stool.” Functional, dependable, forgettable, maybe a little bit shabby, with only one purpose in life: to give folks a place to rest their feet at the end of a long day.
Fast forward to present day and it has morphed into an “ottoman,” the most versatile (and chic) piece in your home. If you don’t have one, you need one. Keep reading!
Although everyone is shocked at this number, no one really argues with it. Let it settle in for a moment. The bottom line: we have too much stuff.
We read a lot about living a minimalist life. You can call it downsizing. Decluttering. Living with less. Intentional living. And other terms that are just part of the solution. But what it comes down to is letting go of what is not necessary.
If you feel like your home has become a storage unit for items that you don’t even like anymore, can’t remember where they came from and the problem seems to be getting worse, it may be time for an evaluation of what you are doing. In other words: time to stop the madness.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • October 7, 2017
It seemed like the world was stressful enough before Irma. And then she went on her rampage destroying our peace, calm and security. We learned what could happen to our homes and whether you had no damage, a little or a lot, it has left us all a bit wobbly. After all, for 10 straight days we lived in a state of fight or flight. That takes a toll.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • September 2, 2017
Clients always assume that interior designers have perfect homes.
That somehow we have been blessed with unlimited budgets, endless sources waiting to give us things at cost or less, contractors who do perfect work and always come in on time and under budget.
But in reality, designers and decorators are like everyone else.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • August 12, 2017
It was an overcast day with a splash of light rain as I ventured 40 miles from Paris to the small medieval village in northern France.
Giverny.
Where Claude Monet, master of color and interior design, and great impressionist, lived in a cherry pink home with emerald green trim.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • July 8, 2017
In organic architecture … it is quite impossible to consider the building as one thing, its furnishing another and its setting and environment still another.” Frank Lloyd Wright
It was on my bucket list for a long time. A trip to Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic design.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • June 3, 2017
If you’ve seen any of the award shows lately, you know that one color has popped up all over the red carpet: yellow. Muted. Cobalt. Sequined. Think about the gowns worn by Viola Davis and Natalie Portman. And there is Bella’s unforgettable gold/yellow ball gown in Beauty and the Beast.
And that means one thing: home interior colors follow fashion so here it comes into your home. For many, it never left.
Because I believe that current color follows what is happening in the world, it’s no surprise that yellow is popping up everywhere. A little yellow may be just what we need right now.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • May 6, 2017
It’s everywhere: Pink. The color.
Fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer said that “Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.”
We are tickled pink. In the pink. Pretty in pink. And there is pink champagne.
And it’s no wonder we are seeing so much of it in home decor. It’s a happy, light-hearted color. It makes us feel good.
Ahhhh. Spring.
When I was growing up in Virginia, it meant that you could open the windows, flag down the ice cream man, go barefoot and stay outside an hour later. My mother always gave the house a “spring” cleaning and then we always rearranged the living room furniture. She said that the change was almost like having a new room. And she was right.
There was a time when the bathroom was the most unmentioned room in the home. No longer. Today, bathrooms, as much as any room in house, reflect the style of the owners.
It’s the most personal space in your home. It’s typically the smallest room and yet you begin and end your day in your bathroom. Next to the kitchen, it’s the most important room in the home.
Drips. Drops. Splatters. Spills. This is what you don’t see in the lovely model-home styled photos in design magazines.
That beautiful white sofa that you hesitated to purchase, is going to catch a wine spill or muddy paw prints. Or chocolate ice cream. Or a grape popsicle. You are careful and think it will never happen. But eventually it will. Because we “live” in our homes and we want pretty things.
It’s a new year and if you are like most of us, you’re getting your home back in shape after the holiday decorations come down and the guests leave. Maybe you’ve done a little reorganizing. Some decluttering. Deep cleaning. And now you are thinking about some refreshing your décor for the winter season.
2016
As someone who lives, sleeps and breathes color, I have always believed that popular color trends somewhat reflect what is happening in the world around us.
When Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore announced its Color of the Year 2017 – Shadow 2117-30, a rich, royal amethyst, I thought, this is it. A shadowy, brooding, deep color that speaks for itself.
On my desk, I have a card that says: “I often dream that my life is just as it is now…only I have well-behaved hair and I live in Paris.”
And all of this is true. To live in a dreamy (small) apartment in Paris, I can just see it: White walls (the light is great). Beautiful billowing drapes that puddle on the floor. Huge antique gilded mirror that is propped against the wall. A few antique pieces here and there.
It happens a lot. I am often asked what I most want to change in client’s homes. And there have been a lot of articles recently about “what designers dislike most.”
As a Southwest Florida interior decorator who goes into lots of homes, I can tell you a little secret: there are things that make us cringe and they may not be what you would expect. The good news: most of them are easily corrected and some can be done before the end of this article.
There was a time when my Southwest Florida decorating clients wanted to know what to do with all of their books. Donate them? Sort through them and keep a few? Or for those who were downsizing, how to go about the painful task of deciding what to keep.
But these days, decorating with books is a huge trend. So much so that I find myself actually ordering books in specific colors to accessorize client’s homes.
Have you ever stayed in a hotel that you loved so much that you wanted to just live there? Like the capricious, six-year old Eloise who lived on the top floor of the New York Plaza Hotel?
Even though we can't all be Eloise, (although you can now book the Betsey Johnson-decorated Eloise Suite for a night or two at www.theplazany.com/eloise) you can bring a little of that special lux hotel vibe back home with you.
2015
2014
2013
![#2[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/557b301ae4b08330bf700437/1434137048166-CNPP9GA5OENRFTQJKV7F/pottery-barn)
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• July 6, 2013
Home sweet home says everything about us and our lifestyle.
Do you love what you see when you walk into yours?
Does it make you feel happy, calm, relaxed and glad to be there?
Or is it a constant work in progress that seems to never end?
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, keep two important facts in mind:
#1 You don’t have to be rich to have a beautiful home. Really. It's not just for the rich and famous.
#2 Decorating is about beautiful things that enhance what you already have and living well in surroundings that speak to your lifestyle. In other words: Quality. Not quantity.
Sometimes we all need a little help. A new pair of eyes to offer some solutions. A professional interior decorator can make all the difference.
Maybe you want to update a bathroom. Create a beautiful bedroom. Redo a kitchen for entertaining. Replace old carpet with wood or tile. Change paint colors or go all neutrals with pops of color. Create conversation areas in large open living areas. Blend old furnishings with new to fit your lifestyle. Update your lighting. Add new accessories.
Photo: Benjamin Moore
If this is your first time working with an interior decorator, you may be a little nervous. There are a few tips (right from the source) that will help and give you exactly what you need to know before the first appointment!
Need some help sorting out your lighting needs and how it all fits into your decor? Check out these tips in my Home Inspirations column in the Fort Myers News-Press.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• April 6, 2013
"How to" books have been written about the proper way to light a home.
And yet, if you are like most homeowners, you have rooms filled with lamps, sconces, ceiling lights and chandeliers. Still, it doesn't seem to be quite right.
Addie pendants from Ballard Designs
The generously sized shade of this mouth-blown glass pedant light was inspired by a vintage jar. Hang it above an island, breakfast bar or work area for casual style.
Lighting is much more than functional. It has become a major design element in our homes. It can add the pop that you need to accent a room or it can fade into the background. Done well, lighting can totally change a room. Either way, some basic tips will help to select the type of lighting that is needed and to make it part of your decorating plan.
What every room needs:
If you are thinking about downsizing or just want to live a simplier life, check out these tips in today's Home Inspirations column.
Wrenda Goodwyn • Home Inspirations • Fort Myers News-Press • March 2, 2013
Downsizing.
Whether it is to your dream vacation home, a condo, an apartment or maybe staying in your current home but living with less, many homeowners are freeing themselves of huge homes and possessions to live a life with less. Many find it liberating. Goodbye McMansions. There will be time to travel. Relax and not have to think about maintenance issues. Less for some, means more. But it can be overwhelming and emotional.
Unless you plan ahead.
Seagrass five-piece sectional is from Pottery Barn's small spaces line.
Transform smaller spaces with a thoughtful plan
So you have decided to sell your home and have found a smaller space and want to turn it into a jewel box with everything you have always desired but could not afford in a large home.
Don't show up at your new and smaller home with all of your furniture and other possessions from your large home assuming that you can squeeze them into the smaller space. It will not work and you will be very unhappy!
It takes a lot of thoughtful consideration way before moving day.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• Feb. 23. 2013
For many, it is an acquired taste.
But homeowners who love Stickley furniture are addicted to its style, design and quality. Collectors search in earnest for antiques — early Stickley pieces are recognized as gems of the American Arts & Crafts movement — and can add new pieces because the furniture is still made today, in the company’s factory in Manlius, N.Y.
Mission Dining Collection.“The quality of construction is amazing. Each piece is built when it is ordered ... the name of the customer is on the piece and remains on it as it progresses down the assembly line,” said Larry Norris, founder and president of Norris Home Furnishings, Southwest Florida’s exclusive Stickley dealer.
“And Stickley is delivered on its own truck. When you purchase a piece of Stickley, you are buying a collectible of tomorrow.”
Stickley furniture is known for its hand-finished, solid wood furniture in styles including Mission, Traditional and Metropolitan. Founded in Fayettesville, N.Y., in 1900 by Gustav Stickley — considered to be one of the country’s most legendary furniture makers — Stickley is seen in museums from the Metropolitan to the Museum of Fine Arts.
Today, Stickley has more than 1,600 employees and produces furniture collections ranging from the company’s early Mission Oak and Cherry to Classics, Modern, John Widdicomb, St. Croix and more.
Willow Bed: From the modern collection, the willow bed is part of the Edinburgh line. This beautiful bed was inspired by the Willow Tea Room in Sauchehall Street in Glasgow.
The company burst into international prominence in the early 20th century with its Craftsman/Mission Oak designs. These were based on the notion that furniture should be “honest” — a reaction against the fake joinery, unnecessary gaudiness and shoddy workmanship of many of the pieces created in the early days of industrial furniture making.
Let’s face it. We are all on decorating overload. HGTV. Pinterest. Facebook. RSS feeds. Blogs. Magazines.... and the list goes on and on and on.
Create a new color palette as shown in this bathroom featuring Benjamin Moore's Sea Star (lower wall) and Lime Sickle (upper walls). Visit benjaminmoore.com for more ideas. / Photo courtesy of Benjamin MooreWe are constantly being told what to do, how to do it, the best way to do it, what color to do it and where to go to purchase what we need to do it. All good information but it is easy to focus on what you would like to have rather than what you do have.
And I feel your pain. Imagine being a southwest Florida interior decorator — we are exposed to the most beautiful of everything that can possibly go into a home. The result: We are in a constant state of wanting to redo our own homes (speaking for myself of course).
So my suggestion is this: If you have not done your 2013 decorating resolutions yet (anyone?), take a deep breath (or a time out) and think about what is most important to you.
For example, rather than throwing out all of your furniture and purchasing new, think about what is in your home that makes you happy. What do you love? Make a list and start from there.
Maybe rather than redoing your kitchen, you should think about painting the walls, adding some new hardware and purchasing a beautiful light fixture. My favorite four changes for the most impact: paint color, crown molding, new switch plates and new door knobs.
Remember: Decorating is all about happiness in your home. It is not about what is in or out. It’s about what makes you happy.
Try this exercise: Pretend you are selling your home. Take an imaginary prospective buyer room-to-room. Point out the best features of each room. Make a list.
2012
Velvet monogramed stockings from West Elm add traditional fun to holiday decor. Photo: West Elm.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• Dec. 8, 2012
If you are waiting for inspiration to motivate you to start (or finish) your holiday decorating, this may be a good weekend to spring into action! The good news: there are lots of ideas this season for easy and beautiful designs that will have you decorating your home like a pro!
Add some bling to your holiday with Pottery barn's jewel tone eclectic ornaments. Photo: Pottery Barn.If you are thinking about changing or updating your look this year, consider adding some of the popular metallics, bling, jewel tones, feathers and fresh, shiny colors to your home. Think moderation and be selective!
If you’re in a time crunch, and who isn’t, Frontgate lets you create your own signature style with a choice of three beautiful design options. Select one and you will receive everything that you need for the tree from ornaments, enhancers to ribbon and trim. It also includes coordinating garland and a decorated wreath. It couldn’t be easier. Almost like Christmas in a box. www.frontgate.com.
Use your traditional favorites but don’t be afraid to try something new. Some of our favorite decorating tips are listed below. Use them and tell your friends that you hired a designer to help this year!
Tips for holiday decorating like a pro
Make an entrance! Start at the front door and take your door from drab to fab with a fresh pop of color! Think greens, reds, turquoise (if you are bold). Remember, it is only paint, so don’t be afraid! And don’t stop there! Take last year’s wreath and give it a makeover to complement the door. Beautiful shells, branches, colorful ribbons will help you create a new wreath in no time. A huge impact with minimum expense and effort.
Use what you have! Don’t put everything away and transform your home into a winter wonderland. Use what you have in your home as your stage. If you have a piece of artwork that you love over a mantle or table, start there and add holiday decorations that compliment it. And don’t forget: what comes from nature works best!
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• Nov. 17, 2012
World map printed canvases reproduced from an actual 1937 map. Photo: Ballard Designs.
Accessories for the home are the most important part of interior decorating. They are the icing on the cake. The finishing touch.
Done well, they reflect our tastes, our style, our travels, our dreams, what we love. They are the soul of our home.
Repurposed vintage table is used for shell and glass collection.Done not so well, they create visual overload and just look like a bunch of stuff that was purchased to fill empty spaces. Meaningless bits that in a year will be thrown out. But a grouping that has been thought out allows you to relax and makes you feel calm.
Coco Chanel knew a lot about accessories.
She said that “simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
She knew that the simplest possessions in our homes, just like in jewelry or fashion, are often the most meaningful. And so it is with accessories. Less is usually more.
Accessories are often the most difficult part of interior decorating. Not because we don’t have enough of them but because they are often not properly displayed. Just as we do when deciding on paint colors, furniture purchases, window treatments, flooring and fabric, a plan is needed to make accessories work for the home.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• June 9, 2012
Marie Coquin chandelier designed by Phillipe Starck. Photo: Baccarat.
Women love them. Men often aren't crazy about them.
They are romantic and sexy. The right one with the perfect dimmer switch setting makes anyone look beautiful.
They are dazzling and add style and a touch of refined culture to a space.
They go anywhere in the home, including bathrooms, closets, a walk in pantry. I have even seen one in a laundry room.
You can spend a little or you can spend thousands.
Zenith chandelier with clear pink and mist crystals by Phillipe Starck. Baccarat. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn.
Chandeliers are an accessory that can make an entry or dining room. It does what the perfect necklace does for an outfit. And as with jewelry, before you head out the door, you want to know that you selected the right one.
In southwest Florida, many homes sacrifice chandeliers for ceiling fans. While women are most likely willing to say goodbye to a fan in hopes of adding a beautiful, sparkly chandelier, men often need to be coaxed into considering one.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• April 7, 2012
Since this is a close to spring as we get in Southwest Florida, most of us are looking for ways to give our homes a little freshening up! Some decluttering. And maybe a couple of home projects that we have been thinking about since the holidays. Something about spring, wherever we live, always gives us a nudge to shake things up a little. And even if budgets are tight, you can still do a little decorating to make an impact.
Add spring color with vintage glass pickling jars from Pottery Barn.10 tips for putting a little spring into your home:
• Say goodbye to clutter. Spring is the perfect time to get rid of anything that you don’t love. Go room by room and drawer by drawer. Closet by closet. I find that tackling one room at a time works best. Don’t aim for perfection. Just try to make a dent. And don’t forget to dump all of the piles of magazines that you have not read in the past two years. Too many collectibles? Put some away and rotate them back in the fall.
• Don’t try to redo the entire house but pick one room and give it a makeover. Maybe the family room or the bedroom. Make changes that you have been thinking about. Spend some time and plan it out like a decorator. Find photos in magazines or on the internet. Make a vision board. Establish a budget. Set some priorities. Have fun.
• Add some color for the biggest change. Try some pops of that Tangerine Tango that you have heard so much about. Pantone’s Color of the Year is cheerful and bright. Try new throw pillows, a throw, picture frames. It goes with almost anything when used as an accent and is a very happy color!
• Give the kitchen a facelift. Not a remodel but some small changes that will make you love your kitchen again. Take all appliances off the counters (you will have room in your cabinets or pantry that you have decluttered). Okay, leave the coffee maker. But seriously, remove everything else. Now you have room for a vase of beautiful spring flowers. Now…replace the drawer pulls and any other outdated hardware. Then add a fresh coat of paint.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• January 28, 2012
If you find yourself looking for space to carve out a home office or if your current one is looking a little dreary, it may be time to come up with a plan.
Pottery Barn.Whether you are converting a walk-in closet into a workspace, sharing a family room or transforming a guestroom to your new home office, it can be a fun adventure if you follow a few tips.
Put some light on the subject. By now we know about the negative impact that lack of light has on our productivity and mood. And the best light of all is natural light. It reduces eye fatigue and headaches. Make sure that you have as much natural light as possible coming into your office. In addition, allow for both overhead lighting and task lighting. And skip fluorescent lighting. It makes you tired. A good desk lamp is Pottery Barn's Cole task table lamp (www.potterybarn.com). It is designed to focus light precisely where it is needed, making it perfect for reading and desk work. It has two turnkeys that let you adjust its height and angle and it also comes in a floor lamp. In addition, purchase a shaded lamp for a surface in your space to give your office some warmth.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• January 7, 2012
If you are looking around your home and thinking that it is a little drab after taking down the holiday decorations, now may be a good time to think about what changes you would like to make for the coming year. Some ways to give it a fresher look for 2012.
If you are like most of us, New Year's resolutions last about as long as the last holiday leftovers. But if you put a short plan together of some decorating resolutions, you may be surprised at the results!
Here are my top resolutions for 2012:
Try something new! Something bold for the New Year. “Undrab” your home following the holidays with Pantone's color for 2012. Tangerine Tango has everyone dancing about this color. Is it the new red? Likely. According to pantone, the deep red-orange color is intended to give us all a “big energy boost; a refresh and a recharge.” What better way to start the year. But be careful how you use it! Suggestions: Pillows, bedding, accent walls, upholster a chair. Include it in your wardrobe…a purse, nail polish, shoes. It is coming. Get ready and have fun! That is what decorating is all about.
Undecorate. This may sound strange coming from a decorator so I will explain! Most homes are plagued with with visual overload. Let's resolve to simply our decorating and put some space in our homes instead of more things. Eliminate overstuffed rooms. This includes table tops, walls, furniture. Give your rooms space in which to breath. The result: a more restful and peaceful home.
2010-2011
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• December 3, 2011
It always happens just as we are heading into the holidays.
I receive calls from clients who want to do a mini home makeover before the out-of-town guests and friends arrive. Everyone wants their home to look its best but we are all surprised that the holidays came upon us so fast and before we have time to redo our home into absolute perfection!
Wait. Stop. Take a breath!
We can’t do it all so I have come up with a short list that will refresh your home before you begin your holiday decorating. Not a total makeover but some easy and painless tips:
This stylish table from Pottery Barn is perfect for bringing organization to busy family spaces. With a compact profile and simple silhouette it is perfect for smaller entry areas.• Start at the front door. Literally with the door! Transform the entry to your home with a new paint color. This is inexpensive and fun. It will be a nice change for a boring front door that has been the same color for far too long. The color depends upon your exterior color but if it is a neutral tone, try a red, turquoise, blue or orange shade.
• Add some new plants to the front porch and clear out any that have seen better days!
• Before you bring out your décor items, give your home a quick decluttering. Take 15 minutes and put items away that are taking up extra space on surfaces that you will need for your holiday treasures.
• If new bedding is on your list, now is a good time. Nothing transforms a master bedroom and guest bedroom like new linens and comforters. And when the holiday stress sets in, a beautifully made bed to sink into is pure bliss!
• As much as you would like, you probably do not
This beautiful blue door and surrounding plants say “welcome” to your guests during the holidays or any day! have time for new window treatments but you do have time to order a beautiful cornice for a window or two. Pick out some beautiful fabric find an upholsterer and they can help you with a cornice that will change the room. Or do it yourself with some easy step-by-step directions that are readily available online.
• Open the windows and light scented candles, add potpourri and seasonal aromatherapy.
• Since we all have guests over the holidays, make sure that you have a place in your entry near the front door where visitors can put their bags and purses. A chair or a bench or a wide table. Takes away that awkward “what do I do with my bag” moment when guests arrive. And make this a permanent part of your entry.
• This is a good time of year to add some new pillows and throws to your couches. Try out a new color that pops and compliments your wall color (no, you do not have time to repaint!).
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• November 29, 2011
Decorating your home with things that have already seen a long life – furniture, art, sculpture--man-made or from nature --- can bring a unique, one-of-a-kind charm that shopping for something new can never achieve. And when objects that were intended for one purpose are given a brand new life as something entirely different ---well, the word “creativity” can take on a whole new meaning.
A steel hatch from a salvaged Navy warship, still with its original rivets and brass fittings, becomes a wonderful coffee table in a local Captiva beach house.
Everything old is new again, as the saying goes.
The word “repurpose” appeared in Webster’s in 1984. The definition: to change something so that it can be used for a different purpose.
Repurposing is not a new concept. People have been looking for new uses for their “stuff” since the beginning of time. Sometimes out of necessity. Often because it is just hard to part with something and you need to find a better use for it. Repurposing is very popular at the moment, a trend that is hopefully becoming a permanent part of our lifestyle.
A hand-crafted lentil that once hung over a window of a southern plantation home now serves as a wonderful display shelf for a collection of favorite shells and coral.There are some really good reasons to repurpose. It helps to cut back on what takes up space in the landfill. You will save money repurposing instead of buying new. And it gives a lot of satisfaction to know that you have “saved” a vintage piece that has been tossed aside.
With antique fairs, flea markets and garage sales in full swing with the cooler weather, you may want
Fanciful-colored wooden oars, worn from years of service on row boats of all sizes, now hang as a striking nautical family on a rack that was originally designed for drying tobacco plants. to give repurposing a thought. As you are browsing, remember that many items can be cleaned, painted or completely restored. Look for items that can be used for functional, everyday uses or for an eclectic accent piece or as artwork. The possibilities are endless if you develop a new way of looking at objects. Several weeks ago I was going through an architectural salvage yard with a client who fell in love with two beautiful vintage doors. She asked what she could possibly do with them. I said: "Headboards." You will not find these new in a furniture store.
And repurposing does not have to cost anything. Think about the beautiful treasures from nature: wood and items that wash up on our beaches every day. With a little imagination, they become art for our homes.
And what will I do with the vintage ten foot Nantucket wooden rowboat that I just bought last week? It is falling apart, has charming but peeling turquoise paint and came with four antique oars. And a big hole in the side. It cried out to me to be repurposed. I am thinking of hanging it from an open beam ceiling over an outside gazebo bar!
Once this vintage Nantucket rowboat is patched up and painted, it will be a focal point as it hangs from the open beam ceiling of a client’s outdoor gazebo bar.
In this week's Home Inspirations column I thought I would share a few of my favorite decorating tips!
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• August 27, 2011
When I speak to organizations throughout southwest Florida, I always offer some tips that my audience can actually go home that day and either try them out or include them in the decorating plan in their own homes.
Try some of these ideas for making quick changes that may make you like your home a lot more!
The best news: Many of them are absolutely free or will cost very little to implement. My top decorating trips that anyone can implement are listed below. Give them a try!
• Keep your decorating plan simple and uncomplicated.
• Declutter. It makes all the difference: Start with the refrigerator magnets and work through old stacks of magazines. Then remove some furniture if your room seems too crowded.
• Color is a decorator's most valuable tool and it can be yours as well. Follow this color rule for distributing color and you can't go wrong: 20% walls, 30% furniture, 10% accessories.
• When selecting paint colors, follow nature as your guide. Mother Nature has perfected the color palette so imitate her. This is a rule I always follow and I have never been sorry. See below:
One of nature's color palletes photographed at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
Technically, it is still the new year. So, if one of your resolutions was to gain some control over your closet, check out the fun, fast and affordable tips from Spectacular Spaces that were in my column in this weekend's Fort Myers News-Press.
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to news-press.com • January 29, 2011
In "Sex & the City," Carrie Bradshaw told Mr. Big that she would rather have a really big closet than a diamond. It is a woman thing.
Closets are very complicated. They have the power to make us feel happy, fat, thin, sad, unsettled. It is an emotional relationship that we have with our closet.
As a decorator, I get to peek into a lot of closets. They tell me a lot about my clients. And I tell my clients that your closet is the one area in your home that you can control with minimal expense and effort.
We go into the closet at least 10 times a day. It is first place we stop in the morning. And usually the last stop at night. Unless you have a Mr. Big around to drop a bundle, a Carrie-style closet is probably out of reach. But I have tips on doing a closet makeover that will give your closet a designer look.
Keep your closet organized with an Elfa system.
If your budget allows for a total redo of the closet - including lighting furnishings, drawers and all of the amenities - go for it. You can also check out some of my favorite closet systems: California Closets, Elfa at the Container Store and IKEA Pax. These vary in a medium price range and are easy to customize.
For budget systems that are easy to install, try Closet Maid (Lowe's and Home Depot) and Rubbermaid.
Once you have a system in place, we need to make it pretty:
- Select a yummy paint color. This will give you immediate results. I love Benjamin Moore's Blue Dusk.
- Depending on the size of your closet, pick out a beautiful runner or square rug. Something whimsical and fun. West Elm's Chrysanthemum rug is hand-tufted wool and starts at $129 for a runner
Check out my latest Home Inspirations column in the Fort Myers News-Press for tips on decluttering your home now that the holidays are over!
Step-by-step plan of action will make you feel so much better about your home
Wrenda Goodwyn • special to news-press.com • December 25, 2010
In a few days, you will be clearing out the holiday decorations. This is the perfect time to do a quick decluttering. It is easy and will make you feel so much better about your home.
Daily System from Pottery Barn. Photo: Gannett.
We all know that clutter makes us feel tired and overwhelmed. Check out my list and see what works for you. This is the time for cleaning out the old so some great new things can come into your life in 2011.
Old magazines: You are not likely to catch up on that stack of 2010 (or older!) magazines. Tip: As a decorator, I keep a year’s worth of magazines to show great ideas to my clients and toss the rest each January.
Furniture: Take a look at your traffic patterns and furniture. If something is obstructing the flow in your space, rearrange it or store some of it. Tip: a U-shaped configuration always works.
Collections: Declutter your collections by grouping like items together instead of having them all over the house. If you have too much, put some away and rotate. Tip: If you don’t love it, donate it.
Quick cleanup: Vacuum under all furniture.
Books: If you have too many, donate them. Tip: If books are taking over your space and you cannot part with them, consider adding shelving that fits in with your decor.
Check out my latest Home Inspirations column in the Fort Myers News-Press for tips on stress-free holiday decorating.
News-Press, November 27, 2010 by Wrenda Goodwyn
Ready or not, Santa is headed to southwest Florida. With only a few weeks to go, it is time to get your decorating plans together. And "plan" is the key word!This holiday season, like many others, I will be enjoying our beautiful white beaches and blue waters. The colors found in sea glass are my themed holiday decor this year. It all seems very much like the holiday season to me now. Just different.
When I began my decorating business, everything changed. I realized that simple really is better when it comes to the holidays. I have had years to practice that philosophy in my own home and in those of my clients. I have grown to love Florida at Christmas.
There are advantages to a more simple (but beautiful) decorating scheme. It is prettier. There is less clutter. You can appreciate the quality of your decor rather than creating visual overload with too much. An added benefit: there is less to put away when the season is over.
My tips for a simple and easy holiday plan include:
Use real plants. Poinsettias (red, white and pink) on the front porch, in the entry and throughout the house.
Check out my latest Home Inspirations column in the Fort Myers News-Press for tips on turning your bath into a blissful spa escape.
News-Press, October 23, 2010 by Wrenda Goodwyn
There is no more peaceful escape than retreating into your own personal spa. You can include soothing colors, candles, aromatherapy, a new spa robe and slippers, fluffy white towels, neck pillow, relaxing music, favorite soaps, body lotions and oils.
It is possible to include spa and bath products from some of the most popular boutique hotel collections in the world, from a showerhead that gives a sense of standing in a rain forest to popular curved hotel shower rods that save space and create a beautiful design element.
You can do them all with a few tips to get started.
• Explore hotel collections. Some of my favorites are the showerhead from the Fairmont Hotel. Eco-friendly products from Marriott Hotels. Trendy and hip decor from W Hotels. Bath products from Sonesta Hotels. All have websites that sell everything from the furnishings to lighting.
• Declutter. Keep all surfaces clean and sparkling. Use attractive baskets or jars to hold and store
accessories.
• Color. This one is subjective but no color says "spa" like a beautiful clean white. Blues are also calming and greens are relaxing. Some of my favorites: Benjamin Moore's Sweet Dreams, Brilliant White, Silver Satin, Fresh Dew.
• Mirrors. If you are going to paint, replace the mirror. If your bath is small, use one with a frame or consider framing a plain mirror. Or frame the mirror on the wall without the expense of removing it. Check out mirrormate.com. If you have a double vanity, replace a stark, large mirror with two framed mirrors (Pottery Barn, West Elm, Home Goods).
Check out my latest Home Inspirations column in the Fort Myers News-Press for a list of quick and easy ways to love your home!
News-Press, September 25, 2010 by Wrenda Goodwyn
When it comes to interior decorating, there really are no rules. Well, I have one rule: It must be comfortable! But for the most part, anything goes as long as you love it. A few gentle guidelines will help you get to that point. Whether you have an empty nest or a house filled with family, an apartment condo or home, are upsizing or downsizing ... these suggestions work wherever you live.
Dorothy said it best in the Wizard of Oz, “There is no place like home.”
And yours should be a place that you love. If you are not quite feeling the love for your home, it may be time to shake things up a little. Make a change. Redefine your style. Correct decorating mistakes. Decide on a design plan.
When it comes to interior decorating, there really are no rules. Well, I have one rule: It must be comfortable! But for the most part, anything goes as long as you love it. A few gentle guidelines will help you get to that point.
Whether you have an empty nest or a house filled with family, an apartment condo or home, are upsizing or downsizing…these suggestions work wherever you live: Have a plan before you leap in to a design project. What is the end result you wish to achieve? What is the budget? What do you love in your home? Not love?
The test: will you love it in five years?
Before making a major purchase, ask yourself this question.
Go classic. Avoid trendy. Furniture purchases should be like a Channel suit: timeless.
Declutter. Less is more. No amount of design overcomes clutter. Find a place for everything or delete it. You will feel much better. Show off collections. Group by subject or by color. With photo collections, use the same color and type of frame. You will be amazed at how terrific the photos look. My favorite frame: black or silver. Small investment. Immediate result!
Check out my new decorating column, Home Inspirations, that began today in the Fort Myers News-Press with this intro.
The column will focus on fresh approaches and imaginative solutions for renewing your spaces. Transforming your bath into a spa-like retreat, clutter-busting secrets, finding flea market treasures and much more! Follow us and let us know what you would like to know more about in this column and blog.
News-Press, August 28, 2010 by Wrenda Goodwyn
For as long as I can remember I have been redoing rooms.
As a child, some of best memories are of my mother and me moving all of the furniture around in every room. This became a seasonal ritual and my father would come home from work in the evening to a different house. We didn’t have a lot of money for decorating so we used what we had. When we got bored, we moved everything around and just made it look completely different. Always better.
Then there was the time that we painted the master bedroom purple. My father was on a short business trip and we had to work fast. To this day, I have a soft spot for Benjamin Moore Violet Mist #1437. We loved it. My father was not so sure. I told them that it was the perfect dreamy color for a bedroom. I was 10 years old. My mother and I were convinced that we were ahead of our time as decorators!
So after redoing my own small apartments, condos, homes, beachouses and estate homes, as well as the homes of most of my friends, I decided to put my talents to work. I did not want to be a traditional designer. I wanted to start with what people already had and work from there. I had done my own homes on every level budget. Most important, I knew that I could make any home, regardless of the budget or style, look better. I knew that I had a passion for decorating and that I had always been able to make a room look better. What amazed me were the small changes that had a big impact.
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