Inspiration from Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • March 26, 2022

There was a lot of interior decorating inspiration to bring home from my visit to the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach this week. The three main takeaways: Lots of bold (really bold) color. Spectacular ceiling treatments. Beautiful lighting in every room.

Twenty-four acclaimed designers and architects from all over the country participated in showcasing their talents and the best that interior design has to offer. Every square inch of the home is filled with every product and idea that you can imagine. Visual overload doesn’t begin to describe it. Disneyland for designers and décor enthusiasts does. So worth the drive to the other coast!

The décor is vibrant, optimistic and happy with shades of citrus colors like that beautiful tangerine we see so much of now. And green. Lots of green in every shade you can imagine. Pantone’s color of the year, Very Peri, a bold lavender shade, also made it into many rooms with color, ceiling treatments and accessories.

The pandemic has definitely given us all a chance to rethink how we want to live in our homes and look for ways to find happiness and joy in our décor. Each room offered lots of options to consider.

A modern take on a traditional Palm Beach sunroom says “come in and stay a while.” Designed by Paloma Contreras, the treillage walls and ceilings work with the dogwood leaf pattern and rattan to bring the indoor inside. Photo: Nicholas Sargent, Sargent Photography.

The home was built in the 1920s and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Because of its age, it presented many challenges to the designers who brilliantly hide them. For example, what does one do with slanted walls? Cover them with a beautiful screen!

“In the pink: a poolside paradise” by Janie Molster, offers lots of spots to soak up the sun. An entertaining pavilion is ready to get the party started and a romantic, fabric-draped pergola is perfect for enjoying time in the shade for a game of (pink) backgammon. Photo: Nicholas Sargent, Sargent Photography.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I am constantly on the hunt for inspiration that I can bring back and adapt them to my client’s homes. A few of my takeaways are listed below. But first, a little information if you decide to venture over to the “other” coast. The home is open until April 3 so there is still time to visit.

If you go:

5th Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House

3001 Spruce Avenue, West Palm Beach

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily through April 3, 2022

All proceeds from the Show House will support the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, New York, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

A few of my takeaways:

• Rich bold colors with a lot of whimsy. Artwork, wallcoverings, paint and even a custom hood lacquered to match the cabinets.

• Small space or wall imperfections? Cover a wall with a gorgeous folding screen. It adds depth to a small room and covers a lot of things we would rather not see.

• Wallpaper the ceiling! This is beautiful when set within a coffered ceiling or a ceiling where you can add architectural elements. The sky is the limit on how creative you can be.

The “Wonderland Dining Room” designed by Beth Diana Smith is filled with patterns and accessories. The space is grounded by a pink rug and a lilac wallpaper on the ceiling. This room was a major draw with its focal point lotus chandelier and a monkey accent table. Photo: Nicholas Sargent, Sargent Photography.

• Make the exterior part of the interior. I know, we say this all the time. But carry it a step further with rugs, rattan tables, a chandelier, surround drapes to protect from the weather and you have a cozy outdoor room that is part of the home.

Much more than a placed to get dressed, one could spend a lot of time in this “Reimagined Closet” by the Lewis Design Group. The hand-painted wallpaper is the room's focal point and green and yellow fabrics on the settee and Roman shades play off the palm fronds covering the walls. Photo: Nicholas Sargent, Sargent Photography.

• Lattice on a grass cloth wall and ceiling gives the room the feel of a garden party.

• Bar carts. They are everywhere. And they don’t even have to be a traditional cart. A pretty vignette created on a tabletop, kitchen island, beautiful tray or console are perfect. The key is to creatively arrange colorful, pretty things that make you happy every time you make a refreshing beverage!

Visitors would be happy to spend a few days in this guest house. With kitchen and dining room designed by Catherine Austin, she took cues from her favorite travel spots, like Marrakech, Costa Rica, the Cote d’Azur and Palm Beach, to create the home's bright and whimsical breakfast area. The adjoining galley kitchen has vibrant green cabinets and a lacquered custom hood trimmed in brass. Photo: Nicholas Sargent, Sargent Photography.

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

You've Got (design) Style!

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Aug. 21, 2021

What’s your interior design style?

We all know that the interior of our homes impacts our mood, work, health and how we react to others. And nothing is more important than the style of your home and the way it makes you feel when you walk in the door.

This room styled by Pottery Barn has a mix of farmhouse, coastal and a little boho style. Pearce roll-up arm, upholstery, chase sectional; farmhouse end and coffee tables; a sprinkling of accessories and artwork. www.potterybarn.com

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, I tell my clients to select a design style that they can afford and one that suits their lifestyle. It’s often not quite as simple as it sounds. That’s why I want to share a few tips.

Before meeting with a new client, I have them answer a few questions. I give them a list of styles and ask them to pick the ones that describe their current decorating scheme. And I ask what style they would like to see in their home.

Some homeowners know their style and others only know what they don’t like (which is fine). Some tell me they have no style and they need help finding one (also fine).

Most of us hold on to our style and don’t change it over the years unless we are making a major change like downsizing or moving to a completely different part of the country. Even then we tend to take our style with us because it’s what gives us comfort in our homes. My own look in my home style is coastal with a lot of primitive pieces incorporated into the mix.

Why should you know your style?

Well, you don’t have to know your style but it will help keep you on track and eliminate expensive mistakes. It’s about making smart choices. And it’s a good guideline.

It takes time to curate your own style so have patience and have fun with the process.

I look at it like this: would you go into a clothing store and randomly begin to try on clothes without any thought whatsoever as to what would look best on your body type? Not likely.

And you would not begin putting a room together without giving some though as to what you like and what works with the layout of the home. Unless you want to end up with a hodgepodge of stuff. Not a good idea.

What do we mean by “design style?”

The short answer: features that define your home’s character and create harmony in a particular style that you love.

Hint: most homes have a combination of two styles. Which I find much more interesting than one style. And the best combination of all is the one that mixes old with new pieces.

First steps

Take a look at your furniture. See any patterns?

Notice what you really love and what can be eliminated.

Look for common characteristics: color, shape, materials.

Visit model homes. Here, designer’s follow a specific style throughout the home. Take notes.

Look at furniture showrooms. But don’t let the salesperson decide your style.

Create a vignette with magazine photos or digitally. Visualizing helps determine what you like.

If the various styles have you a bit confused, this is a very brief summary of a few. There are many more.

Transitional

This style is a “happy medium.” A mix of traditional and contemporary design. Here you have the freedom to mix and match styles for a cohesive style. It’s a no stress style.

Traditional

From 18th and 19th century England and France, you will see pieces that have stayed true to their period with little change. Velvet, lines, patterned fabrics, glamorous chandeliers, oil paintings, florals.

Modern

Time period is from the early to mid-20th century. Clean lines. Sleek. You won’t find extra embellishments and generally has a more neutral color palette with bold pops of color. No fuss. Clean lines, geometric form, clear spaces, function and storage. Love the 50’s and 60’s? This is your style.

Contemporary

Always changing and a bit hard to describe because it’s what is happening “now” in interior design. It borrows from current styles and trends without focusing on any one particular style.

Coastal

Reflects the natural environment and brings it indoors. Uses neutrals with blues and greens (jewel/sea glass tones). The indoors extends into the outdoors enlarging the living space. Minimal window treatments. Jute, wicker, indoor plants. Bright and breezy.

Eclectic

Eclectic rooms could be filled with iconic pieces from just about every style, and when done correctly, it can work together. Somewhat tricky to pull off but when it does, it is cozy, interesting and reflects the homeowner’s interests. Often combines traditional and modern.

Boho

This style is having its moment with a sudden gain in popularity. Maybe it’s reflective about how we are feeling these days. Free spirit meets different cultures for a look that can be spectacular and fun. Pieces from travels, different cultures, color, and patterns all combine for a totally unconventional and totally fun look. Exotic and layered with bright colors.

Modern Farmhouse

A modern twist on rustic. You know this style if you have watched the HGTV show Fixer Upper. It takes salvaged objects and puts them together in a modern way. Sleek lighting, wide plank flooring combine with blues, greens, lots of black are used to design a comfortable style. Think rustic yet refined with a little traditional.

Minimalist

This one is last for a reason. I rarely see it. For all the talk about minimalism, most homeowners are reluctant to part with their “stuff” to create an uncomplicated, clean and simple design. And I must admit, it takes a lot to pull it off for everyday living. Japanese-inspired, empty spaces with attention to hidden storage and neutral accents.

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 solves 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

At home: what’s trending now?

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • September 5, 2020

We love checking out the latest trends.

It’s not so much that we are going to repaint our white, two-year-old kitchen cabinets the popular color of the moment, but more that, it’s fun to know what’s new and fresh.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I always caution clients against following trends. Instead, I suggest that we take a favorite trend and find a way to work some version of it into your current décor without an expensive renovation. And I recommend that you always ask yourself if you will still love it in five years. The goal: classic and timeless. With a little fun included in the mix.

Kitchen cabinets and island painted in Sherwin Williams Pewter Green (SW6208). Pottery Barn’s Rory pendants in burnished brass shades. Fenton leather bar and counter stools. Available at www.potterybarn.com. Photo: Pottery Barn.

Not a normal year for trends

High Point Market, the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with over 10 million square feet and 2000 exhibitors throughout 180 buildings, takes place in the fall and spring. It’s where designers meet with suppliers and seek out the newest and most beautiful trends in the industry. It’s where it all happens. Walt Disney World for designers.

This past spring, the show was canceled because of COVID-19 and like in the fashion industry, there was no real excitement around design. We were all at home (and still are for the most part) trying to survive a pandemic. The usually flurry of articles and photos with the latest trends did not happen.

So, when a client recently asked me for trends, I thought it was time to take a look at what has come about in the past six months or so while we have all been at home and isolated.

Comfort and function

My go-to for the pulse of the industry is Kravet, the industry leader in to-the-trade home furnishings. The fifth generation family business offers a one-stop shopping venue for designers looking for fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, trimmings, carpets and accessories.

Naples showroom manager, Amy Jimenez, says “comfort” is key to current trends.

“After spending so much time at home, homeowners are looking for comfort, function and performance. Creating a cozy space with a modern feel at home is what’s important.”

Also important, according to Jimenez, is color. Blues, greens, soft shades and dark teals.

What’s trending now?

Kitchens

We are now using them for working at home, school work, entertaining, dining. Trends: Larger islands. Open layouts. Upgraded appliances. Bronze and brass hardware and lighting are hugely popular. Color for cabinets and islands. Think: sage green and navy blue.

Nooks/office space

With everyone working at home, zoom rooms have become a necessity. Okay, you really don’t need a whole room. A wall or a nook will do. But the point is that you need a background for your zoom meetings and a quiet space with privacy. A wall with a piece of art or a countertop with flowers. Lighting is important. A little creativity makes this one easy.

Reconfigure a guest bedroom so it can be used as an office. Rework a laundry room for crafts and a small desk area.

A calm home

This means a lot of neutral colors, open spaces, elements from outdoors, soft indirect light in public spaces, plants to purify the air, chemical-free household products.

Color

Wild and eco-friendly, dried grasses look like you just came back from a walk down a country road. These beautiful arrangements are easy and maintenance-free. Available at www.potterybarn.com. Photo: Pottery Barn

This is the one change that everyone can make with a minimum of expense. And most of my clients have been repainting. It lifts the mood and refreshes the space, almost instantly.

Trends: Neutrals like white, grey, beige are still popular because anything can be used to accent a color palette. Black is now considered a neutral. Blues work everywhere and navy is so popular. All shades of green for walls and fabric. Afraid to commit to a color in a room? Go with neutral walls and paint the ceiling a beautiful color that you have always wanted to try. Worried about imperfections in the wall? Use a matte finish.

Vintage

The days of cheap, fast furniture as a temporary fix have slipped away. Thankfully. Using what’s already here not only honors the skills of craftsmen of the past but it embraces quality that lasts. And vintage pieces will not end up in a landfill. There is a renewed love for vintage and antique pieces and new ideas for using them in your home.

Trends: Incorporate a rare and unique vintage piece. New paint and modern upholstery will give a collectible new life and provide an accent for your room.

Boho chic vibe

This is a look that is fun and provides a lot of comfort.

Trend: Rattan, cane and wicker. All new, this retro style of chairs and tables mixes with your sofas for an affordable, light style.

Bedrooms

Paint a dark wall behind the bed in midnight blue or charcoal. It’s a dramatic backdrop for artwork and photos. Sacrifice a fan for a gorgeous chandelier. As one of my favorite clients says, “we have air conditioning.”

Dried grasses

Wild and eco-friendly, dried grasses look like you just came back from a walk down a country road. Beautiful arrangements are easy and maintenance-free.

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 solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 949-1808 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Styled to sell: Tips that make your home appealing to buyers

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • October 3, 2015

We all know the feeling.

You’ve decided to put your home on the market. You’ve lived in it for a while. Decorated it. Renovated it. Upgraded it. Made lots of improvements. It looks great.

And it really does look great. It reflects your lifestyle. YOUR lifestyle. And that’s just the problem when it comes to selling a home.

Sorry, but it’s not about your style. It’s all about the potential buyer for your home. They need to be able to visualize their life (and belongings) in your home. If they can, they get excited and put your home on their favorites list.

And the process of styling your home for resale is a little tricky and most homeowners have difficulties handling it. Why? Because selling a home and moving under the best of circumstances is stressful, emotional and exhausting. The need to take a critical look at how your home appears to an outsider is tough for most homeowners.

Declutter and remove personal items and add fresh flowers for a look that says "welcome to your new home." This Clara space-saving apartment sofa and ottoman are by Pottery Barn. Photo: Pottery Barn.

As a Southwest Florida interior designer, my Resale-Ready service helps homeowners cut through the clutter (literally) and determine what’s important to potential buyers. It helps to make the difficult decisions and allows the homeowner to make a sale and get on with their lives. My role is to showcase the home’s best features so it will sell quickly for the highest possible price.

And while we can’t magically add more square footage or an extra bedroom or bathroom, what we can do is this:  Make your home look fresh and new to potential buyers.  We can make them visualize their furnishings and accessories in your home. We can make it look larger and more spacious.  Like a model. We can tempt buyers to put your home at the top of their list.

Let’s face it.  You look at your home every day.  A professional, fresh set of eyes and a plan can change everything.  For a potential buyer and for you to enjoy while your home is on the market.

My top tips for homeowners preparing their home to sell:

First impressions are everything.

Start with the exterior. Replace your mailbox and your house numbers.  Something pretty and fresh. Head to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up colorful annuals.  They go a long way to saying "welcome to your new home." Pressure spray the driveway and sidewalk.  Clean out all of the grunge.  If you have pavers, give them a shiny coat of sealer. Purchase new light fixtures at the front door and garage.  These are very inexpensive and make the house look clean and cared for by the owner (you). Touch up exterior paint where needed.  If the house is in desperately in need of paint, go ahead and invest in a complete redo.

Remember:  you are competing with lots of other homes on the market. Have the windows professionally washed. Hire a lawn service to fertilize and edge.  Have them come back periodically until the home sells. Buy a new welcome mat. Purchase two large ceramic pots and fill them with flowers at the front door.

Now your home says "Come inside!"

Invest in a professional opinion.

You are too close to your house. Have an evaluation done with designer or staging company that will prepare a list of changes that you can follow and complete yourself or hire the professional to get everything in perfect order. This is a small investment to sell your home.

It’s not about you anymore.

If buyers cannot visualize their life in your home, it’s simple. They walk. You have to show them how they will love living in your home. How? Remove all personal items. Replace with fresh flowers or books. Store excess furniture so you can open up your home. Pack up everything you can live without. Clear countertops.  Repaint accent walls in a neutral shade.

Declutter.

You are going to pack up to move eventually so declutter now. Go minimalist. It may not be the way you live but it is the best way to show your house. Clean out every drawer and closet and pantry because buyers look in every single corner of your home. If your linen closet spills out into the hallway when you open it, a buyer assumes that you don’t have enough storage space. And they go on to the next house.

Create space.

Envision the way the space should be used. Is your furniture smashed up along the walls? Is there a corner in your living room that would be a great placed to read? Group the furniture in ways that would make sense for the intended use. Make sure to have flow and walking areas through the room. Buyers must be able to envision themselves living in your home and the best way to do that is to show them a comfortable seating area.

Freshen it up.

Have your home professionally cleaned from top to bottom until it shines. Paint window sills and baseboards. Give your bathrooms a spa look with fresh paint and new towels and rugs. Replace any mirrors and lighting that are dated. It’s a good time to switch out your switch plates for a clean look. Opt for light colors on the walls that will reflect the light.

Take a step back.

When you are finished, take a long look at your home. Does the exterior say “welcome home?” Does it look like a model home with space and a comfortable seating arrangement?  Does it have a fresh, clean, decluttered look?  If the answer is yes, it’s time for the sale sign.

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Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator. Home Inspirations appears the first Saturday of each month. Call her at 949-1808 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Home Inspirations: Chipping away at paint color

It's the first Saturday in March and daylight savings time is kicking in tonight. Spring is right around the corner. This means that most of us are thinking about a little interior change to mark a new season. And one of the best (and easiest) ways to enhance your space is with color. Check out my article this morning with tips on how to avoid color confusion. And happy spring! 

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• March 8, 2014

Make a statement in an entry with a bold accent wall in Sherwin-Williams “Naval” for Pottery Barn. 

Make a statement in an entry with a bold accent wall in Sherwin-Williams “Naval” for Pottery Barn. Photo: potterybarn.comThere you are standing in a paint store surrounded by thousands of paint chips...all colors, shades, textures and palettes. Even if you decide to paint the entire house white, there hundreds of choices of white. What's a home decorator to do?

Selecting paint colors is overwhelming for most homeowners. Books have been written about this subject and it is impossible to condense it all into one article. As a Fort Myers interior decorator, it is my most requested service. The phone call often goes like this: "I have no idea what colors to paint. Can you just come over and chose for me?"

Photo: Benjamin Moore

This is not a joke. And neither is selecting paint for your walls. It is the most important part of your decorating.  It makes the most dramatic change in your space and most important: if you can only implement one change in your design plan, select color. It is the most value for your money.

The wall is not your enemy! Done well, paint color choices will change the space. And it will make you love it when you walk into the room. And loving your home is the goal.

We know a lot about what color means. For example: Blue gives us a sense of peace. Green can be a healing color. Yellow and orange are happy colors. Red is energizing (Trouble sleeping? Don't use it in a bedroom!). And the list goes on and on.

Andyou have to consider lighting throughout the day, undertones and lots of other factors. And you cannot possibly pick a paint color from a one inch swatch. And you absolutely have to test the paint before committing to an entire wall.

To give you a few tricks of the design trade that may help in your paint color selection, consider these tips. And don't forget, if you just cannot make a decision, call a professional who is trained in color planning.  We thrive on these challenges and do this every day.

• Rule number 1: It's all about you! Coco Chanel said that "The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good on you." Why would you paint a room that does not flatter you?

For a bath select colors that are tranquil and reminiscent of the sea. This Pottery Barn-inspired bath with Sherwin-Williams “Krypton” with a calm, clean white.

• It's fun to break decorating rules but this is one I never stray from: When selecting new colors, follow nature as your guide. Mother Nature has perfected the color palette so imitate her. This is a rule I always follow.

•  Stick with two or three (at the most) paint colors for your home. The result: Beautiful and restful. You can add more color with accessories. Don't try to put all of your color on the walls.

• Connect your rooms. Don't make each room a completely different color. You want to have a plan so the house makes sense. An idea my clients seem to like: paint all of the main rooms (living room, entry, kitchen) a neutral shade. Use color in the bathrooms, bedrooms and den. I also like to paint the master bedroom and bath in coordinated shades to give it a hotel/master suite feeling.

• One trend to consider: No more white ceilings! Check out the decorating magazines.  We are now using color on the ceilings or a cream shade. No more super white.

• Neutrals: You can't go wrong with these. Pure and simple. If your natural light is great, neutrals in the main rooms are so easy to live with and make it easy to add color in accessories, wall treatments and more.

• Finishes: often a trouble spot for homeowners. The rule: Pick paints with a bit of shine, such as satin and eggshell, in high-traffic areas, kitchens and bathrooms. Use semi gloss and glossy paints and enamels to emphasize moldings, wainscots and banisters. Flat finishes are best for ceilings and imperfect surfaces because they hide flaws. Glossy sheens emphasize problem areas.

Pottery Barn’s twilight blue Matine tolie bedding is a perfect accent color for Sherwin-Williams “Functional Gray” walls. Photo: potterybarn.com

• You get what you pay for. It's true.  I give my clients the same advice as when they are purchasing a sofa: buy the best paint you can afford. It does matter. It looks prettier, has more pigment and will last longer. Premium paint also spreads easier, needs fewer coats and will hold up against repeated cleaning.

• A word about gray. This is definitely the new beige. And it is gorgeous with some version of it working in almost every home from a beach cottage to an estate home. It also works with almost any color palette or pop of color. It can be classic, sexy, shimmery, sexy, calming.

• Make an entrance. Don't forget the front door. And you can be very brave here. Go with something strong and bold that makes a statement. It is the easiest color change of all.

Need help visualizing color for your rooms?

Pottery Barn and West Elm have partnered with Sherwin Williams to create seasonal palettes to coordinate with their furnishings. Details: sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/color/find-and-explore-colors/color-collections/west-elm-collection/.

In addition, Ballard Designs has teamed up with Benjamin Moore to offer advice on paint colors to compliment their designs at howtodecorate.com/category/decorating/paint-colors/.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator. Home Inspirations appears the first Saturday of each month. Visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 949-1808 or email wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

It's a wrap: Trimmings personalize design style

Colorful trimmings are a beautiful accent in any room and personalize a home. Photo: Brunschwig & Fils.

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• August 2, 2014

They are pretty and colorful. Beads, tassels, glass, feathers, shells, wood, metallic threads, metal chain, leather, ribbon, jute and almost anything that you would want. Trimmings...they are the bling of design. The finishing details for a decorating project. The embellishments that personalize and make your interior design unique.

And as a Fort Myers interior decorator, I can tell you that trims are a hot home accessory right now. A gorgeous accent for any room, they are like adding a beautiful piece of jewelry to an article of clothing.

Beaded tiebacks add a designer touch to draperies. Photo: Kravet.

When shopping for fabric for my clients, it never fails. I always end up going through the trimmings. They are inspiring and give me great ideas for new projects. And some uses may surprise you. They are easy to do and can add just the perfect, custom-made touch for minimum effort.

Amy Jimenez, manager of the Kravet showroom at Miromar Design Center in Estero, says that embellishing through the use of passementerie, the French word for trimmings, can be a fabulous way to turn your project from ordinary to extraordinary and adds the finishing touch to a skillfully designed interior.

"Trimming comes in a variety of sizes and styles including cording, gimp, brushed fringe, beaded trim, flat tape, tassel fringe, and bullion, just to name a few, and can be used for both decorative and functional purposes. Modern day passementeries are being made with a diverse selection of materials besides fabric and Kravet's trade-only showroom has an extensive collection of the latest, in-vogue trim collections for designers to source for their clients."

Change the look of a sofa and the entire room with multiple applications of fabric.  Photo: Kravet

And that's just the beginning of the many ways to use these beautiful trims. Check out a few of these ideas and the next time you are shopping for fabric, spend some time going through the trimmings for decorating inspiration!

• Trim the edges of store-bought drapery panels with a beaded trim or flat, wide tape to give them a custom look.

• Use flat tape and other trims to accent a cornice.

• Decorative accent for lampshades.

• Select feathers, woods, shells or beads to enhance a throw pillow.

Beaded tapes, cords and fringes and tapes accent pillows and furnishings. Photo: Kravet.

• Use a trim tape to trim a table runner, placemats and napkins.

• One of my favorites for a small powder room: an exotic trim tape for a border.

• Customize bedding with flat trim on the edges of skirts, sheets and pillow cases.

• Add fringe to a comforter or duvet cover.

Lindi fringed duvet cover from Anthropologie. Photo: Anthropologie.com.

• Pom pom trims are so popular right now that we see them on everything from pillows to shower curtains to throws. And for something fun and trendy without spending a fortune...pom pom a scarf!

Tory Burch pom pom trimmed scarf. Photo: Tory Burch.com.

• Select a pretty trim in an accent color and use it around the edge of dining room chairs.

• Use trims to enhance mirrors and photo frames.

• Jazz up a plain shade with an accent border around the edges and for the top valance.

• Embellish a table cloth with trim by wrapping it around the edge of the table.

• Cover a plain bulletin board with your favorite fabric and trim it in something beautiful and it comes a perfect inspiration board for your favorite decorating ideas, photos and fabric/paint swatches.

• Wrap small presents in trims for a memorable gift!

• As an accent in any room, pickup a few of your favorite, colorful trims on sale and fill a large, clear jar or vase.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator. Home Inspirations appears the first Saturday of each month. Visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 949-1808 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog