Inspiration for creating a beautiful home

It’s summertime in Southwest Florida and if you are running a little low on inspiration for your home, a vision board with some of your favorite things is a good place to start. Photos, paint color, textures, samples of wall coverings and fabric samples and anything else that you love, help when deciding how you want your home to feel when you walk in the door. Photo and inspiration board are from one of my favorite places to go to go for inspiration, Kravet. Check out this to- the-trade source at Karvet.com. Photo: Kravet.

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • July 3, 2021

A couple of months ago a client asked me to walk through her home and give her tips on how she could “make it look like something out of a magazine.”

Before I booked a designer for a day consultation, I talked with her at length on the phone about her home and what I could do to help her. She told me that she no idea what she wanted. Had no strong likes or dislikes. Her home was not really any particular style. Did not have any color preferences. Was clear that she had no design style. She just knew that she wanted it to look great. And she thought she would know what she wanted when she saw it.

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, I can tell you this is not all that rare. I’ve found that many homeowners, especially post COVID, want to change their homes but are lacking clear ideas about what they want. Not a problem!

This is where inspiration comes in. And maybe we are all feeling a little uninspired and disconnected after the past year.

Making changes

One solution is to call a decorator or designer. We are full of ideas. But before you make that phone call, it’s really important to gather some thoughts about what makes you happy and how you would like for your home to feel when you walk in the door. After all, it’s your home.

Maybe you’re making a fresh start in a new home. Downsizing to a smaller space. Looking for a new look after a life-changing event. Feeling the need to restore balance to your home and life. Or maybe you are just plain bored and want something different.

Set the stage

Decide how you want your home to feel when you walk in the door. Everything you do will relate to this feeling. I always tell my clients I don’t need to know details about how they want it to look. That comes later. But tell me the feeling that you want your home to reflect and I will help get you there.

I have some thoughts that I share with my clients on finding your inspiration and you may find them helpful.

Home inspiration and where to find it

Design books

Magazines

Pinterest

Instagram

Design blogs

Hotels

Restaurants

Nature

Travel

Fabric

Fashion

Antique markets

Art

Furniture showrooms

Model homes

If you love to travel or just enjoy dreaming about faraway places, be inspired with this World Traveler wallpaper from Ballard Designs. With whimsical maps of favorite cities, it’s perfect for a powder room or office. www.ballarddesigns.com. Photo: Ballard Designs.

Transform your home like a professional

• Make it your own. Ideas from magazines and Instagram are great inspiration starters but it’s your home and should reflect you.

• Order samples of paint, wallpaper, fabric, tile.

• Make your own vision board. There are free programs online or you can create one on Pinterest.

• When working on a room, I like to lay everything out on a white tray: fabric sample, paint swatches, tiles, bits of inspiration like shells and other objects found in nature, photos, etc.

• Keep it simple and remember: trends are fun but they come and go. Look for classic style that is never outdated.

• Remember to have fun and don’t overthink things.

This month:

• Review your hurricane plan and stock up non-perishable supplies. www.leegov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement/plan

• With 175 days until Christmas, it’s time to think about holiday decorations. Put a plan together and order what you need. This is also a good month to review what you have and eliminate old decorations that you no longer use. Donate them to a charity. Now you can forget about the holidays until November!

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

For your home: spring dos and don’ts

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • March 6, 2021

Spring is my favorite season. Windows are open. New scents, flowers and plants throughout the house and yard. Hanging baskets on the lanai. A thorough “spring” cleaning to make everything feel fresh.

Way before spring officially arrives on March 20, I start planning. A new set of sheets, new bathroom rugs, new throw pillows. A few tweaks to the guest room because company will be here eventually. I am also thinking about a new rug for my Florida room to replace the sisal rug that my Corgi puppy assumed was grass and ate. Seriously. It’s not pretty.

Spring is a season of hope. And inspiration.

Bring peace and calm to your space with tranquil touches and fresh scents. www.potterybarn.com/shop/new/moments-of-mindfulness Photo: Pottery Barn

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I’ve been helping my clients find their inspiration as we slowly and safely resurface from the past year. And what I find is that you may not necessarily need to buy anything new. You may just need to rearrange some things and eliminate what accumulated over the past year that no longer serves you.

Before you put a spring refresh plan together, take a look at a few of my” dos” and “don’ts.” And next month we’ll talk about what you can do to correct some common decorating mistakes. All before you buy anything.

Don’t throw money away on these:

• Patterned sofas. It’s more aesthetically pleasing to the eye if you go solid and save the patterns for chairs, window treatments and pillows.

• Mass-produced artwork just to fill a space on a wall. Unless you love the piece and in that case, buy it. Otherwise, wait until you find something that you really love.

Coastal shades of blue and woven textures bring a relaxed and refreshed look to you home. Get the look at www.potterybarn.com/shop/shop-by-room/living-rooms/canyon-folsom-living-room Photo: Pottery Barn

• Trends. Let’s face it, trends are fun and we love to find some version of a new trend for our clients. But there is a reason that white cabinets are a timeless, classic choice. Before you go too far off the deep end with a trend, ask yourself: “Will I still love it in five years?”

• Tile countertops. The time has passed for these and who wants to clean grout every day?

• Cheap paint. You don’t need to buy the most expensive on the market but something in a middle range will go on better, clean easier. Worth a few extra dollars.

Want your home to have an updated look?

Say goodbye to these. Some you can do right now. Others will require a bit of work. It will be worth it.

• Vertical blinds. These never looked good and there are options.

• Doilies. What can I say?

• Don’t cover every wall with family photos. This really dates a home and makes it look old. Pick a few and frame them in identical frames and display them on a table, desk, piano or on one wall for your family gallery.

Spring is a season of hope and inspiration. What inspires you for your home this spring? Maybe some ideas from this coastal-look Landmark collection from Thibaut Designs. Malibu Chair in Piper woven fabric in kelly green; Keller ottoman in Sadie woven fabric in aqua; Madison

• Shag carpet. Yes, it still lives. Okay, let’s talk about this. A couple of years ago, I saw shag area rugs at High Point Market that were really cool to look at. But how do you clean them? And think about a red wine spill. This is a trend that needs to be left in the 70s.

• Chickens and roosters. These pop up in hallways and over kitchen cabinets. Leave them on the farm (unless you really love them).

• Old fixtures and drawer pulls. Things change and updating these will give your space a new look.

• Gold frames on anything. Unless you live in a museum.

• Popcorn ceilings. Whatever you have to do to remove these, it’s worth it.

• Old wallpaper. Old as in more than five years old. I know, you paid a lot but it’s dated and needs to come down. Try a beautiful paint color for an option.

• Wood paneling. Paint it.

• Matchy, matchy anything. Don’t buy an entire room of furniture that matches. Unless it’s for a rental property. Otherwise, use some imagination and find some pieces that you love. Matchy matchy says, I just don’t care. And I know you do.

• Honey-stained oak cabinets. These were the rage but now, nothing dates a home more than this look. If they are in good shape, have them painted. It’s worth the investment.

• Fake plants. Just don’t.

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

Finding design inspiration in a decorator show house

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press • February 22, 2020

Decorator show houses always leave me with new inspiration. They show us tricks for creatively providing solutions to problems that we all face in our homes. And they are just plain fun!

That’s why I made the trip to Palm Beach this past week to preview what I knew would be a worthwhile experience at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. The proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach and the same organization in New York. It’s a win-win for everyone.

When you take a group of 19 top designers and give them each a room in a fabulous home, the result is bound to be spectacular. It can be a room, entry, hallway, closet or outdoor space. Or cottage in the backyard. So to speak. They are hardly cottages and this is no ordinary backyard.

Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Photo: Sargent Architectural Photography.

What you can expect

• A home that does not flow. Each room is done by a different designer so they bring their own creativity to the space. Enjoy each individual space.

• The latest colors, fabric, furnishings, window treatments, wall coverings, paint colors, patterns, textures, accessories and trends.

• Ideas and solutions for your own space. As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I always look for tips to pass on to my clients and this home did not disappoint. Tips are below.

• These rooms each had their set of “challenges” and it’s interesting to see how designers overcame them. Much as we do when we work with clients on a daily basis. No home or room is perfect.

The show house

The 8,751-square-foot home inspired by South African and Dutch architecture is located at 260 Palmetto Lane in West Palm Beach. It features four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a great room with vaulted ceilings and French doors that open up to an expansive loggia, and a spacious kitchen with an adjacent outdoor dining terrace. The home includes two guest houses, a pool house, and an expansive private garden with lush tropical flora.

Design challenges

The home is lacking in architectural features for most rooms and in some spaces, the walls do not go all the way to the high ceilings.

Tips you can use

Use paint in a voluminous room with no focal point. In Southwest Florida, we know something about this challenge! With our open concept and lack of walls, we understand the dilemma. But one of my favorite designers, Suzanne Kasler cleverly dealt with this in the huge living room with high, high ceilings and no architectural details to speak of. And she also had to overcome walls that did not reach the ceiling.

Great Room “Edited Style” ​was designed by ​Suzanne Kasler. Built on a quintessential Palm Beach color palette of pink and white and featuring rattan, linen, and natural materials, the Great Room boasts stunning views of the outdoor garden and swimming pool. High-gloss, built-in bookcases in ​Benjamin Moore’s​ Custis Salmon stretch across an entire wall, housing a number of books and white sculptural pieces, while a stunning wall covering sets the scene for the room. Photo: Sargent Architectural Photography.

Solution: Paint. She made you forget the shortcomings with built-in bookshelves in Benjamin Moore’s Curtis Salmon and trim and walls in Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, both in high gloss. For the main walls, she designed a beautiful floral wall covering framed in white millwork. This all helps draw the eye away from the irregular ceilings. She also uses moldings to bring the volume down to eye level.

Paint the outdoor ceiling. This has been a trend for a while, although I find many homeowners are a little reticent to make the commitment. Another of my favorite designers, Sherrill Canet created a fabulous palette of black, white, and jewel tones on the shaded terrace. She uses Benjamin Moore‘s Fantasy Blue to create the effect of an open air space on a covered porch. It’s a great trick that can be used on any outdoor space. As for furnishings, embracing its role as the heart of the plantation-style home, the Loggia blends modern touches with antique pieces for a tailored look for comfortable outdoor living. Gorgeous.

Sherrill Canet created a fabulous palette of black, white, and jewel tones on the shaded terrace. She uses Benjamin Moore‘s Fantasy Blue to create the effect of an open air space on a covered porch. It’s a great trick that can be used on any outdoor space. Photo: Sargent Architectural Photography.

Fake it with a beautiful wall covering. At first glance, the master bedroom by designer Alessandra Branca, is like waking up in a tiled bedroom in a villa in Portugal. In reality, the hand-painted wallpaper that Branca designed for DeGournay, gives the look of traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles. The furniture is a mix of Dutch and French pieces with 18th-century painted chairs mixed with modern pieces. On the terrace, floor-to-ceiling custom window treatments by The Shade Store lead to sweeping views of the garden and pool. It’s a room you never want to leave.

The master bedroom by designer Alessandra Branca, is like waking up in a tiled bedroom in a villa in Portugal. In reality, the hand-painted wallpaper that Branca designed for DeGournay, gives the look of traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles. The furniture is a mix of Dutch and French pieces with 18th-century painted chairs mixed with modern pieces. Photo: Sargent Architectural Photography.

Colorful kitchen with an antique. There is no dining room in the home so the spacious kitchen could easily handle that function. Designer Sarah Blank created a timeless space that offers a relaxing and refreshing gathering place. Benjamin Moore's brilliant Swiss Blue adds dimension, while artwork depicting birds and coral pays homage to the home’s South Florida location. The island, an antique tailor’s table anchors the room and is the focal point.

Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Blue and an antique tailor’s table are the stars of this kitchen by Sarah Blank. Photo: Sargent Architectural Photography.

If you go

Dates: the show runs through March 1.

Admission: $35 per person. Proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach and New York.

Details: www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/palmbeach

Home and location: Home of interior designer Lars Bolander, it’s known as Bambo Hill and is located at 260 Palmetto Lane, Palm Beach.

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

Home Inspirations: Fashion meets interior design with simplicity and sexiness

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press• June 7, 2014

"Simplicity and sexiness. That's what people want at a price that's not outrageous." Diane von Furstenberg in 1976 when she was on the cover of Newsweek.

Photo: Kravet.

She married a prince in 1969.

She became a fashion diva with her slinky, print, wrap dress in 1974. By 1976, she had sold more than one million of the dresses hat looked good on everyone.

She was painted by Warhol in the 70's and 80's.

She was exotic and her life is legendary. And the legend continues as she has just teamed up with Kravet to launch a new collection of home fabrics and trimmings. The line showcases her renowned aesthetic and sense of print and color, as seen in many of her iconic patterns. Von Furstenberg effortlessly brings high fashion into the home with prints, wovens and draperies and custom trimmings designed to accent the fabrics with an exotic edge.

Photo: Kravet.

And like the designer, exotic is the best way to describe these classic von Furstenberg designs. That and "fearless" with a touch of " oh là là!"

The collection has a strong foundation in black and white with pops of color, and incorporates the iconic designer's signature bold animal prints, such as Spotted Cat and Funky Zebra. Geometric and abstract prints are also featured, for an eclectic blend designed to be mixed and matched. Color palettes range from berry and orange jewel tones inspired by the sunsets in Rajasthan, to azure blues that recall the Caribbean Sea, and desert-inspired neutrals in sand and stone.

As a Fort Myers interior decorator and a huge fan of all things von Furstenberg, I could not wait for the Kravet showroom at Miromar Design Center in Estero to unveil this collection. And I wasn't disappointed.  But these designs are not for the fearful when it comes to incorporating into a home's decor.

Photo: Kravet

Amy Jimenez, Kravet's Estero showroom manager suggests that the bright color palate as well as the more subtle tones are perfect for someone with a more modern aesthetic.

"Feeling daring? Imagine using a pattern like Cumulus, Iznikoasis or China Vine for drapery panels, bedding or on a large piece of furniture. Feeling more“faint of heart”? Try using them on accent pieces such as pillows, chairs or ottomans for a great pop," she says.

Photo: Kravet

And my advice? Forget your fears and liven up your decor with these yummy colors and designs.

As Jimenez says, whateveryou choose, DVF’s collection will be sure to transform any space into something really spectacular!"

I couldn't agree more.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator. Her practical and affordable interior decorating helps clients transform a house into a beautiful home.  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

Design forecast: Fearless, bright, bold and brassy

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

Mid-century modern dining by Stanley Furniture. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn

At High Point Market in North Carolina, along with 75,000 other buyers and designers from all over the world, I did my best to cover 11.5 million square feet of space that provide dazzling displays of thousands of new products.

This home decor mecca is Disneyland for designers. It takes place for one week each fall and spring. With so much to see that it's easy to find yourself on visual overload. In addition, there are opportunities to meet famous designers, take courses from experts and there are lots of opportunities to meet your favorite television personalities (my design crush: Tom Filicia). There is even a seminar that teaches you how to navigate Market, as it is called, and to make the most out of your time.

Lots of creative uses of books. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn.

But who has time for that course with all of the spectacular showrooms waiting with beautiful, pretty things. The temptation is to just take the plunge with your to do list. And so I did.

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, this is where I go for design inspiration, to look for new ways of creating beautiful rooms and to shop for my clients who are looking for something new and fresh. Whether it is an eclectic piece to be used as a focal point in a room or for to shop for furnishings and accessories for an entire home.

Pretty and popular apple green accents with neutral tones. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn.

If you can't find it here, it doesn't exist. Not that every showroom can be covered. Despite the miles that I put on my new, sensible walking shoes. So take a trip with me as I offer a peek at a few of the amazing, edgy, stunning new trends that I saw at Market. You will soon be seeing these in your favorite retail spots and magazines.

Trends

The market spotters were predicting "bright, bold and brassy," and that sums it up perfectly. Home design has taken a turn that is not for the faint of heart. Fearless decorating with bright tones and accessories that don't take themselves too seriously.

Brass and gold continue to be very important in home décor----not shiny brass or gold but wonderful antiqued and textured gold as well as brass with a natural patina.

Bold and sassy! Photo: Curry & Company.

Lighting

The jewelry of interior decorating, lighting is the hottest accessory and it takes center stage in every room. Never has lighting been prettier with more sparkle and bling! The choices are stunning. Think gold.

In the Currey and Company showroom, a showstopper in itself, each piece hanging from the ceiling looked like a sparkling gold bracelet twisted into arty shapes.

Orli Chandelier of Wrought Iron finished in Contemporary Gold Leaf. Photo: Currey & Company.

Wrought Iron with contemporary gold leaf and brass are popular finishes. And the dazzling La Mer Wall Sconce of wrought iron, shell and glass is a perfect accessory for a sophisticated coastal look that blends beach-inspired design with a traditional or contemporary look.

La Mer Wall Sconce. Photo: Currey & Company.

Color

As we said, bold and fearless! Lots of blues including navy, indigo, robins egg.  Red is also trending in sofas and accessories along with corals and pinks. Orange, jade, teals and that beautiful apple green are everywhere.

Furniture

Lots of soft curves that soften the silhouette of a chair or sofa and add visual interest. Canopy beds are trending with a breathtaking, modern new look. Blending antiques with almost any style as an accent piece. Reclaimed/distressed pieces. Driftwood. Lot of gold and brass tables. Table bases and coffee tables have emerged as artwork with sculptured designs. Bar carts are the rage with lots of gold and glass. Ottomans in bold patterns and jewel tones.

Coastal living retreat. Photo: Stanley Furniture.

Carved wooden coffee table. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn.

And with furniture, it's all about customization. Changing the shape of a leg, an arm or a cushion, even changing the dimensions of a piece to fit a unique space, offers choices like never before to the consumer.

According to Kravet, premiering its new furniture showroom at Market, a lot of designers today are embracing an updated traditional look, which could mean a tufted sofa with a slim track arm, or a comfortable arm chair with sleek details.

Kravet Denham Chair. Photo: Kravet.

There is a resurgence of the chaise lounge, and they are popular in today’s interior design schemes. With regard to pattern and color, Kravet embraces a bright bold fabric statement on furniture, however many designers are choosing upholstery that is durable and neutral, which is a great investment for the life of your furniture, and your room.

Brass and bronze occasional tableswere everywhere with some of the most popular at Vanguard Furniture to complement the extensive furniture collection that is popular with southwest Florida homeowners because of its personalization options. And furniture is painted every color imaginable!

Art and accessories

So many fresh, new choices here. Artifact decor is hugely popular as an accent. Buddha's in every color are a huge accent piece with all styles of decor. Books have taken on a huge role in artwork and accessories serving as a focal point and covered in papers and fabric. Glass is seen in bold colors and shapes.

Popular Buddha is incorporated into all styles of design. Photo: Wrenda Goodwyn.

Rugs

Bold and exotic. Intricate patterns. Lots of metallics. Washes and patinas create a soft look.  Viscose yarn is used with pearlescent shimmer to add dimension to neutral tones. Easy care with custom sizing, beautiful indoor/outdoor selections.

Blue Bye You. Photo: Company C.

Summary:

Have fun with the latest trends and don't take your decorating too seriously!

For more details on trends and other fun sightings at High Point Market, visit www.spectacularspaces.com/blogor call Wrenda Goodwyn at 239-949-1808 or wrenda@spectacularspaces.com

Here's to best friends, Tory Burch and living in color

I love Tory Burch.

Her clothes. Her shoes. The turquoise and white jacket trimmed in shells that I purchased two years ago and will wear forever. The fact that she lives her life in living color... influenced by her travels. And now there is more to love, she has ventured into interior design. It's all gorgeous. And I want it. All of it.

Photo:  Tory Burch.

So, imagine my excitement when a longtime friend who knows me all to well, sent me the best gift ever: Tory Burch in Color. It's hot off the press and fabulous. Just like Tory. She groups everything into sections by color so you can see it all: fashion, interiors, travels and more. I give the book a 10 after devouring it this weekend. A beautiful addition to my collection of inspiration books.

But the best part of all?

Friends

This cherished friend, who has a BIG career of her own and is fabulous in her own right, took the time and was thoughtful enough to send me such a special gift. She knew it was the perfect choice. That's what makes a friend. They just know things. Like when you could use a little inspiration. 

Want to know when to splurge and when to save?

Call me. I will help you create Spectacular Spaces in your home!

Time to hire a professional? Read my tips for working with an interior decorator in the Fort Myers News-Press.