Home Inspirations begins in Fort Myers News-Press

Check out my new decorating column, Home Inspirations, that began today in the Fort Myers News-Press with this intro.

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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.  

After years of a career in the corporate world, working for Walt Disney World and hotel companies, I realized that my travels that had taken me to faraway places had instilled an appreciation of color, style and art.  I began to look for some serious training.  One day I happened to see designer and best-selling author, Lauri Ward on Oprah.  I had just met my decorating guru!   I went to New York 10 years ago for her training and certification and the rest is history.

Today, many decorating courses, certifications and professional affiliations later, I have helped hundreds of southwest Florida clients with their homes.  I believe in simple solutions that renew spaces and I look for ways to inspire and teach my clients. 

My first and only decorating rule is that “There are no rules.”   I believe that as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, “There is no place like home.”  I find my inspiration in nature.  Color is my favorite design element because it has the most dramatic impact on a room. And what I know for sure is that you don’t have to be rich to have a beautiful home.

In this regular monthly column, I am excited about sharing tips and solutions, trends, tricks of the trade,  great finds, how to correct decorating mistakes in your home and much more.  Ways to make changes in our homes to impact our day to day lives.  And until next time, I look forward to hearing about what is on your mind!  

Wrenda Goodwyn of Spectacular Spaces is a southwest Florida interior decorator specializing in home makeovers that fit the homeowner’s lifestyle and budget. She is a member of the Interior Design Society, an Industry Partner of A.S.I.D. and a certified gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network.  Contact her for the latest decorating and lifestyle tips at 239-949-1808 or  wrenda@spectacularspaces.com.