| You know what room it is in your house. You | | | | The Tradionalist |
| walk by it every day and each time you say to | | | | I fall into the Traditionalist category. I like silk |
| yourself, "Gee, that room needs something". The | | | | flower arrangements with lots of different |
| next day you don't think about it until you walk | | | | flowers. I like them to have all of the colors that I |
| by again. It's just like "Groundhog Day", isn't it? | | | | want to bring out with different hues of those |
| So where do you start? You know you need | | | | colors to make it interesting. I like a vase or |
| color, but do you paint a wall, move the furniture, | | | | container that is complementary, but is "discussion |
| add a rug? Well, having been in the design | | | | worthy". It should make someone say, "That |
| business for quite some time, I'll happily tell you | | | | arrangement is beautiful in that vase!". It could be |
| my thoughts about it in the hopes that it helps | | | | the color, texture, or size, but it should spark a |
| you do your next room. I think you look at doing | | | | comment or a conversation. I also like different |
| all of those things, and then you add what makes | | | | kinds of ivy and greenery that complement the |
| the most difference. I call it the "Green ~ Flower" | | | | piece. I guess that I just like "traditional" flower |
| effect. You need green in the corner and flowers | | | | arrangements instead of funky or wild ones. It all |
| on the table. Let's have a look at what you might | | | | depends on the room and the contents. |
| want to do and where you need to start. | | | | The More is Better |
| First, at least one wall needs color to add drama. | | | | These folks tend to like stuff everywhere. They |
| Don't worry about using a dark color. Match it to | | | | feel much more comfortable with all of their stuff |
| your rug and you are on your way. | | | | around them. They tend to attach sentimental |
| Now that you have that done, it's time to pick | | | | value to decorative items and like to set them |
| out a silk tree for at least one corner. It guides | | | | out and enjoy them. I've been known to poke |
| the eye up and helps your brain take in the room | | | | gentle fun at my "More is Better" customers by |
| all at once and sense warmth. Without at least | | | | telling them that they will develop the "hoarder |
| some greenery, your room will look cold and | | | | condition" if they don't watch out, but I have to |
| stark. It complements your furniture and brings | | | | admit that at one time as a youngster I could |
| subliminal comfort to the feel of the room. I don't | | | | very well have fallen into this category. They |
| think you need a rain forest, but a couple of silk | | | | enjoy many different colors and textures, but will |
| green plants or trees in some really awesome | | | | probably lean toward their "favorite" flower. They |
| pots will make a room rock! | | | | will say something to me like, "Oh, I want |
| Once you've nailed down the greenery part of | | | | something with a "whatever it is" flower. They |
| the "Green ~ Flower" effect, it's time to work on | | | | are my absolute favorite!". |
| my favorite part, the flowers! This is when the | | | | The Eclectic |
| fun starts! You start by writing down all of the | | | | These customers are so fun to work with! Their |
| colors you want to highlight or bring out. Be sure | | | | rooms have all kinds of neat stuff in them, and |
| to start with your wall color. Pull others from your | | | | making an arrangement for them gets my |
| rug and your furniture if it is made of fabric or | | | | imagination running wild. There is one on my |
| leather. With list in hand, go to your room and | | | | website that I did a few years ago that my |
| stand there. Imagine that you have a flower | | | | customer absolutely loved. It has willow branches |
| arrangement on the table that is in a non-descript | | | | going everywhere and looks kind of like a |
| pot and all the flowers are a solid color. Start at | | | | thunderstorm with lightening to me. It's really cool |
| the top of your list, close your eyes and imagine | | | | and funky, and I get comment emails from the |
| each color on your flowers. See how they look | | | | website about it all the time. It still makes me |
| with the wall and the rug. Rule out any that don't | | | | chuckle. When I interview these customers, I |
| sit well with you. Trust me, you'll know as soon as | | | | write pages about what they like, and then go off |
| you "see" it. You should now have a nice list of | | | | and sleep on it. Usually I wake up the next |
| colors that you want in your silk flowers. | | | | morning itching to get into my flower room to |
| The next step is to determine what design | | | | make the design I have in mind. |
| category you are in. My categories are: | | | | The "I have no idea & I need Help" |
| - the "Minimalist" | | | | These customers are also very fun to work with. |
| - the "Traditionalist" | | | | I write volumes with them as well. I really like to |
| - the "More is Better" | | | | do these locally so that I can go see their home |
| - the "Eclectic" | | | | and start to figure out their style. I've used |
| - the "I have no idea & I need help" | | | | pictures for long distance customers, but it's much |
| The Minimalist | | | | more fun for me if I can get "into their house and |
| If you tend to favor a very simple, scaled down | | | | into their mind"! They usually ask a thousand |
| look with very few decorative items sitting | | | | questions which I love. They usually end up falling |
| around, you are what I call a "Minimalist". This | | | | into one of my other categories, and usually when |
| simply means that you don't like clutter, and if | | | | I see their home I know right away what |
| you put out a decorative piece, you are proud of | | | | category they fall into. :) |
| it and like it very much. Minimalists should begin | | | | So now you know all of my trade secrets, and |
| their search for flowers with types like orchids | | | | how I do design work. It's really fun and I meet |
| that are simple,serene, elegant and yet electric | | | | the neatest people. My hope is that you will figure |
| with their beauty at the same time. There are so | | | | out what category you are in and find just the |
| many varieties and vibrant colors that there is | | | | perfect wall color, rug, silk tree and arrangement |
| surely one that will fit perfectly. | | | | for your room! |