Area rugs add softness, texture, color and pattern to a room. They can help define furniture groupings and gently emphasize traffic flow through a space. The perfect size and the positioning of the rug will ensure that your choice supports the function and decorative needs of your room design.

A bedroom with hardwood floors benefits from a rug that is large enough to create a proportional border around the bed. An 8' x 10' would work well under a queen size bed; a 9' x 12' for a king.

For a dining room, allow about 3' of rug around the table to determine the correct size. This creates enough space for the chairs to remain on the rug when pushed back from the table.

For other rooms, the size of the rug depends on the furniture arrangement and the use of the room. Furniture can be arranged completely on the rug, with just the front legs on the rug or completely off of the rug. Let the proportions of the furniture, the size of the rug and the scale of the patterns guide you in creating a pleasing balance.

This month's repurposing example is one of my favorites. The chair was found while searching for potentials at ReStore for this month's display room at the Capital Home Show (more about that later in the newsletter).

The chair was quite worn; the upholstery was intact but old and dusty. The frame was sturdy and had interesting lines. It looked like a little bit of labor and some paint could take this from dreary to desirable in very little time.

The upholstery was removed and because the back had the interesting curved "X" detail, only the seat was recovered. Two coats of matte black paint gave the chair an updated, sleek look.

See the pair of redesigned chairs at the home show September 24th-26th at the Expo Center in Chantilly. Read on for more about the show.

Last month I was chosen as the lead designer for one of two rooms that the IRIS National Capital Area Chapter is creating for Habitat for Humanity's ReStore outlets. The 2010 Fall Capital Home Show at the Expo Center in Chantilly will feature the two 12' x 20' rooms to showcase the finds at the outlets and how how they can be repurposed.

I've designed a master bedroom suite that is inspired by the British Colonial-West Indies style. It is known for its blend of traditional furnishings with local motifs, accessories and materials. The room will be a romanticized version of this fusion of styles and patterns.

At least 90% of the materials, furniture and accessories have come from shopping the inventory of the Chantilly, Alexandria and Manassas ReStore outlets. You have seen just one of the transformed pieces above. Come out and be inspired by a room full of ideas!

The project, called ReDesign with Restore, will run from September 24th through the 26th at the Capital Home Show at the Expo Center in Chantilly.

For more information, please click on the link below. I look forward to seeing you there!

* The plan above is a representation and doesn't reflect the actual colors, fabrics or styles of some of the furniture pieces.

I have seen many different kinds of box or canister sets in the homes I redesign and stage. They are nearly always displayed exactly the way they were purchased. Try breaking up the set for a change. Use the pieces individually or rearrange the pieces using other objects to create a pleasing symmetry. Don't be afraid to mix it up a bit for fresh looks and uses!

The set shown is no longer available but I have seen similar styles in local department stores and Homegoods. I decided to include it so you could see the great fall colors. One box could hold an arrangement of sunflowers, the tray could be used as a base for a display or organize desk supplies. The pieces can live independently of each other in your home and give you many opportunities for creativity.

What one thing distinguishes great design? Attention to details! No matter how much or how little is spent on a room's furnishings, the details can make or break the final look and feel of the room.

Without interesting details, the room can be rather one dimensional. Using too many details can be overwhelming. The extremes can be compared to wearing no jewelry or wearing all of your jewelry at once. That visual will help when assessing your decor.

Being able to choose just the right touches to highlight and enhance without over embellishing requires a sense of balance and proportion. Consider how many embellishments, textures and patterns a room may have and you'll see what I mean. Patterned lamp shades with or without trim, trims on accent pillows, trims on window treatments, frame and mat details on art work, patterns and textures in fabrics, upholstery and floor coverings-all contribute or detract from the over-all mix.

How do you distinguish between too little detail and too much? It's a matter of taste and some experimentation.

If attention to details is driving you to distraction, call me at 703-689-9886 for a consultation or for information on my decorating classes.

The votes have been counted!

Fortessa has notified me that my entry shown was the winner of the Best Over-all Entry in the "100 Ways to Use a Metal Tray" contest! A big Thank You! to everyone who took the time to vote. I understand that for some people the process wasn't exactly smooth-glitches with the contest program software- and some weren't able to access the contest at all. I'm sorry for any frustration and appreciate the fact that so many people did try to vote.

I'm including photos below of my other entries so you can see them case you were not able to access the contest. Thank you for trying.

Your interest and support of my designs is so appreciated!

Sincerely,

Pam

Have you been promising yourself that you are going to make decorating changes in your home but Planning Paralysis has stopped you? Did you know that even small redesign changes in your rooms can make an amazing difference quickly, easily and affordably?

Interior Redesigns aren't always about re-doing entire rooms and they aren't major upheavals in a household. Often during consultations I show how effective quick changes can be. The result is easy to live with changes that can jump-start your decorating projects.

Are you ready for a redesign? Contact me and we can talk about your ideas and needs.

October is National Get Redesigned Month. Time to take stock of your rooms and enough time to get them ready for the holidays.

After a brief break, my decorating classes begin again. One of the most popular because it can be a problem for many people is, How to Coordinate Fabrics.. You will learn how a room can have multiple fabric patterns and still look peaceful and well coordinated. Using your your personal color palette and the fabrics in your home, you'll see how the balance of colors, textures, type and scale of the patterns can be achieved and how they may be used throughout your rooms. The use of trimming will also be discussed.

If you are stumped when it comes to coordinating fabrics in your home I can help. I can show you how to pull your room together, give it a fresh look, and give you the confidence to pick patterns that are compatible with each other, your color palette and your style.

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Do you wish that holiday dinners could be as easy as they look in magazines? The fantasy of the perfectly decorated holiday dinner table can be a reality with the Perfect Party Plan created expressly for you. This class teaches you how to take stock of what you need to create the look you want within your budget. You'll learn tricks for repurposing items you have in your home and how to find great bargains to make your dinner presentations memorable.

Individual consultations are available as well as classes. Have fun while you are learning! Gather a group of your neighbors, family and friends together and get customized solutions for your decor. Take the mystery and drama out of decorating decisions. Let's get started! For more information on classes, please contact me by clicking on the link below or calling me at, 703-689-9886.

Class size is limited to allow optimal learning opportunities.