How did I get started?

When I was 10 years old my dad started bringing home Architecture magazines and talking about his dream house. I became really fascinated in houses. I wanted to be an architect, but then I realized that architects need to know A LOT of math and math is not my best subject. I get my creativity from my dad. He was going to be an architect, but decided not to for the same reason. So he chose Healthcare. My dad was really good and I wanted to be just like him. I was really disappointed when I realized I couldn't be an architect and I started exploring other options. I soon realized that an Interior Designer does basically the same thing, but I wouldn't need to be a math wiz to be good.

I have always loved to draw and create. There have been times that I would get a design idea in my head and I would not be able to sleep until I got it out on paper; I would stay up until the wee hours of the morning just to get my design out of my head and on paper. I love seeing how colors, materials and other elements can work together to make an amazing space.

Someday I hope to own my business designing affordable and long-lasting designs for clients. Design isn't something that people want to spend a lot of money on. I like to reuse and re-purpose things. Not only is this cheap but it's Green Design too. So it saves our beautiful environment. 

COLOR

I am starting with color because color can make or break a design. If you don't have the right color scheme, it can through off your whole design.

RED is the color most people have the strongest associations and reactions to. People frequently report feelings of strength, courage, aggression and excitement. Red can elicit an increased heart rate and energy level, and just a dash of red on something can really draw someone's attention. Red is there to catch the eye.

ORANGE can spark some serious reactions, too -- people typically love it or they hate it. Orange is often linked with flamboyance, energy, comfort and warmth.

YELLOW can be a happy, cheerful color. People often report feelings such as enthusiasm, energy, excitement and optimism when viewing it. In some shades and amounts, yellow is believed to be mentally and creatively stimulating, but in others it can be associated with cowardice, fear and anxiety.

GREEN is a color commonly used in expressions and symbolic associations, and it's only second to blue as a favorite color. Natural shades of green can feel refreshing, balanced and soothing, but other shades of green can invoke sickly, bland or slimy feelings. Green is often symbolic of concepts like peace, envy, luck and fertility.

BLUE The majority of people agree: blue's the best. Maybe that's because this color can actually trigger the body to produce calming chemicals. Blue frequently invokes words like dependable, loyal, logical, soothing, calm and focused, although some shades can bring feelings that are more dynamic and exhilarating, or cold and distant. Blue also tends to increase worker and athlete productivity.

PURPLE is the balance between the liveliness of red and the serenity of blue, so some uncertain shades of purples can leave people feeling a little uneasy or introspective. Others can invoke feelings of loyalty, quality, mysticism and wisdom.

BLACK is a powerful color, often bringing to mind authoritativeness and other strong, sometimes overwhelming, emotions. Black can be associated with grieving in the Western hemisphere, but head East and the color white makes people think of mourning.

BROWN often conjures up feelings of stability and naturalness. People commonly report experiencing sensations of reliability when they see brown and a sense of order and wholesomeness.

Making Your House Appeal to the Masses

The exterior of the house first. It doesn't matter how much you love orange or purple -- don't paint your house those colors. When you're trying to sell a house, the most important aspect to consider is what a buyer will be looking for, so appealing to the widest pool of potential buyers should be your goal.

White is definitely the safest bet, but there's also the look of your neighborhood to consider. It's a good idea to choose colors that will blend well with the general color scheme of your neighbors' houses. One poorly painted house can ruin the value of homes up and down the street. Here's a rundown of POPULAR POTENTIAL colors for your house's new look:

·        White

·        Gray

·        Blue

·        Tan/Brown

·        Cream

·        Beige

·        Green

·        Yellow

·        Red

While some organic colors do creep into the bottom of the list, the muted neutral hues at the top are the most strongly recommended. This is for a couple of reasons. They can convey the message that your house is bright, clean and spacious. Light, neutral shades also help the house appear new and fresh. Finally, light colors are less likely to fade over time.

This is Where You Can Have Fun

When it comes to the TRIM, SHUTTERS AND DOORS, it's another story. Sticking with the colors listed above is still a safe bet, but you have more freedom to decide. Also, if you can't paint the entire exterior of your house, this is where you should concentrate your efforts. The front door in particular is key -- a warm, welcoming color can make a very favorable impression on possible buyers. Bright blues and reds work well.

When choosing SECONDARY COLORS, keep a close watch on the way the colors interact -- it can make or break a house-painting scheme. If you don't have much of an eye for this sort of thing, consider hiring a color consultant to help you make some good matches.