1. Buy what you love. I've been doing this long enough that my gut tells me when something is good. I've learned that if I hesitate on something, I should consider passing on it.
2. The exception to this would be if I pass on something and I think I should have gotten it 24 hours later. That's when I usually go back and see if it's still there. If it is, I buy it. This doesn't happen often now but it used to when I was first starting out. The gamble with this would be that the item is no longer there and now you want it. My attitude is if it's meant to be mine, it'll be there. That always makes me feel better if it's not there when I go back.
3. Don't paint anything unless you are 100% sure. I say this because sometimes you put a piece of vintage furniture in a space and you think that by changing the color, the whole room will magically come together. This doesn't work unless you are absolutely happy with everything else in the room. I'm actually going through this right now with the credenza I have in my office. I think I want to paint it but the rest of the room is not finished being decorated so it's staying in it's original finish for now. This makes it easier for me because it's not the focal point in my room. It's a big accent but not the showstopper. I will see how it fits when everything else is done.
4. Don't proceed with a project unless you are committed to the plan. This sounds easy enough but for me, this means that if you are hesitant at all about the final layout or design, keep working on the plan before proceeding. I'm thinking of my Master Bathroom for this one. I'm trying to renovate this space with everything where it is but will have to add plumbing for the pedestal tub. Question is, does this layout work? Is there a better way to lay the space out with the addition of the tub? Do I like the view from the tub? As much as I hate this bathroom, we are still working through the final design and we are committed to paying whatever the additional pricing would be to have the best layout for this bathroom. We may end up leaving things where they are but for now, I'm not 100% so that tells me that I need to give it more thought and look for more inspiration.
5. Be patient. I can honestly say that I am thankful that I didn't renovate the whole house at the beginning. A lot of the renovations we've done were never ideas that we had when we first moved in almost 7 years ago. The renovations that we've done have created spaces for the way we live while honoring the original layout of the house. It's by living in your house that you realize what works and doesn't work for you and your family. Finding inspiration and incorporating the vintage with the modern and the recycled is the fun part. For me, once I determine how I want the room to feel, the plan is made and I start to focus on the details. This could be the exact opposite of how some people design but for me, this is what works. Being patient has paid off and developed my creativity more than anything else.
6. Last but most importantly, be thankful for what you already have. Step back, appreciate and be thankful for all you've been blessed with. Everybody wants a beautifully decorated home. Having a loving family to share it with is priceless.
I love designing spaces and creating environments and look forward to several new projects in 2012. I am also hoping to grow Guest House Interiors by offering some of the vintage items I find for sale. Perhaps something I find will inspire you to create a room you love. Whatever your goals are for 2012, I wish you all the luck in reaching them.
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