Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Patti Boyd-Bowles, Registered Interior Designer (Certified by NCIDQ), and owner of B-Way Design & Decorating, LLC, located in beautiful Fairfield, IL. I’m a child of God, a wife to Ron, mother to two wonderful children (Adam & Ashli), one son-in-law (Brent), and “Nana” to two of the most awesome grandchildren (Liam & Jovie)! I’ve literally grown up in this business and have an immense passion for interior design. My father, Milford Boyd, was a general contractor with a primary focus on commercial and residential building. As a child, I can remember tagging along with my dad while he checked the jobs in the evenings and weekends so that he could get detailed work orders and materials ready for the next work day. Many of the schools, churches, factories, and commercial buildings in and around Fairfield were built by my father’s company, Boyd & Son Construction. I guess that is when and where I fell in love with this line of work. I have been practicing interior design since 1979 and throughout the years have seen trends come and go. In addition to that, I’ve witnessed creative new products emerge as well as installation methods change. With interior design, the primary goal is simple; to create a pleasing and functional space where we can be comfortable, both physically and emotionally.

I love my job and firmly believe that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life! I am also fortunate to work along side of my talented husband and son. I admit, working with family provides its challenges, but we all are driven by the same passion, commitment, and goals.

Without even realizing it, many of us are emotionally moved by objects, space, color, and texture, which can therefore impact our moods. A well-designed space can make even the most daunting task seem more pleasant and free up time. This is why I feel design is so important.

The creation of this blog is meant to be helpful for anyone facing various decorating and or design dilemmas. I hope to tackle several different topics in the future and welcome any questions, suggested topics, or feedback. To contact us, simply click on the “Contact Us” tab and submit your questions or suggested topics.

Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator:

I am often asked “what is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?” Most would probably assume that they are the same thing, however, they’re very different. Are you surprised?

An interior decorator is someone who can pick colors, accessorize rooms and or paint colors. Being a decorator does not require any formal education.

An interior designer, however, is qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the functionality and quality of interior spaces. A designer must be licensed to operate and use the title of “Interior Designer” in most states. Improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public are a designer’s prime concern. Just like an interior decorator, a designer can decorate and accessorize rooms, but they are primarily involved in interior space planning and programming of the project.

Great design is about creating an environment that reflects the client’s personality, not the designer's. In order to do this, you have to get inside your client’s mind to determine their likes, dislikes, and their vision for their space. Throughout my years of practice, I have met many wonderful clients, many of which have become lifelong friends!

Not only do interior designers work with their clients to create an attractive and functional space, but they are also responsible for meeting building codes and restrictions in both residential and commercial interiors. Designers often act as project managers for the design project by coordinating the various tradesmen for the job, as well as keeping the project on time and budget. In today’s fast paced world where free time is a precious commodity, interior designers can help to ease the stress of project coordination.

Hopefully I’ve been able to clearly explain the difference between the duties and responsibilities of an interior designer vs. an interior decorator. In my next blog, I will talk about one of my greatest passions, color and the affect that it has on us physically and emotionally.

DON’T BE A SLAVE TO COLOR!!

Anyone who knows me, knows I am passionate about color! I believe color is the single most important ingredient in a decorating scheme. It can be an amazing tool! Color is actually the first element the eye perceives when we enter a room. However, choosing color combinations is one of the most intimidating steps in the decorating process. Selecting color is really not that difficult if you equip yourself with some basic information. So, let’s talk about room colors and how these affect your project.

Color can reflect our personalities and can have a profound effect on how we feel. In other words, when color is right, it can enhance feelings of health & well-being. Every color has an emotional association and you are drawn to different colors for various reasons. I will talk about specific colors and their effects in the next blog.

Putting it all together is what I refer to as the balancing act. A great place to start is finding ideas you love. Magazines, searching online, or decorating books can be a good place to start. Something you love, such as a favorite vase, a piece of fabric, clothing, or a piece of artwork can be inspiration for a color scheme.

Always consider the size of your room, the architectural openings, and the natural and artificial lighting. Lighting plays a vital role in the outcome of your chosen color.

When deciding on a color scheme, always ask yourself these 5 questions:

#1 – Where is the room located?

#2 – How many windows are there, and which way do they face….North, South, East or West?

#3 – Is there landscaping outside the window that could influence the colors of the room such as trees, shrubs or an overhang? Possible tinted windows?

#4 – Who will use the room and what will they do there? In other words, is it a private area like a bedroom or bath or an active area such as a family room or kitchen?

#5 – How do you want the space to feel? Warm and cozy or light and airy?

Color is a visual experience and a psychological force! It is an agent for mood and can be therapeutic by calming jumpy nerves or it can make us hurry. Color can actually raise or lower the temperature in a room both physically and perceived!

Here are a few tips for adding color to your space.

The 60-30-10 rule: Think of a man’s suit; 60% of color is the pants and jacket, 30% is the shirt and 10% is the tie. Translate that into a room and you have 60% of room color on the walls, 30% of the color in upholstery and furniture, and 10% in accent pieces. Accent pieces are great for adding that unexpected color! Our Porter Voice of Color Center has already done the footwork for you, with suggested color palettes applying this rule.

Another great tip is to decorate vertically by taking nature’s lead. Dark, heavy colors for the floor (ground), medium values for the walls (trees), and light values for ceilings (sky)!

Flow the color from room to room. This doesn’t have to be boring. Simply pick one color to be used in every room of the home. That color doesn’t have to be the main color in each room, it can actually be an accent. Think of it this way, if you take the roof off your home, the birds eye view should not look like a quilt, but be a continuous flow from room to room.

Whenever introducing a color into a scheme, make sure it is represented in the space at least three times to make it balance. Do not use more than 3-4 colors in a room as it becomes too busy and cluttered.

Simultaneous contrast effect is when light color placed against a darker background with color will appear lighter than it really is. Likewise a dark color against a light background will appear darker than it is. We are creatures of habit and change does not come easy to many people, so covering up that 20 year old off-white wall with a medium base gray can send a client into a panic. In my 37 years of practice as a designer, I have seen this over and over. We refer to this as “Color Shock.” My advice is to finish the wall, or even better the entire room, as the intensity is greater against the white and makes the darker color appear much darker than it will when the room is completed!

If you have a rectangular room you can visually widen the effect by using one end wall in a darker, warmer or more intense shade. Likewise, in a square room, treat 1 or 2 walls differently or 1 wall and the ceiling.

Live with the color before you buy! That beautiful blue paint chip may look perfect in the showroom, but can look completely different in the lighting in your home! There are so many options and tools available today for viewing color in your home. My store has a color work station which allows you to actually upload your color choices and email them to your email address where you upload a picture of your room and apply the color to your room to view before you buy! A word of caution, though, computer resolutions can vary and are not 100% accurate, but you at least can have an idea of what the space will look like. Also, you can order large 8” X 8” Porter samples of a particular color at no charge to view in your home.

It’s easy to see how many people can get overwhelmed in the color selecting process, given all the factors that affect color. My advice to anyone is to enjoy color and express your personality!!