Friends might aid your design plans

DEAR MI-LING: I have lived in my home for many years. Most of it is beautifully decorated, but I have never completed my master bedroom and quite frankly I’m at a loss. I can’t decide what style I should lean toward. I just know that I want it to be relaxing and cozy.

Karen

DEAR KAREN: I can totally relate to your situation. I am redesigning my line and I am going to glam out my bedroom in chocolate and blue.

In the past I tried to live with two walls of windows in my bedroom. Initially, when I purchased my home I thought would be great. Now I’m craving darkness and a total blackout from the world so I can get a few more winks of sleep in the morning. But I don’t want to take away from the space by covering up all of the detailed woodwork.

Sometimes you need to have a friend or a designer come in and give you some advice. Oftentimes, when we live in a space we don’t see the obvious solutions to our dilemma. I called my friend, Susan Tiffin of Susan Tiffin Interiors. She looked at the space with a fresh set of eyes and gave me some additional ideas and solutions for my wall of windows.

I also had an opportunity to get some advice from Kim Myles of HGTV’s "Myles of Style.” She gave me some advice on a large white cabinet that sticks out like a sore thumb in the corner of my room. She suggested that I upholster the doors to the cabinet in a rich fabric. I’m taking all of this advice into consideration as I create this new space for me and my husband.

Maybe you should call in a few of your friends to give you some advice and direction on your redesign. If that doesn’t help, start tearing out photos from a few magazines to get your creative juices flowing.

Now go out and create your own unique comfort zone!