Special Guest Post: Up and coming designer Wendy Garfield, owner of La Strada–Meuble, Objet, Décor, started her business just a few years ago and is already getting noticed. She and her business have been featured in many notable lifestyle publications, including: The Boulevard, LI Newsday, House Magazine, and many more. In November 2010, Wendy won the Diamond LIBI award for Interior Design, placing her among the country’s top building professionals. Fun facts: this multi-talented designer is also a professional opera singer and a proud Auntie by Relation to five nieces and nephews.

Floors are done, paint is done, furniture is in and window treatments are installed–now it’s time to accessorize! Your niece or nephew will want to talk about accessories at the beginning of a project, but my friends, this should be discussed at the very end. And my advice for accessorizing is simple–buy what they like!

The shopping trip
Make the shopping experience a fun event and an opportunity for you to spend time together. There are many stores that carry adorable kids’ accessories–Pottery Barn Kids, Crate and Barrel Kids, Target, department stores, and your neighborhood stores. Sometimes the adult stores will have cool things that kids will love, too. Be prepared to go on at least two shopping trips together and plan for lunch or an ice cream break. Try the internet only if you are looking for something specific.  
    
When shopping, have your niece or nephew pick out the things he likes. Make sure to let him or her know that you may not use everything–so be sure to keep all store receipts.

How do we know if it’s right?
Unless you are an experienced decorator, it is difficult to know this until you see the item in the room.  This is why it is important to buy things that can be returned. Having said that, pick items that fit the room’s color scheme, and encourage your niece to choose some items that are functional, too, like lamps and storage boxes.

Are there any rules?
Like everything else with decorating, there are some simple guidelines, but don’t hesitate to bend the rules a little if something feels right to your niece or nephew.

Artwork: Hang at 60” to the center of the art. If your niece or nephew is little and still has time to grow, you can hang it lower. Why not take a collection of his or her artwork, frame it and make a collage on the wall? You can group the artwork symmetrically or buy different sized frames and create a random display. To follow the 60” rule, the center of the display should be at 60” and the frames should be no more than 2” apart.

Other accessories: For a more formal look, symmetry is key–e.g. a pair of lamps or a pair of bookends on each side with a jewelry box in the middle. An informal look will “seem” less matched. But always remember balance–put the lamp and picture frame on one side of your niece’s or nephew’s dresser and a larger jewelry box on the other side.

Get organized
Bookcases don’t have to be for books only. Get some colorful storage bins to remove clutter and to create an interesting look. Use your niece’s or nephew’s sculptures as bookends and proudly display his baseball trophies on the top shelf.

Anything else?
Don’t over-accessorize the space. Otherwise it will look cluttered. If your niece or nephew insists on keeping the things you bought together, rotate the accessories. Store some pieces away and use them in six months–the room will always feel fresh and new…and your niece or nephew will love it!

For more information on La Strada Décor, visit www.lastradadecor.com or go to La Strada Décor on Facebook.

Published: July 19, 2011