Lunch with Alexa Hampton: The Language of Interior Design

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When I had "Lunch with Alexa Hampton" and heard her presentation at the Miromar Design Center in Photo of cover of Alexa Hampton bookEstero this week, I was already a huge fan of her stunning designs. Her ideas about what makes a house not just pretty, but extraordinary, are inspiring.  And they remind me what I love about interior decorating.

Plus, the fact that she once sold her Volkswagon to purchase a damask club chair made by the famous New York upholsterer Guido De Angelis.  Maybe a little extreme but I think we can all relate.

And her secret for removing red wine from furniture (which she jokingly said that she has done a few times): One jigger of Ivory dish wash mixed with one jigger of hydrogen peroxide.  Information you can use.

Photo of Alex Hampton autograph for Wrenda GoodwynWhen I spelled my name for her to sign my book: W-R-E-N-D-A, she said "Sir Christopher Wren!"  I was amazed.  No one ever makes that connection. Wren was my father's middle name and my mother made it up from there. Being from the Williamsburg, Virginia area, it is a big name in historical architecture and I have spent years going to Wren's famous architectural masterpieces in Europe.  Of course she knew Wren.  She laughingly said that she would never forget my name with that connection. 

And I surely could not forget hers.

I already knew that Alexa was the daughter of the late interior design legend Mark Hampton.  And I knew from a previous seminar that she is one of America's most influential designers herself having been listed in Architectural Digest and House Beautiful as one of the country's top designers.  She designs the interiors of landmarks such as the Trowbridge House in Washington, DC, the official guesthouse for former visiting Presidents.  She served as senior design consultant for the 25th anniversary of the PBS series, This Old House.  She decorated a dressing room for Barbara Walters.

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Spectacular Spaces offers tips in area magazines for outdoor living in southwest Florida

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Photo of outdoor patioThe great spring weather has everyone in southwest Florida heading outdoors!  Spectacular Spaces was happy to be included in Beth Luberecki's article in the March/April issues of Times of the Islands and Bonita Living magazines.  Check out the tips below for making the most of your outdoor space.

 
 

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

Follow this advice, and you’ll be looking for any excuse to head to your porch or patio

by Beth Luberecki

Chances are, you might be flipping through this very magazine while sitting on your lanai or balcony. Take a look around. Is your outdoor space the alfresco oasis it should be, or could it use some work?

Living in Southwest Florida, we’re lucky enough to be able to spend a lot of our time outdoors. But who wants to spend that time in a ho-hum, unfinished space?

“For most people, an outdoor area gives you a break from your home, a place you can go to at the end of the day to get some fresh air,” says interior decorator Wrenda Goodwyn, owner of Estero-based Spectacular Spaces. “I think everybody is looking for that place to go, for that restful retreat.”

So what are the secrets to creating a space that’s both fun and functional, whether it’s a tiny condo balcony, spacious screened-in porch, or expansive pool deck and lanai? Start out by determining how you’d like to spend time there.

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Refresh your home for spring!

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Springlike weather has arrived in southwest Florida, and this is the time of year that most of us start thinking about what we can do to our homes to spruce them up a little for a new season. Although we don’t really have a change in seasons, even in Florida, it is fun to make a transition from the winter months into spring. So, if your home is in need of a little decorating magic to give it a new look for spring, check out the tips below from our latest News-Press Column.

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to news-press.com • February 26, 2011

Photo of Wrenda GoodwynStart at the front door. Paint the door a fresh, new color. Purchase two ceramic pots which you can leave as they are or paint them a beautiful spring color and put them at the entry. Or to save money, buy plastic pots and paint them. Fill them with seasonal flowers.

• Think about color. Maybe an accent wall that you have wanted to try. Or perhaps you would like to replace a color in a bathroom with a beautiful white and give it a spa look with all white accessories. Or add some color with a new set of towels or sheets.photo of colorful flower pot

• Rotate your artwork. Everyone has too much art. Keep some of your favorite pieces and switch them out. Spectacular spaces recommends doing this seasonally. And while you are thinking about art, do some rearranging to give your walls an art gallery look. Hint: Less is more.

• Rearrange and regroup. Too many collections scattered around? Or maybe your taste has changed. Don’t be afraid to eliminate something that you no longer love and open a space for something new and wonderful.

• Declutter. Get rid of anything that you do not love. This one alone will make a world of difference.

• Lighten up. Evaluate your furniture. Is it too heavy for the room? Think about replacing cumbersome pieces as your budget permits.

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The weekend search for antiques and other inspirations

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One of my favorite things to do its to hit the road in search of new treasures for my clients and for myself.  This past weekend it was off to the final extravaganza of the season at Renningers Antique Market in Mt. Dora.  On the way back to southwest Florida I stopped in Arcadia's historic district to browse at some of the antique shops.  Spectacular Spaces found some great inspirations for accent pieces.

Below, from the Vintage Garden in Arcadia.  Filled with shabby chic antiques and garden decor.  

 

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Home inspirations: Romancing the closet

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Home inspirations: Romancing the closet

Technically, it is still the new year.  So, if one of your resolutions was to gain some control over your closet, check out the fun, fast and affordable tips from Spectacular Spaces that were in my column in this weekend's Fort Myers News-Press.

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to news-press.com • January 29, 2011

Photo of Wrenda GoodwynIn "Sex & the City," Carrie Bradshaw told Mr. Big that she would rather have a really big closet than a diamond. It is a woman thing.

Closets are very complicated. They have the power to make us feel happy, fat, thin, sad, unsettled. It is an emotional relationship that we have with our closet.

As a decorator, I get to peek into a lot of closets. They tell me a lot about my clients. And I tell my clients that your closet is the one area in your home that you can control with minimal expense and effort.

We go into the closet at least 10 times a day. It is first place we stop in the morning. And usually the last stop at night. Unless you have a Mr. Big around to drop a bundle, a Carrie-style closet is probably out of reach. But I have tips on doing a closet makeover that will give your closet a designer look.Photo of Elfa designed closetKeep your closet organized with an Elfa system.

If your budget allows for a total redo of the closet - including lighting furnishings, drawers and all of the amenities - go for it. You can also check out some of my favorite closet systems: California Closets, Elfa at the Container Store and IKEA Pax. These vary in a medium price range and are easy to customize.

For budget systems that are easy to install, try Closet Maid (Lowe's and Home Depot) and Rubbermaid.

Once you have a system in place, we need to make it pretty:

- Select a yummy paint color. This will give you immediate results. I love Benjamin Moore's Blue Dusk.

- Depending on the size of your closet, pick out a beautiful runner or square rug. Something whimsical and fun. West Elm's Chrysanthemum rug is hand-tufted wool and starts at $129 for a runner

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Outdoor living spaces: Makeover for a Bonita Springs lanai

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One of Spectacular Spaces most rewarding interior decorating projects done recently was this Bonita Springs condo.

It is interesting how we all get used to the rooms in our homes. Then one day we wake up and suddenly realize that we are really tired of it and need an interior makeover!   And we can't make the change fast enough.  Out with the old and in with the new! There is not necessarily anything "wrong." We just need a change in our room designs.

Like this lovely condo in Bonita Bay...the lanai was ready for an update. So, Spectacular Spaces came up with decorating ideas and provided the design services to get them done.

photo of condo lanai before makeoverBEFORE
 
photo of condo lanai during makeoverDURINGPhoto of condo lanai after makeoverAFTERMeticulously cared for by its out of state owners, the condo is used for weekend family getaways and golf vacations. The lanai functions as a dining area for entertaining guests and is comfortable enough to serve as a place to relax, watch TV and to enjoy the view.
 
We were happy to be given the go-ahead to redo the entire lanai. The owner wanted it to reflect the feeling and colors of its southwest Florida location and to give it a beachy, whimsical look. This is what we did:
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