Ins and outs of a spring home interior refresh

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • March 5, 2022

It’s almost spring in Southwest Florida and thoughts have turned to cleaning out the old and no longer useful and refreshing our homes.

Along these lines, I wanted to share some the work I’m doing for clients and what they’re are telling me they want most this spring.

As a Bonita Springs-based interior decorator working throughout Southwest Florida, I’m finding that homeowners want a refresh that updates their home. Many of my clients may have been in a home for 20 years and it’s looking a bit dated. Or they’ve just moved to our area and have a pile of furniture from a previous home that may not work. And most of all, they want comfort in their homes. You can do a little or a lot depending upon your budget. Here are a few update tips from recent projects:

• Get rid of entertainment centers. Heavy and mostly unattractive. My clients are saying goodbye.

What we are doing: TV on the wall. Accent pieces or vintage find for console underneath.

Popular handwoven rattan is used in these Avalon dining chairs with Terrace dining table. Tinsley table lamp in white and Sanibel chandelier provide beautiful lighting. Centerpiece is the colorful artwork that brings the room to life. Photo: Serena & Lily. serenaandlily.com

• No more mass-produced, matchy-matchy furniture. Many of us may have started with this years ago. It was affordable and how easy is it to walk into a big box store and order up the “living room or “bedroom”? Now your tastes are more defined and you know what you love.

What we are doing: starting with an investment in a great sofa. You will never be sorry. Then add pieces that don’t all match but work together. Sprinkle in an antique, flea market find or gorgeous accent piece and you have a room that is yours. Then we add gorgeous accessories. It takes some thought about what you like and you will need a plan before you buy anything.

• Say goodbye to the old fashioned hutch in your dining room. This dated staple (and at one time a luxury piece) in our grandparent’s or parent’s homes once showed off a prized China collection. Many were inherited and clients tell me they have an emotional time saying goodbye. These attachments are tough. But here is the thing: if you love it, keep it. If you don’t, send it on to someone who will use it. Remember: your home is not a storage garage for someone else’s memories.

What we are doing: purchasing a beautiful console that will store items that you use for entertaining. We are styling the top with lamps, artwork and some of your favorite possessions.

• Formal living rooms. These really date a home, especially in Southwest Florida where we have that open concept and Florida rooms.

What we are doing: transitioning these rooms into entertainment rooms, dens, offices. Whatever fits into your lifestyle. Something useful rather than a room that you just pass through.

What’s hot and what’s not in interior decorating

If you’re in the process or thinking about updating your home, here are a few tips to consider.

• Hot: Bonita Springs interior designer Diane Torrisi of Diane Torrisi Designs tells me that she’s seeing a significant trend in the use of hardwood flooring.

“Some of the things we have been lead to believe about the use of hardwood flooring in this part of the country, are just not true, “Torrisi says.

“They are beautiful and timeless. Not easily damaged. Contrary to the myth, they can be used in a kitchen. Are not too expensive and they do not require high maintenance. It’s an option to tile that homeowners are exploring and using.”

• Not: Carpet. Homeowners are ripping out carpeting by the truckloads. I know, you like the feel of carpet under your feet in a bedroom. But keep in mind, carpet is a haven for allergens and they become airborne every time you walk on your carpet. Instead, hardwood or luxury vinyl and area rugs.

• Hot: Rattan. It’s readily available at different price points and it works beautifully with other furniture. Think dining chairs, two matching chairs with a sofa, pendants. It’s a nice, fresh update.

• Hot: Colorful artwork. It offsets the sea of beige that we are seeing in homes.

• Hot: Painting and reupholstering old furniture to give it a new life.

• Hot: Skipping the entry mirror because there is no rule that you must have one! Instead, hang a beautiful piece of art.

• Not: Black matte faucets. They may look trendy now but give them a few months.

• Not: Accent walls.

• Hot: A wall covered in grass cloth or wall covering.

• Hot: Wrapping rooms in bold color.

• Hot: Paint your baseboards. A refresh that won’t cost much and is a perfect spring project.

And because it’s spring, power wash the exterior of your home and the walkway.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

At home in 2022: Don't be boring!

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Jan. 6, 2022

The decorations are down and you may feel that your home is looking a little boring. Like the sparkle is gone.

While we can’t know for certain what 2022 will bring, one thing we know for sure is that our homes will continue to be very important to our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

The promise of a new year always inspires me to find new ways to refresh our homes from the front door to the patio. And as a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I find that my clients are going full speed ahead with their design plans for the coming year. Whether it’s a major renovation they have wanted to do for years to a major downsizing to a new color palette.

Go bold in the kitchen with Benjamin Moore’s Mysterious against a light neutral wall. And the chairs make the room with a pop of Wild Flower. Details: (wall) Steam AF-15, Regal Select Interior, eggshell (cabinets) Mysterious AF-565, semi-gloss (chairs) Wild Flower 2090-40, Advance, semi-gloss. Photo: Benjamin Moore

As we approach the beginning of a new year, we all tend to evaluate our goals for the coming year. Many of us make resolutions that by this time, are usually forgotten. Instead of resolutions, I like to set intentions for the coming year. Intentions are a lot more flexible, allow for change and seem easier to move toward. Here are a few that I offer for your home as you think about making changes:

Set a few home decorating intentions

• Don’t be boring! You know there is something you have wanted to try. Let this be the year. Make it a place that you love and want to come home to. Be bold.

Black Pepper 2130-40 creates a rich vibe, transforming any bedroom into a cozy enclave. Trim and ceiling: Decorator’s White OC-149. Benjamin Moore.

• Be mindful. As you make new purchases, think about each one. Does this purchase fit into your plan? Is it timeless? Will you love it next year? Is it an impulse to make you feel good? Like the outfit (with the tags still on) you still have hanging in your closet from three years ago, maybe it’s not really the best purchase.

• Stop comparing your home. We all get caught up in magazine photos, model homes, homes of friends, and in my case, homes of clients. But these are not YOU. And that’s what your home should be: yours.

• Have fun. It’s easy to take the whole home design thing way too seriously. Don’t. Be present and make a plan before you move forward, but let the process be fun.

• Push a little beyond your comfort zone. If you’ve always wanted to try a new color palette, bathroom design, window treatment but felt a bit unsure. This is the time. And if you need a little confidence-building, call a designer or decorator to offer professional help.

A bathroom accent wall makes all the difference with Wild Flower 2090-40, a dusty pink-red with plenty of character. It’s the perfect choice to lend a pop of color that feels right at home in an otherwise neutral bathroom. Details: (wall) Wild Flower 2090-40 Aura Bath & Spa, matte (ceiling) Steam AF-15 Regal Select Interior, flat. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• Repurpose and use what you have. Start where you are with what you have and work from there. Often making a few chances with minimal expense, will give you time to come up with a larger, more permanent plan.

Home Trends 2022

We are seeing a lot of beautiful trends for 2022. There may be a few that fit your design scheme. While we don’t recommends trends just for the sake of making a change, they are fun to watch and serve as a general guideline. Just a few:

• Softer edges, curved and rounded furniture.

• Swivel chairs. Always in style.

• Antiques. Trend toward vintage pieces instead of mass-produced furniture.

• Rattan chairs and lighting.

• Earthy tones. Warm neutrals, yellows, greens, burgundy, orange.

• Dark and bold kitchens. Navy, emerald greens.

• Nature-inspired fabrics.

• Checkerboard patterns in flooring. Wood, marble, rugs.

• Time to say goodbye: to stark white walls. Instead, creamy neutrals.

Happy 2022!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Tips for a joyful holiday home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Dec. 4, 2021

Don’t you love it when someone reminds you that Christmas is only 21 days away?

It’s true. And this year, from what I can tell, we are making our homes more festive than ever. Maybe trying to make up for the last two holiday seasons where we were all feeling less like celebrating.

Set a pretty table vignette that you can leave up during the holiday season. Keep it simple with fresh flowers, greenery and a few timeless table decorations that you will enjoy each Christmas for years to come. Photo: The Riviera Collection from Serena & Lily.

Decorating my home for the holidays is one of my favorite things. I think it really is the most wonderful time of year and that we should create an environment that brings us joy. And each year is different. And it should be less like work and more like fun.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I tell my clients not to be pressured by magazine photos or Hallmark Christmas movies where homes are decked out from ceiling to floor with every square inch stuffed with something red and green. You will not be happy.

Instead, decorate mindfully. Try to find that perfect balance that is just enough and not too much.

My process for holiday decorating is to put something in each room. A small table tree. Wrapped presents. Fresh flowers. Ornaments in a glass bowl. Holiday music. Then I go back and see if I need or want more. Hardly ever.

A tray with greenery, candles and some favorite holiday ornaments makes a pretty vignette for dining or coffee table. Photo: Pottery Barn.

Keep it simple.

If it’s not too late, don’t go crazy with the decorating. Remember: it all has to come down and it gets stored in a few weeks.

Use what you have.

Skip a year of buying anything new and go with what you already have. Rearrange and find new ways of displaying your decorations. Put the tree in a different room. Use a different color for your lights. Decorate the kitchen pendants with greenery and ribbons. Mix real scented candles with faux.

Think timeless.

Just as with any purchase for your home, when adding new declarations go for items that are timeless that you will use for several years to come.

Start at the front door.

A new holiday welcome mat sets the tone. I have clients who paint their front door red for the holidays. Why not? Happy, easy and fun. A wreath for the door. Twinkling lights go a long way toward holiday happiness and they are inexpensive so use them generously. Potted plants at the door.

Set a pretty table.

Even if you’re not having guests this year. Create a beautiful vignette for the holidays. A few small trees down the center, garland garnished with your favorite ornaments. Colorful placemats and napkins. I like white plates that I can use all year with any color and at Christmas, I pull out the red napkins and runner. I try to change that color each year depending on my decorations.

Set a pretty table for the holidays with colorful placemats and napkins. Photo: Pottery Barn.

If you don’t have a fireplace mantle.

Create a similar vignette on a couple of bookshelves with items that you already have and a few lights. You can also hang stockings from a shelf.

If you don’t have plans for a tree this year.

No problem. Hang a few ornaments from mirrors, doorways, stair rails. Or arrange a collection of trees (bottle brush trees are popular this year in all colors) on a mantle or desk.

Chair wreaths for your dining chairs.

Or barstools. These are so much fun. You will need small wreathes, ribbon and a few ornaments that you already have on hand. OR you can hang stocking on the back of each chair. If you are like me, you have lots of those stored away.

A tree in every room.

This is my favorite and if this is all you do, it’s enough. Start with your entry table (collection of small trees and greenery), office (medium on desk), each bathroom (small), living room (large), bedrooms and kitchen (as space permits). You can coordinate colors and design with each room OR you can put a small, green tree with a bow in each room. Some can have lights, decorations, or not. Last year I discovered pencil trees and they allow for lights and decorations and also fit into space-saving corners. Don’t forget the lanai or porch.

Don’t forget yourself.

A little something in each room. For the bedroom, fresh greenery, a wreath and a wrapped package. And don’t forget fresh, new linens to sink into at the end of a long day. Easy and pretty. Décor and furnishing from Ballard Designs. Photo: Ballard Designs.

This is a perfect month to invest into new linens for your bed. Sheets, a few new pillows, a throw. Then enjoy relaxing into a blissful bed at the end of day of holiday fun.

However you decorate your home this holiday season, let it be enough and enjoy every moment. This is my last column for 2021. See you in 2022. Merry Christmas!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Thom Filicia: Finding the soul of the home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Nov. 6, 2021

Home is the center of our lives in ways that we would have never expected. We’re all adapting space to maximize every square foot. Outdoor spaces, especially in Southwest Florida, have become part of the living area and exciting, new décor reflects the expansion from indoors to outdoors. Spa bathrooms have moved to the top of the list as many clients tell me they’re not going to wait to add what makes them happy. And they are thoughtfully maximizing their budgets.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I’m continuously interested in what’s new in home design and I’m always looking for new inspiration to keep our homes fresh, comfortable and beautiful.

The Thom Filicia Collection for Vanguard at High Point Market includes comfortable and timeless furnishings, bold color, focal point artwork from Thom Filica for Wendover (Commune of Figures), a Giclee on gallery wrapped canvas. Use of textures, metals, glass.

And that’s why I was happy to have a chance to sit down with designer Thom Filicia at the recent fall High point Market in North Carolina. It’s one of the places I go to reboot and find inspiration. More than 12 million square feet of show space comes alive with 2,000 exhibitors along with designers, buyers, architects and educators from all over the world.

Filicia has long been one of my favorite designers. He’s a bit of a rock star but doesn’t realize it as he happily takes hordes of visitors around his collection and talks to them like they are old friends. That’s his endearing quality. And it’s also what makes him a great designer.

With Thom Filicia at High Point Market.

You may remember him from the Emmy-winning Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, as the design expert. Today he is a huge name in interior design with an impressive portfolio of residential commercial and hospitality interiors all over the world. He’s designed homes for celebrities including Tina Fey and Jennifer Lopez. He’s also a best-selling author and has some thoughts about design trends as we head in to what is hopefully the post-covid phase.

On this crisp, fall morning in High Point, we met in the Vanguard showroom and relaxed in the comfortable Thom Filicia Home Collection for Vanguard. We could have easily been sitting in his home with his trademark bold colors and comfortable designs. A collection of artwork from the Thom Filicia Home Collection for Wendover (Tampa) is perfectly curated to effortlessly accent the furnishings. High Point was a busy time for him as he also unveiled Thom Filicia collections for Feizy Rugs, hardware for Accurate and bedding for Eastern Accents.

Bold jewel tones from Thom Filicia for Eastern Accents.

Filicia says there has definitely been a shift over the past 18 months as homeowners look for ways to enhance their environments by taking action rather than dreaming about their wish list of new kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor and indoor spaces. And rethinking how we live in our homes.

“It’s important that we tell our story in our homes. In a soulful way that reflects the point of view of the people who live there and it should be done simply and timeless.”

When working on homes in Florida, he adds extra focus on exterior spaces and the “blur” where the outdoors “flows” into the outdoors.

“It should be a natural, effortless connection where there is little obvious difference as one flows into the other.”

His designs use a lot of texture to add visual interest. And it’s obvious that he is not afraid to use color. Bold color. A designer after my own heart.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Tips for finding comfort at home for fall

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Oct. 2, 2021

Fall arrived quietly a few days ago and in Southwest Florida and we’re anxiously awaiting a cool morning breeze, an evening that makes us look through our closet for a jacket and any signs that a new season has arrived.

And while our northern neighbors are covering the pool and bringing in the patio furniture, we’re looking forward to heading outdoors after a long, sizzling summer. And it only takes a few news reports of snow storms to realize again, how lucky we are to live in this tropical paradise.

But until then, we dream of fall.

As the sun is sets on summer, there are lots of color palettes and ideas from Kravet to welcome the fall season to your home. Photo: Kravet

Just as the trees shed their beautiful leaves, we’re reminded that it’s important to let go of what no longer serves us or supports us. And that’s what fall is all about. Letting go. Hope. Comfort. Change. In our lives and especially in our homes.

And even though there are only subtle changes, it’s important to acknowledge the season. Especially now as we continue to navigate through challenging times.

As a Fort Myers Interior decorator, I believe adding little things that give us comfort in our homes and making small changes to mark the coming season. Some of my favorites include:

• Start with a good decluttering. Say goodbye to anything that no longer makes you happy or supports your lifestyle.

• Go to your closet, bring the long sleeves and jackets and boots to the front.

• In the pantry, clean out all of the old spices and make room for the new as we get ready for the coming holidays.

• Visit fall art shows and flea markets to invest in a new piece of art or an accent piece.

• With shorter days, now is a good time to take a look at your lighting and perhaps add a new lamp or two.

• The change in seasons is a perfect time to invest in new linens, towels, throws, blankets.

• Freshen up a room or outdoor space by adding a new rug.

• For an outdoor space, add string lights. They are cheerful and add atmosphere to an outdoor dinner.

• Change your fireplace mantel or tablescape with creamy neutrals accented with seasonal tones, gourds, pumpkins, leaves, baskets, accents.

• As you spend more time outdoors, add some new pillows and throws (for chilly nights) to your chairs.

• Start at the front door with mums, a new welcome mat, wreath and faux pumpkins (Tip: spray paint the pumpkins to reflect your color scheme).

• While you’re at the front door, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Think about some yummy seasonal colors from Benjamin Moore: Peach Cider, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Seeds, Autumn Cover and Witching Hour. Check here for tips on painting a front door.

• On the first cool morning: open all of the windows and let the fresh air into your home and breathe it in.

Happy fall!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

All that glitters: lighting tips to brighten your home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Sept. 4, 2021

Lighting is a lot like jewelry. It can be the final piece that that you put into your decorating plan. Or you can take a fantastic lighting fixture and build an entire room around it.

A beachy, glam statement piece for a dining room or entry, this Biscayne chandelier from Serena & Lily is a mix of brass and coco shells. Made by hand, it features two tiers of cascading coco slivers, crowned with slender abaca and finished with an elegant brass chain. Photo: Serena & Lily.

Books have been written about lighting in the home and I promise I will not write one here. Just a few suggestions.

We all know that really great design is in the details. Lighting is one of those details that is many times overlooked and often is the last item in the budget. As a Southwest Florida interior decorator I see far too many beautiful homes where lighting is an afterthought and builder grade lighting has not been updated. Here’s a little secret: you don’t have to spend a fortune to make it look spectacular. There are lots of options in all price ranges.

Lighting is especially important in open floor plans where it can be difficult to light dark corners. You need two things before you start randomly making purchases: think strategically about the entire home and have a plan.

This unique Freeport bedside lamp is beautifully crafted with each piece of rattan steamed and bent by hand for a truly one-of-a-kind look. A square stone base and a crisp linen drum shade add the perfect amount of polish. Photo: Serena & Lily.

A few of my tips that I use when creating a lighting plan for clients:

Lighting sources in each room

• Ambient lighting which includes track lighting, recessed lighting, chandeliers, fan lights.

• Task lighting which includes table lamps, desk lamps, floor lamps, pendants, vanities, under counter.

• Accent lighting which includes niche lighting, sconces, decorative, statement lighting.

Recommendations

• Skip the recessed lighting if you’re building a new home or doing a renovation. It’s a waste of money, messes up the ceiling and tell me this, how often do you turn on those bright ceiling lights? Plus, no one looks good in recessed light! If you have them in your home, install dimmer switches.

• Everyone needs more lamps. Most homes are suffering from light deficiency: add more lamps and up the wattage. A lamp on every table is a good rule of thumb.

• Gourd lamps in lots of colors are good for living rooms; a mini accent lamp on the kitchen counter, laundry room, bathroom.

Simple and striking, the Cornwall sconces add a touch of elegance with an elongated brass finial. Photo: Serena & Lily.

• The eyes love pairs so make sure you have some pairs instead of a collection of mismatched lamps. It makes a huge difference. Think about your favorite hotel room: two lamps by the bed, two lamps on the dresser/desk and a standing lamp in the dark corner. Remember: less is more. Not too many styles.

• If you have a home with high ceilings throughout, hire a lighting designer to get it just right and avoid shadows.

• Select your largest lights first. Pendants over the island/bar area, chandeliers, entry lighting.

• Hang dining or eat-in area chandeliers/large lighting between 30 and 36 inches above the top of the table. This range assumes you have an 8-foot ceiling. If the ceiling is higher, the recommended standard is to raise the chandelier 3 inches for each additional foot of ceiling height. For example, if your ceiling is 10-feet-high, you might hang your chandelier 6 inches higher than you would in a room with an 8-foot ceiling. This guideline is generally the same for hanging pendants over a kitchen island or bar.

All that glitters: chandeliers

They are romantic and sexy. The right one with the perfect dimmer switch setting makes anyone look beautiful. They are dazzling and add style and a touch of refined culture to a space. They go anywhere in the home, including bathrooms, closets, a walk in pantry. I have even seen one in a laundry room. You can spend a little or you can spend thousands.

Chandeliers are an accessory that can make an entry or dining room. It does what the perfect necklace does for an outfit. In southwest Florida, many homes sacrifice chandeliers for ceiling fans but I find that women are most likely willing to say goodbye to a fan to add a beautiful, sparkly chandelier.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog