Interior Design - Let's get "Personal"

What is it about a small town that attracts people to want to live, visit, and shop there?Is it the personality of the town? Is it the quaintness and character of the landscape, businesses and people? Most importantly, it is the ability to form close, personal, lasting relationships with the people you live by and do business with, those relationships that you continue to nurture and enjoy for years. In a small town, businesses seem to stay around for awhile. The same local people meet you, greet you and serve you day in and day out. There is something very comforting about this kind of permanence and continuity.
Working with clients as an Interior Designer in a small town is no different. Offering clients quality products and services becomes an ongoing project. Forming a lasting working relationship is also ongoing. The Client/Designer relationship almost always develops into a close personal friendship. Getting to know clients' homes, families and lifestyles and growing together is the most rewarding aspect. Often beginning a project with one generation continues with the next generation, as they also want to do business with you because of that very relationship you have fostered over the years. Working closely with a family who wants to create fun, functional spaces for their young children eventually evolves into re-designing the home for the new empty- nesters who then want new furniture and a space designed for adult entertaining and relaxation.
I encourage you as a client to find that wonderful designer and friend that you know will be there for you, provide outstanding results for your home, and also be someone you are comfortable with, that you will want to continue to return to in the future.The Designers at Bella Interiors want to begin that personal relationship with you. So, get "personal" with your Interior Designer, and the end result will be more than just a "decorated" house - it will be a HOME everyone will enjoy.

Nikki Wiygul
Interior Designer
Bella Interiors

Penny Bowen & her client Susan Gravlee at Alabama football game!

Penny Bowen & another favorite client, Dr. Bethany Hairston

Bella's Store Restructuring

You may have noticed we have a rather large (biggest ever) sale coming up. And you might be wondering...why?

The reason? We are restructuring our store. Bella has been serving customers in Columbus for more than five years, and it is time for an in house renovation. Our designers are constantly looking for innovative ways to update and beautify your home, and now we are doing that to our store. 

Our vision is to simply your shopping experience, allowing you to easily identify your style. We want to be a user friendly, all inclusive gallery that can better meet your needs.

Now, your Bella experience will be even more interactive. Our furniture and accessories will be grouped by style and color, making it easier to focus on what appeals to you. 

Not only will you have the opportunity to let us create a custom design for your home, you will also have items available to you that are ready to go. Drapery panels, rods, and brackets along with furniture, accessories, and specialty bath items will now be stocked. This will allow you to come in and get what you need immediately. 

We look forward to working with you! 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

In the South...

After the showers and pollen of spring, we all look forward to the flowers of May. Along with the May flowers comes outdoor entertaining! Creating a cozy and inviting exterior space is just as important as focusing on the interior of your home. Be creative, have fun, and remember it’s all in the details. Determine whether you want a formal or casual environment.  Do you want a colorful or a neutral space? Think about your exterior space as an extension of your interior home and treat it as another room of your house. What is the traffic flow from inside to outside and how will you use the space when entertaining? Arrange your furniture accordingly. Make a space for cooking, (a kitchen), a space for eating, (a dining room), and a space for lounging, (a living room). Of course, keep in mind that your outdoor pieces must be durable and suitable for the weather, sun and outdoor elements. After you get your main pieces determined and set, don’t forget to add the details.

If it is within your budget, structural features are great additions. A water feature, or fireplace, built in bar or kitchen area will be enjoyed by all. Otherwise, use accessories to give your space character. Outdoor rugs, table top water fountains, wall art and lamps are now available due to the growing trend of outdoor living spaces. Lighting always creates a special ambiance. Using candlelight in the form of candle chandeliers, wall sconces and torches creates a beautiful glow while cooking out. The last detail is selecting great containers for those plants and flowers of May. Use beautiful glazed pots, terra cotta, metal or concrete depending on how formal or casual your space is. Use plants strategically to accent your area as well as define the boundaries of your room. Once everything is in place, enjoy “living” in your space as the seasons change. Happy Entertaining!

Revamp Your Seasonal Decor for a Fresher Look

                  With the ugly economic threats losing some steam this year, it’s time to revamp and rev-up our seasonal décor.  I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to see some all-out displays of seasonal joy!  For the past few years, it seems like the months disappear, having disregarded any visual explanations of the time of year. 

                  This year will be different.  2011 is newness.   We are now ready to celebrate the changing times, hoping for the positive turnarounds we have associated with this new year.  Mind you, we are going all-out, but the previous desire for “cutesy” and super bright colors have waned. 

                  BIG and BOLD is still ‘it’, but after the past few years, we want to feel the true essence of the seasons, their essential meanings of renewal, of time passed and time to come, their ebb and flow, which naturally guides us.  And I say “naturally”.

                  For instance, take the obviously natural color of green.   Green is a fantastic color because it ranges so widely in its varying shades and values, and by grouping several elements of green together along with other pieces that represent Mother Nature, well, Hello Spring!   And this also provides your semi-blank canvas that can have other colors and objects interchanged within it to represent the changing seasons, or your mood, whichever comes first.  Warm flora-inspired tones of red and orange partnered with a dash of pure blues will psychologically enhance our giddiness for the summer season, allowing us to forget the heat and enjoy the sunshine. 

                  This trend of portraying the essential nature of the season will surely extend through 2012, as we must make up for the recent “décor-ignore” we’ve experienced.  Be ready to start fresh, knowing that with each season, we will gain a real awareness of the time, a positive outlook, and ultimately, we will possess a true gratitude for the seasons to come.

Article by: Sally Evans (as seen in the Home & Garden insert in last Sunday's paper) 

We Southern Woman LOVE our "Stuff"!

Knick-knacks in our homes seem to reproduce like rabbits! We all want our homes to be beautifully appointed with accessories. Everything we have seems to have meaning, importance and value. We also seem to want to put everything on display ALL at once! My grandmother saved everything, kept every memento, and had it ALL on display. I certainly loved her very much, but I also don’t want my home to have that “look”. Yes, for lack of a better term, we all understand the word – CLUTTERED! So here are a few basic pointers on how to accessorize...

    

1. Edit & Rotate

I know this is a hard one, but think of it this way- you will have the chance to use it all, just not all at the same time. Pick your absolute favorites. Less is more – the fewer items you have on a tabletop the easier it is for the eye to rest on each one and; therefore, each one gets fully appreciated, not lost in the crowd. A good rule of thumb is three items per tabletop. Then after awhile, put these items away and rotate them with some you have put away.

2. Think Big

Bigger is always better. Little things lose their importance. It is good to have varying sizes of items on your table as well as different heights and textures to create interest.

3. Momentos,Collections, and Keepsakes

Yes, designers do want you to use these in your home. This is what makes your home YOU and gives it your personality and character. However, consider using only a couple of favorite photos of your family and children per room. Every cutesy,gifty item you’ve ever received . . . cherish them, but you don’t have to decorate your home with them. Rotate collections and collectibles seasonally. Perhaps display your beautiful glassware collection in the spring, figurines in the fall, and silver in the winter.

4.Hire an Interior Designer

Some of you may feel overwhelmed with numbers 1-3. The task of making decisions on what to use, what to put away, what to buy new can be stressful. Hire an Interior Designer who can give you an objective opinion and take care of it all for you! This is one of my favorite things to do for a client. With little investment (a designers hourly rate) you can get a professional look created with all of your personal items from someone who is not as closely attached to the items as you. A designer will know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to beautiful display.

So, Southern Ladies....enjoy using ALL that you have, rotating it and having a fresh new look for yourself and your friends. Each time you entertain, everyone will think you have all new “stuff,” and it will look beautiful and be appreciated so much more! Happy Accessorizing! Or ...Call Me! 

Nikki Wiygul

How to have A “Fashion” - able Home in 2011

How to have A “Fashion” - able Home in 2011

     Have you ever noticed how the latest influences in fashion design for the season always seem to spill over from the fashion world into the interiors of our homes? Well, this is no mistake! The National Color Institute has the fun job each year of  deciding what colors will be “predicted “ and the fashion and interior design world take them and run with them. These colors end up in our homes and on our clothing. Even the fabrics, textures and patterns used in the fashion industry transcend into our homes.

    If your closet is anything like mine, I have those classic “go to” items that I never get tired of, such as the LBD (little black dress). However, I want to look current and in – style, so I spice those classic items up with something trendy that I don’t have to invest a lot of money in, such as a scarf with a trendy pattern, (leopard) or a pair of heels in the hottest color, (red) and all of a sudden that boring black dress has personality and character. And don’t forget your jewelry!

    Think of your house in terms of fashion and you’ve got it all figured out! Your LBD are your classic main furniture pieces. Then add your new texture and pattern with some inexpensive pillows, runners or table toppers that are easy to change out as the trends fluctuate. Don’t forget to throw in the red heels! Pick up a few select accessory items that will help you incorporate that “pop” of the hottest color, such as a cool colored glass vase or bowl, a tray or candles. Or, if you’re good with a paint brush, find an inexpensive flea market find (such as an end table or side chair and have fun with it). All of these added to your basics will give you a refreshing, new “FASHIONABLE” look for your home.

     My next piece of fashion advice is addressing your homes “jewelry”. Your jewelry adds that bit of sparkle and class to your outfit and must not be forgotten when accessorizing your home to complete the total attire. Your jewelry for your home are your light fixtures and lamps. Your chandeliers are your diamonds and pearls, they are the pieces you select carefully, and sometimes invest a good bit in. You are in a sense married to them. They are not easily changed: however, your lamps are where you can be a little more playful, and fun. They can be your trendy, funky, bling! So, I noticed a lot of deep purple and bright yellow in fashion in the mall yesterday, does that mean redecorating your whole house in purple and yellow this season? Of course not! Just remember, having fun with fashion in your closet as well as in your home is all about staying fresh and rolling with the trends (knowing that they change with the wind) so keep that little black dress and remember, “ a little leopard print goes a long way” !

                                                                                                  Nikki Wiygul

Trend to Quality

With the passing recession, I see the tide turning toward quality furnishing. Prior to 2008, it seemed that the public was interested in what I like to call "disposable" furniture. This being low quality, trendy items that could be bought at a low price. The intent was to be stylish for a short while, then redecorate in a few years and not feel guilty about throwing out the old and replacing it all.

For the past two years, however, the public was replacing nothing. Times have been tough. People began to reflect and get back to the basics. While watching their "disposable" furniture fall apart, without the ability or confidence in the economy to replace it, it became apparent that there is something to be said for a quality built sofa that will be around to pass on to their children. Now I see the trend turn towards buying new classic furniture that is of quality. These new classics are typically simple in design but are styled from classic pieces.

-Penny Bowen, Owner Bella Interiors/Penny Bowen Designs, Inc.