The Decorating Voice

Shelf Life.....What's On Your Bookshelf?

One of the things I love about my busines of coaching and mentoring others to grow a decorating related business is that my former students share their regular newsletters with me.  Here is one I received today from the talented Ava Lewandowski from Clemmons, North Carolina. Not too long ago we had a mouse in our house.  After he was caught (and he died a happy mouse...full of Ghirardelli's Chocolate Chips), I did a thorough cleaning of the pantry.  Much to my surprise, there were several food items with an expired shelf -life.  This told me that I need to be more frugal and check the dates more often as not to waste food.  Placing items back on the shelves, I was reminded that decor has a shelf-life too and needs a thorough cleaning, redecorating or redesign occasionally. Most people redecorate after 7 years and if not 7, then definitely after 10 years.  To keep your decor from looking dated, periodically step back, freshen up and make some changes.  There are little things that you can do without totally redecorating.  One of those is redesigning your bookshelves. In the August newsletter (Books, Books, And More Books)  books came down off the shelves and were used as accessories in the home.  So how do you decorate those bookshelves?  I find decorating bookshelves to be one of my biggest challenges when doing an Interior Redesign. There is nothing wrong with using rows of books as you would find in a library but adding a few accessories will add interest.  Everything from collectibles, personal treasures, art, framed photos, decorative boxes, pottery and baskets; even books, can be displayed.  All of these are great additions... the challenge is...placing them on the shelves so that the finished look isn't cluttered and is visually appealing.

Decorating Inspiration from Winners

Labor Day...the official end of summer has arrived. Time to head back indoors and begin the "nesting" process that autumn brings. Your clients will soon be calling, eager for your talent and expertise.  Here is some inspiration for you from the recent winners of...

The SDP Annual Design Contest

Get Inspired and Get Busy!

View the Winners and 5

Semi-Finalists in each Category

Congratulations to all of our Winners!

To see each of the Semi-Finalists photos in each category, click on

MyPublisher for a look at the book.

Each of the Winner's Before & After photos are available to view on TheSDP.com's  Photo Gallery page

Decorate It: 

Winner, Terry Grahl, Terry's Enchanted Cottage

Semi-Finalists:
Kim Ausbury, Staged & Styled, Stow, OH
Jill Kearney, Beautiful Healthy Homes, Lehigh Valley, PA
Kathy Kallaus, Dreamy Retreats, Jacksonville, FL (2 entries in semi-finals)

Color It

Winner-

Leslye Cushing,

Creative Room Makeovers

Semi-Finalists:
Heather Klein, Emmy & Me Interiors, Naperville, IL
Paula Henry, Simply Put Interiors, Reisterstown, MD(2 entries in semi-finals)
Marleen Prater, Remixed Rooms, Canton, MI

Accessorize It

Winner-Terry Grahl, Terry's Enchanged Cottage

Semi-Finalists:
Angela Todd, Angela Todd Designs, Beaverton, OR
Beth Batke, Final Touches Redesign, Gahanna, OH (2 entries in semi-finals)
Kim Ausbury, Staged & Styled, Stow, OH

Interior Redesign It

Winner-

Paula Henry, Simply Put Interiors

Semi-Finalists:
Kathy Cortner, KRC Interior Transformations, Cherry Hill, NJ
Marleen Prater, Remixed Rooms, Canton, MI
Erica Cooper, Your Style redesigned, Elk River, MN
Jennifer Bush, Poppy Lane Designs, Westland, MI

Stage It

Winner-

Annie Doherty, Stagehouse

Semi-Finalists:
Angela Todd, Angela Todd Designs, Beaverton, OR
Jill Duffey Kearney, Beautiful Healthy Homes, Lehigh Valley, PA
Kim Ausbury, Staged & Styled, Stow, OH
Paula Henry, Simply Put Interiors, Reisterstown, MD


   The SDP Trainers Division

                      only 3 Semi-Finalist each

Interior Redesign

  Winner-

Debbie Correale

Redesign Right, West Chester, PA

Semi-Finalists:
Bobi McGinnis, One Day Decorating Florida, Jacksonville, FL
Carie Baumann, Redesigning Interiors, Tucson, AZ

Decorate It

Winner-

Sandra Racz,

Signature Redesign, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Semi-Finalists:
Sandra Racz, Signature Redesign, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (2 entries in semi-finals)
Debbie Correale, Redesign Right, West Chester, PA

Home Staging

Winner-

Carie Baumann,

Redesigning Interiors, Tucson, AZ

Semi-Finalists:
Denise Montgomery, Mais Oui! Redesign, Greenville, NC
Debbie Correale, Redesign Right, West Chester, PA

Color It

Winner-

Sandra Racz,

Signature Redesign, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Semi-Finalists:

Denise Montgomery, Mais Oui! Redesign, Greenville, NC
Carie Baumann, Redesigning Interiors, Tucson, AZ

Accessorize It

Winner-

Sandra Racz

Signature Redesign, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Semi-Finalists:

Bobi McGinnis, One Day Decorating Florida, Jacksonville, FL
Judy Pelinski, Staging and Redesign Academy, Lake in the Hills, IL