We used a lady named Shelby. She has a store filled with beautiful things .Decoraors Resource located on 441 in summerfield . 352 693 2119. She usually has an add in Saturdays Sun.

We're looking for a decorator also, but we're not going to do the whole house from scratch. We just want to get furniture and ideas for our smallish living/family room and some ideas for a couple other isolated areas. Would the decorators mentioned in this thread (like Ruth Dyer) be able to help us out?

A friend called on one of the mentioned decorators who found her some accessories, lamps and pictures and advised her as to color for bedroom.

The bill was several thousand dollars. ouch.

Decorator
 

Ceci is fabulous!!

I have a question due to my inexperience in such matters...if I hire a decorator, am I just paying for advice and possibly a plan? Or can they also get the furniture pieces, decor, etc. that they recommend? Possibly having an association with furniture stores or something like that? Or am I just on my own once I get the recommendations?

And if I went with Cici or Ruth...are they independent? Do they work with stores or companies somehow?

I don't know this for sure because I have never hired a decorator. I THINK that they obtain for you furniture and accessories and get a "kick-back" (??) from the places where these things are obtained. Maybe NOT the exact or polite terms. Another interesting thing is that a couple of decorators used in my neighborhood, have distinctive style, one always seems to like a certain color wall for backdrop. They are very good but I like to flounder around by myself using the rule of three, the color wheel, having a sort of theme, using things we love and using fabric for throw pillows and window treatments to make things pop.(I buy fabric from fabric.com) There are lots of no sew ways to iron in seams and make rectangles and attach to those pincher drape holders on rings) I try to analyze rooms I like in magazines and I am an avid watcher of HGTV. I have heard people really gaining a lot of insight from classes on home décor taught at the Lifelong Learning College and particularly one where the teacher/decorator goes to each persons home for a analysis of what might make it better.

I'd like to call Cece, but that number gets me to a furniture/rug store and there is no Cece. Anybody know how to contact Cece?

And THAT's the rub.

Jenifer that used to be a sales person for Southern Lifestyles was an amazing decorator and you got her for free if you bought furniture there. Is there someone else that is good that is working there?