A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (of all places) offers insight into an interesting new trend being followed by interior designers: mixing wallpaper designs within the same space.Say what?That’s right. With the recent versatility of wallpaper from the manufacturers, including much less permanent adhesives that used to wreak havoc on drywall, adding and removing patterns and textures is far simpler than in the past.Now that a room can be stripped and re-papered within a few hours, innovative designers have gotten over their fear and are making inroads into new uses for old-style wallcoverings.“‘The new, vast selection of papers is energizing designers,’ said industry veteran Dennis Shah, president of Studio Printworks in Hoboken, N.J. His company creates handmade papers via centuries-old processes such as block and screen printing, but he has also invested in digital printers, which can produce giant seamless panels, scale designs up and down to fit any wall and achieve effects not possible with analog methods, such as subtle watercolor-esque gradations and razor-sharp photorealism. With this flexibility, ‘designers are excited, unusual ideas are coming to fruition and rules are being broken,’ said Mr. Shah.”
Contrasting Walls and Ceiling
For example, this combination of contrasting papers on the walls and ceiling of a sitting room. Whether you choose to “flex” with patterns or colors, today's choices come in almost endless varieties.
Brave or Bravado? You Decide!
While the word “busy” might be a bit tame for this collection of wallcoverings, it certainly cannot be said that the choices made were not bold. And yet, despite the stunning array of patterns, the oriental theme somehow brings it all together to make a cohesive statement.
Mix n’ Match Colorways
Far subtle is the use of two colorways to add a bit of life to this simple yet elegant living room. The similarity of the patterns, though presented in differing hues, hold the design together beautifully.
Whatever you may think of some of the choices shown above, the good news is that wallcovering is making a comeback. This, along with the flexibility of mixing wallpaper designs, gives interior designers an addition to their palettes that had been missing for a couple of decades.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
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Or, are you going for the green as your favorite color?
Bare Floors or Rugs: Which is best?Perhaps even more contentious among designers is the classic issue of bare floors versus rugs; which may never be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone – or anyone, for that matter.Rugs are a great and relatively easy way to add warmth to a room, which is why they are so popular. They are also easily replaced, which is another feature that appeals, since changing the feel of an entire space can be accomplished by simply tossing something new and beautiful on the floor. And yet, rugs can be maintenance heavy items, requiring vacuuming of shedding layers of wool, pet hair they can capture, or even cleaning stains from spills by the kids (or that unruly guest who consumed too much wine).Potentially one of the most transformative elements in a room, a strategically placed collection of rugs in a home can make all the difference in the world: accenting, featuring, joining or separating spaces as needed.
Then again, there are some rooms, and some floors, that cry out to be left bare. For example, covering the exquisite pattern in the image below could be thought of as a crime by some. Then too, rugs in a dining area can attract all sorts of accidents left behind following a dinner party. This floor is not only gorgeous, it’s easier to clean and maintain than a rug might be.
As with so many things, when it comes to designing a comfortable, attractive living space, there will be many disagreements on exactly what comfortable and attractive mean. The sharp interior designers agree with the client more often than not, helping to guide them yet accepting that the space belongs to them, and so must meet their needs above all else.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? 
What is “Making a Sale”?The answer to this question includes a bit of human nature… A sale is made when the value exceeds the price paid. That’s it. There is nothing more to add, and it doesn’t get any deeper than that. The human nature side of this definition is – people LOVE getting a value and, if you're the one who provides that value – they’ll also love you!“Price is what you pay; value is what you get.” This quote is usually attributed to billionaire business magnate, investor, and philanthropist Warren Buffett; but, it didn’t end there. He added, “Whether we're talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down."Even a world-famous billionaire, a man who can afford to buy anything, enjoys a good value!Every positive sale encounter eventually devolves to the relationship created between the salesperson and the prospect. A positive experience, that is, when a sale is made, is the result of a relationship that benefits both of you – and – as a professional, it is your responsibility to build that relationship.After all, the prospect has already done their part by coming to you (however that may have been done) and presenting you with the opportunity to make a sale, which leaves the next part of the encounter, building the relationship, in your hands.If you're uncomfortable with that responsibility, selling is not for you.Start by quickly building a rapport with your prospective clientFear is a component of nearly every sales encounter; where the prospect fears “being sold,” rather than finding a solution. While such fear may be irrational to the salesperson, it is very real to the prospect and must be dealt with quickly and effectively, yet with subtlety. A sincere, well-intentioned greeting will enable nervous and fearful prospects to relax, making them willing to listen, which will reduce their defenses against being “sold something,” and make them more open to making a purchase.Many salespeople have been trained to greet their prospective client in a highly standardized, “Hello my name is… What is yours… Shake hands fashion.” In contemporary sales, this can be a dangerous approach. Since it is highly likely your competition has been trained in this cookie-cutter-welcome fashion, greeting your prospects in this way could make them think you are, “Just like the last guy,” they spoke with. The last guy they didn’t buy from.While you must, of course, welcome your prospects to your encounter, quickly putting them at ease, you should do so in a way which sets you apart from your competition. Do your research and perform your due diligence on your competitors. Knowing the style and approach of your competition will go a long way toward helping you set yourself apart from them. For example, a mildly humorous greeting can do wonders to help your prospect relax.That being said, knowing something of your prospect’s needs, in advance, may be just as important. If, due to the nature of the sales encounter this is impossible, beginning a conversation and exchange of information will be critical to your success. If you are open and honest from the very beginning, your prospect will be more likely to follow your lead.Your body language will often telegraph your intentions, as will the body language of your prospective client. Avoid folded arms and crossed legs; maintain eye contact in an open and curious fashion; reflect an attitude of warmth and concern; be forthcoming and positive, and – most importantly – be genuine in your concern for your prospect’s welfare.Remember, many of these hints to your client are only grasped subconsciously – which means you need to be fully conscious of them at all times.Once you’ve built a rapport with your prospect, it’s time to get serious about building a relationship, which we will examine in more depth in future posts.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? 
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