Why Not Live My Dream?

For years, I have dreamed of becoming an Interior Decorator. Back in my early 20's, before the internet, I took a correspondence course and had completed everything but the final payment (I was dirt poor at that time with lots of student loans from college), so I never got the formal "certificate". Twenty years later, after putting my career dream on hold to be a full time Momma, I believe it's time to Live my Dream.

I'm working on a few portfolio projects right now. My kitchen will be gutted this summer, but as I currently work for a cabinet maker & Master Woodworker, he's given me free reign to design what I want with Sketch-Up and we will make it all happen. Goodbye builder-grade oak and laminate countertops with a horrid layout - we're going glazed white French Country with rubbed bronze, a desperately-needed island, and a built-in wine cooler & bar area.

In mid-April, I'm redoing my electrician's kitchen. His wife is a dear friend and also hates her builder-grade Honey Oak cabinets, so we'll be doing a custom glaze job. He doesn't want them painted (and honestly, oak doesn't paint well due to the grain), so we'll be going with what we're calling a "Chocolate Nutmeg" that's warm and glowing.

This weekend is my own Master Bedroom makeover - Sherwin Williams "Smokey Blue" on the walls.

I have done my kids' rooms - I just need my photographer to come get decent shots for the portfolio. In trade, I am doing his Master Bedroom, hopefully in May or June. Scheduling hasn't been easy this spring due to travel volleyball & varsity tennis! But here's a sneak peek that I snapped of the teen boy's room (the logo on the wall is our high school's logo):

And the girls' room:

I hand-painted the flowers to make a border on the chalkboard area.

So I need to gather a few more projects - bathrooms, living areas, and screened porch. Mostly if I clean a couple of those, I'll have them photo-ready. 

My plan is also to offer Home Staging & Seasonal/Holiday decorating services as well. I haven't started a website yet, but I'm leaning more toward a blog. So I haven't ordered business cards yet because I want to put my web info on them. There are business details to work out, but I will get there. The portfolio and the experiences are what I need to do right now, so prayers going up that God will bless me in this endeavor!

Love, 

C