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Accenting the seasons; Home decorators follow Mother Nature’s colorful cues

The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) October 1, 2004 | Cheryl-Anne Millsap Correspondent Just imagine. It may not be the decorating divas who cause us to rush to the front door to hang a new wreath when the seasons change.

It may not be simply heart-tugging advertising that makes us slaves to home fashion. The urge to change our nests to fit what’s going on outdoors may be more complex than that.

Annie Nichols, a second-year interior design student at Spokane Falls Community College, thinks it may be in our very nature to respond to Mother Nature’s cues.

Nichols, who has a degree in psychology, believes that the urge to decorate is innate. “We all try to create an environment that makes us happy,” Nichols says. “It’s part of who we are.” Nichols, who works in sales and as a designer at Madison Home Furniture in Spokane, says that in autumn, when colors become jewel- toned and warm, humans respond to natural cues to get ready to hibernate. “We want to be in a place that’s cozy, that makes us feel warm and safe,” she says.

Coeur d’Alene homeowner Terry McCune feels that pull. She decorates her home for each season using natural elements accented with cherished mementos.

McCune uses the entry of her 2-year-old, 3,000-square foot “country Victorian” home as a stage. The walls are covered with a “faux stone” wallpaper, and hardwood floors add warmth. The large front door, painted a deep cranberry, features seasonal wreaths on the exterior and interior. go to site home decorators coupon

“It’s a large, impressive door, and I always have a wreath on either side,” McCune says.

Inside the foyer, a large oak sideboard is dressed for the harvest season with swags of vibrant leaves, pieces of McCune’s grandmother’s cranberry glass collection and candles. Three small carnival glass dishes are filled with candy corn. Large copper pots hold seasonal blooms.

“Fall isn’t even my favorite season – it takes me three weeks to decorate for Christmas,” she says, “but I still want everything around me to be beautiful.” McCune uses her background as a shop owner when it comes time to decorate her home. She owned an antiques and gift store called Cobblestone Connection at Big Bear Lake resort in California.

Since moving to Coeur d’Alene and building what she calls her “dream house,” McCune, who is a single parent with two grown sons and a 5-year-old daughter, has returned to retail. She rents a space at The Shabby to Chic Shoppe in Coeur d’Alene and fills it with refurbished auction finds and little girl’s dresses made from vintage embroidered linens.

“I’ve learned a lot from others about how to display things,” she says. “And I got a lot better at it at home after working on the seasonal displays at the store.” McCune admits that she can’t resist the urge to change the decor in her home when the seasons change, and believes it is part of the creative side of her personality. in our site home decorators coupon

“I do it because I just can’t not do it,” she says. “I think there is something deep inside us that makes us want to make things pretty.” Nichols makes the same point. “Interior design is a kind of instinct; it started when people were living in caves and painted the first pictures,” she says “We just have a need to make the space around us beautiful.” SIDEBAR:INFORMATIONDECORATING TIPS Designer Annie Nichols offers the following tips for bringing fall scents and colors into your home: — Use the current trend of earth tones on the walls and in upholstery as the base for your seasonal displays. “Simply add accent pillows or a cozy throw in a color that is a deeper value of the color of your upholstery or wall,” Nichols says. “The deeper color will automatically warm the space.” — Add candles to cast a warm glow and fill rooms with rich scents like vanilla. “I have a mulled cider candle that I love so much I could burn it all year,” Nichols says. “But I save it for cooler weather.” — Make small, practical changes. “You can get a lot of impact by simply replacing the towels and soaps in your bathroom,” Nichols advises. — Don’t forget the bedroom. “Have a set of sheets for each season, or you could just change the bed skirt and add a throw,” Nichols says. “Those are small inexpensive touches that add color and warmth.” — Dim the lights. Nichols says that by simply reducing the wattage of the light bulbs in a room during fall and winter makes a room feel cozier. “Change the lampshades to a darker fabric, maybe even something like an animal print, to add drama.” — Use seasonal colors in your silk arrangements. Nichols says it’s important to keep floral arrangements current. If your budget doesn’t include separate arrangements for each season, just add natural elements like leaves, branches and even fruit and vegetables. — Accessorize rooms the way you would an outfit. “The secret is in the layers,” Nichols says. “Add color and texture and fabrics to your rooms and you’ll get the look you want.” — Learn from the professionals. Furniture showrooms are always tweaking their displays and room settings. “Walk through a place like Madison Home and look closely at what we’ve done,” Nichols says. “Spending a little time in a showroom is free, and it’s a great way to get ideas from designers who follow industry trends.”FOR MORE INFORMATION Annie Nichols offers color consultations, room re-design, and other professional services through her business, The Complete Home Interior Design. You can reach her at (509) 532-8183.WHAT TO READ “Decorating Year Round: Shaping Your Style Through the Seasons,” by Better Homes and Gardens (Meredith Books, 2002, $29.95). “Trade Secrets From Use What You Have Decorating,” by Lauri Ward (Putnam Publishing, 2002, $15.95).

Cheryl-Anne Millsap Correspondent