Dear Gathering Spriggs readers, today I have a special treat for you. Her name is Kelle Barnard, of Barnard Interiors. She is a dear friend of mine from my first Alma Mater, Texas Tech Univiersity, Lubbock, TX! Kelle is the most gracious, warm Texas Southern Belle you will ever meet and she is opening up the secrets of her trade as an Interior Designer/Floral Artist especially for you. Hope you have fun reading about life on the inside and be sure to scroll down to find out Kelle's tips on decorating on a budget and adorning your home for the holidays!
1. Please tell us how Barnard Interiors came about.
The truth of the matter is that the birth of Barnard Interiors is a story of making lemonade out of a heaping basket full of lemons.
I graduated from college in the summer of 2002; this was right after 9/11 and no one was getting jobs, especially in the expendable industry of Interior Design. I had a job lined up in Austin but when I called to confirm 2 months prior to graduation, my would be boss said she couldn’t hire me. I looked for jobs here in Lubbock and around Texas and in the mean while, I just waited for word.
I went home to visit my parents one weekend and my Dad and I were talking and when he asked me what I was going to do, I jokingly said that I should just do what he did and start my own business. Well, needless to say, he thought this was a brilliant idea, much to my nervous astonishment and he told me to go back to Lubbock and make it happen.
I had no idea what I was doing but about a year later, Barnard Interiors was born. With much help from my local Small Business Development Center, my parents, and friends, it has been almost 7 years now and things are doing really well. A few years ago, I even branched out into floral design and am now designing wedding and event flowers! God is good!
2. What are your personal favorite projects and why?
It is cheesy to say, but I really love all my projects, but one of my all time favorites was for a client whose daughter’s wedding I had just completed. She wanted me to help her with her house that they had just moved into during the wedding. I helped her place her furniture and hang her pictures, my normal gig. But then about a year later, they decided to downsize and move into a garden home. By that time, we were good friends and as they walked me through their new little house, she turned to me and said, “You know who we are and what we like. Here is your budget and here are the keys. Have it done in a month!”
I LOVED that job. We did a minor “face lift” to the house, updating it with paint, new finishes, flooring, a fun wall texture technique, new lighting and used their beautiful antiques and furniture to make it their “favorite place on earth.”
I got the project done before move in date and they were more than thrilled. The husband was always rather noncommittal about decorating, but after he moved into his custom office, he said, “You know Kelle, you really designed a quality of life that I never knew existed. You aren’t just in the decorating business, you are in the quality of life business!” That was the best compliment I’ve ever gotten, from someone who originally thought what I did as a designer was frivolous.
3. On that note, being a designer usually requires using an unbiased design opinion to help others find their style, but I would like to know how you would describe your personal style.
Most people who know me, know that I speak my mind. With clients, I treat them how I would want to be treated. If something doesn’t look right I tell them while being as tactful and kind as possible. I let them know that it is my perspective on how they should design their house with their stuff.
My style is all over the place. I have never been a person who has favorite anything. I hate when people ask me, what is your favorite color, because I literally love ALL colors. I don’t like being hedged in by favorites. I would say my style would easily fit in with the eclectic crowd. I love mixing antiques with bright colors and modern light fixtures, or mixing things that “don’t” go together and proving that ANYTHING can work together, if you love it. I have tons of hand-me-down furniture from my parents and I love them all, but I add my modern spin on things: fabric, color, textures, etc… If something is quirky and odd, I love it.
I have a friend who came into my house the first time and said, “Whoa… you have A LOT of stuff.” I just laughed and kept on cooking for the dinner party. As the evening went on I noticed he was going around looking at my bookshelves and looking at my mementos. Later he was sitting in a chair in the corner looking at the whole house and he said, “You have a really nice, cozy little house. I really LOVE it! It feels like home.”
That is a common reaction. I do have loads of stuff, but I’m able to arrange it in a way that is interesting. I have my collection of old radios mixed in with all my books with a Chinese blue and white lamp nestled to the side. I have a collection of flower frogs strewn in with my collection of old classic novels. And I have my collection of weird nature artifacts on the china hutch/buffet with my favorite natural history botanical book! It doesn’t have to make sense if you love it.
4. In these tough economic times, what tips can you offer for people designing on a budget?
GARAGE SALES, ESTATE SALES, THRIFT STORES, & FLEA MARKETS!!!! The biggest misconception is “everything has to match.” Certain furniture stores make big bucks off of selling people a boxed set of room specific furniture with accessories “to match.” My biggest hint is… If you love it, it will work! It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make sense or you think it will be a disaster (occasionally it is), if you as the “designer” like it, chances are there will be a common thread once the room or project is finished. Be selective, but also go with the flow. If something is too expensive in the big store, have fun on your quest to duplicate or search out a similar less expensive piece. Also, look at things differently. Many objects can have many different uses. For example, an old suitcase that you get at the thrift store could be simply a decorative piece on top of an armoire, or it could be stacked with other suitcases and made to be a side table or coffee table. And don’t forget that each of those suitcases is a perfect storage solution for items you might not need to access all the time; old photos, CD cases, mementos from high school or college are the perfect items store in old suitcases.
One more tip for a budget redo, paint. It is the least expensive solution with the biggest wow factor. The right color can really make a room sing and make EVERYTHING in it look more expensive. I am a fan of neutral earth tones that are pretty saturated, but a creamy yellow or pale minty green can really highlight antiques and give a dusty old retro feel to a room. But please, NO BEIGE! Spice things up and don’t be afraid. Live with you decisions for at least 3 days to a week before scrapping them completely. It takes time to see things differently when you are used to seeing it one way for so long. Also, invite some good friends over and get their instant reaction. Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement.
5. Last, what are your favorite insider tricks to decorating for the holidays? Any advice for the novice?
Have fun! It is a holiday. It is meant to be fun. If you aren’t enjoying it then it is a chore and that is never a good thing. The world won’t end if your decorations aren’t perfect. Take a breather and drink some hot cocoa!
First, don’t think you have to put EVERY holiday nick knack that you own out. Pick a theme and design around a few cherished items. Create a few little vignettes around your house: Christmas tree, coffee table, mantle… then stop.
Don’t toss out fake greenery just because it is old, sometimes all your old front door wreath needs is a $5 bolt of new ribbon and some simple dollar store ornaments. Add a little splash of something sparkly to make something old look fresh and new.
Don’t like a traditional door wreath? Get 2 bolts of a fabulous wired ribbon in a contrasting color from your door and tie the door like a huge present with a pretty bow where a wreath should be. Make it a traditional bow or a big loopy bow and have several long tendrils you can spiral by coiling them around your hand (like a curling iron). Use thumb tacks, double sided tape, or a little dab of hot glue on the sides of your door to keep the ribbon in place; no one will see the edges and it won’t ruin your door!
And lastly, enjoy time with your friends and family. Sit down with the kids or girlfriends and make homemade ornaments out of felt. The holidays are stressful enough make memories and have fun and remember the reason for the season!
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