The Rural Voice, 2002-07, Page 40Home Decorating
Men are taking more active interest in design
Patti
Robertson
operates
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
Since Father's day occured about
the time I wrote this month's column,
I'm dedicating this one to the guys!
Men's interests and styling have
begun to make a large impact on the
home and office decor scene and I for
one say "welcome!" Men's interest is
relatively new (granted there is
always the argument that male
designers are better than the women
designers — I prefer to say we just see
things slightly differently).
Personally I tend to lean to the more
tailored, classic styling so there
probably is only a slight difference
between how I and my male
counterparts select and arrange decor
features.
Nevertheless this interest amongst
men is relatively new ... it is not that
many years ago that men did not call
upon my services or would, if
involved, watch from a far off
vantage point as I consulted with "the
Lady of the House" regarding colour,
pattern and texture selections. Now
we have available to us a multitude of
decorating publications, TV programs
for "do-it-yourselfers" and those
who'd like to know, along with
courses offered through night school
and decorating shops. All this
provides almost unlimited access to a
field that used to be a little
mysterious, and has piqued the
masses' interest. As a result men are
now very involved in making one's
home one's castle.
I find men most intrigued by the
80% of Steve Davis' work is repeat business.
And speaking of loyalty,
Steve Davis chooses
The HOME TEAM for
glass rooms every time.
TEVE DAVIS
re4td rfetip)t(!l
Van Dolder's
FOUR SEASONS
SUNROOMS
Independently Owned and Operated
Owen Sound (519) 376-7966 1-800-339-1860
Collingwood (705) 444-5601 1-877-468-5747
So don't take our word for it.
Take Steve's.
And call
Van Dolder's Four Seasons
Sunrooms.
Van Dolder's
HOME TEAM
www.vandolders.com
36 THE RURAL VOICE
science and mathematical elements
associated with interior design and
decoration: creating the proper
proportional scale with furnishings,
accessories and artwork within a
room; the dynamics of how to install
a new window treatment or a
wallcovering or the proper technique
in achieving a fabulous faux finish
treatment; and then add to this the
creative techniques that really put
one's individual stamp on the room
and most guys are hooked on interior
design!
I receive numerous requests from
gentlemen to assist with choosing
colours within "spec" homes, suitable
for immediate occupancy, along with
calls to assist with office colour
selection and colour flow in all the
background elements. Presently I am
working on two movie theatres with a
gentleman and I've even had a
trucker allow me to select the accent
colourations for his long haul rig.
More times than not these days
both partners greet me at the front
door when I'm presenting a "walk
through consultation". This is
fantastic! With both partners on hand,
all the details discussed are heard first
hand. We all get a chance to discuss
the pros and cons of the various
projects in the works along with short
term project possibilities and those
which will take time and budgeting.
Now, this trend of guys getting
involved with interior decor is not
just peculiar to our area. It's
reverberating worldwide, and as a
result it has had a major impact on
the interior design market resulting in
a fabulous array of fabrics,
wallcoverings, furnishings,
accessories and floor covering, all
produced to appeal to the many facets
that pique men's interests. Fabric
selections with "guy appeal" range
from tweeds to savvy pinstripes,
herringbones and flannels. It's easy to
find sofas for the home or office
which sport Scottish tartans, denims,
rough and tumble suedes and
leathers, or those as soft and subtle as
butter. Wallcoverings and fabrics
emulate shirt and tie prints, or