Bakersfield Life

Style of the season

larger view

Why do you think it’s important to decorate for the holidays?
Ghina: The spaces we live and work in have a great effect on the way we feel and function. The holiday season, though joyful, does come with a lot of stress. By decorating for holiday celebrations, we transform our environment with cheerful colors and spicy scents, and that is instantly uplifting.
Connie: The Christmas celebration today is a mix of old and new traditions. Personally for me, it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. He was such a gift of peace, joy, love and hope. When I decorate for Christmas, I want my home to reflect this gift to others.
Kathy: It sets the mood that lifts your spirits and makes memories that last a lifetime.
Melissa: It’s important to decorate for the holidays to celebrate old traditions and create new ones. Holidays promise valued time with family and friends along with many cherished memories — many of them enjoyed in beautifully decorated surroundings that evoke the spirit of the season.

What are some decorating ideas for people who are on a budget this year?
Ghina: Great design is about putting the right elements together to create balance. By choosing the right colors and textures, form and scale, we can create any look we wish on any budget. If you are purchasing new pieces, do not compromise quality over quantity. Last year’s decorations might be reused this year with a little alteration for example
Connie: You can make your home sparkle and shine with greenery, ribbon, lights and elements from nature this year. Place branches in a glass vase to add height and drama to the table on mantle. Fill glass containers with glittering pinecones, crimson berries or sugared fruits. Outside, one can use votive candles in jars to illuminate the walkway. Simple wreathes with decorated bows can add an elegant touch to the door, or one can put potted pines on either side of the front porch with string of white lights and red bows.
Kathy: Fresh greens and tree trimmings. It adds a wonderful scent through the home. Most of the time you can get them for free or next to it.
Melissa: We’re all on a budget this year! Simple and inexpensive decorating ideas include “packaging your pillows.” Tie seasonal ribbon around your accent pillows then polish them off with a bow. Group a few on a sofa for softness. Use stacked cake plates as a foundation for a centerpiece. Layer with fruit, greens or ornaments. Use common household accessories to build your themes. Add fresh or artificial greens and, voila, instant holiday decorating ... and on a budget.

What is your favorite holiday memory?
Ghina: There are a lot of great holiday memories when I lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, especially when all the houses would have Christmas lights, which reflected on the fresh white snow. The one memory that stays with me is when I still living at home, my family and I traveled to Egypt during the holidays and spent three nights on a boat that sailed in the Nile River from Aswan to Luxor. It was very inspirational and fun.
Connie: The best Christmas memory is when my husband, Robert, and I started our first interior decorating business, Summer Tree Interiors. Every dollar we had was invested in the business with none to spare. When Christmas came; Robert and I knew we could only afford to buy presents for our two small sons —Todd, 3½; and Wade, 18 months — and not for each other. No one knew about our circumstances and the difficult decision we had made. Christmas Eve, the doorbell rang and at the door were our precious friends George and Wanda Almgren and their daughter, Myrna. Their arms were full of presents for our family. This is a memory of a Christmas miracle I will never forget.
Kathy: Christmas mornings with the kids in their matching sweat outfits dancing around the Christmas tree.
Melissa: I have many very special holidays memories, but Christmas shopping, as a young child, with my mom and sister is at the top of the list. Tradition was to enjoy the Veterans Parade, have lunch in Brock’s Tea Room then begin our Christmas shopping marathon. It was all about fun and family!

How has your industry changed this year? What do you expect in the coming year?
Ghina: There has been a shift in the economy, and real estate has a direct effect on the interior design industry, therefore it followed the same pattern. As for the coming year, I am very positive that things are going to improve. Although we have seen a lot of businesses go under, we are starting to see signs of new ones in the making. We are on the upswing.
Connie: Our industry has been hit hard. One has to learn to change to stay in existence. At Red Door Interiors we are seeing an increase in demand for household furniture. We are seeing more homes with multipurpose rooms, with distinctions between kitchen, living and dining rooms disappearing. Home furnishing will reflect more of our clients’ desires for increased function and storage. Robert and I are privileged to work with such wonderful clients in and around the Bakersfield area for close to 32 years. We are looking forward to another great year.
Kathy: I think everyone is more money-conscious these last few years. Yet when you do good design, it will last for years to come.
Melissa: With respect to designing and decorating for the holidays, this year there is much more merchandise at reasonable price points. Most companies are not stocking up their warehouses as in years past, so re-orders are often not available. I think we will continue to see companies within our industry watching their stock levels, trimming down their lines and watching price points to be competitive.