Local designer says don't relocate, renovate!

Don't relocate, renovate! With an unstable market and housing prices dropping dramatically, now may not be the best time to put your home on the market. A better choice might be to take advantage of lower interest rates on home equity loans and upgrade your existing property.

Submitted photos Why wait until you are ready to sell before upgrading your home? Enjoy the beauty yourself, while you are living there.Textured walls, natural materials on floors, painting walls a fresh new color, and using Roman shades and sheer window treatments are inexpensive ways to update your space. Decorators at Interiors by Decorating Den of Gulf Breeze can help make your home design work for you and your lifestyle. According to Jeannette Chandler, co-owner of Gulf Breeze Decorating Den, "many of our clients are using this down market time to upgrade their existing homes."

Whether it's tackling the daunting job of replacing worn out carpeting to installing glamorous granite counter tops and high-style lighting, renovation can definitely be a more cost productive alternative.

"I've often wonder why people wait until it's time to move before they add updated improvements to their homes," says Chandler. "Why not enjoy a beautiful home while you're living there?"

Good design can be very affordable if you begin with a workable plan and budget. As a decorator, Chandler's job is to help her clients create workable plans and then put them into action, whether they choose to do everything at once or room by room.

Summer is not all that's heating up....watch for these hot new residential designs to add to your décor.

Textured walls! Bedrooms, bathrooms and throughout the home, nearly every wall gets textured in some way. Grass cloth is back in a big way, woven fabrics, leather and metallic paints. Venetian plaster, wallpaper in large prints and textures are back in the spotlight. And don't forget the ceilings and porches, light and airy colors add dimension.

Floors with plenty of natural materials - sisals and grasses in rich tones. Extra plush rugs to hug you toes and animal prints with dense pile.

Fresh new colors include natural earthy tones with exciting splashes of color: purple, turquoise, yummy chocolates and plenty of oranges and reds.

Window treatments are rampant with sheers! Use as primary treatments or as an under treatment. Plain sheers, solid color, embroidered or cutouts, they are fabulous for softening and adding a glow to overall ambience in a room.

Roman shades, in every color, texture and style whether hobbled, vented and even faux shades.

When contemplating your choices of relocating or renovating, you may want to keep these latest trends in mind.

"As decorators, we are always available to help our clients in whatever direction they want to go," said Chandler.