Interior decorators put own touches on homes

Interior designers are working hard to get their display homes ready for the Home Builders Association's Parade of Homes.

Some decorators focus primarily on the basic look of the home, while others furnish and decorate the display homes.

Dean Anderson, owner of James Dean Anderson Painting Inc., has been in business for 25 years. Three years ago Anderson started professional design work. The home with his artistic touch, located at 4063 E. Kensington St. in Sunset Estates, will be his third parade home in as many years.

Anderson works primarily with paint colors, wallpaper and finishing items, though he also does some interior beam work. For this year's parade home, he worked with the new owner to bring a French country look to the front of the house. Anderson also "helped with floor coloring, tiles, carpets, granite selection, light fixtures, plumbing appliances, etc," Anderson said.

Linda Shaeffer of Habersham Interiors has selected wallpaper and paint colors and will display furniture and accessories from Habersham's showroom in the home at 4208 E. Edgewood St. in Emerald Pointe.

Shaeffer has been with Habersham for 18 years, but this is her first time decorating a parade home. She said she's delighted to be a part of the parade, but also has learned that "it's a lot of work."

The investment of time, according to Jane Paul, owner of Interior Fashions and 30-year interior design veteran, is a big deterrent to many decorators. She and her staff have been shopping for three months to find items to decorate the six spec homes they're working on for the parade.

Two homes in Rivercut (5933 S. Brightwater Trail, 2989 W. Oak Haven) will feature furniture, accessories, and custom window treatments. One house in Lake Ridge (5649 S. Lake Ridge Ave.) and three in Diamond Park (888 E. Canterbury St., 916 E. Canterbury St., 5168 S. Hazel Ave.) will showcase custom accessories.

Decorating for the parade is gratis work, but Paul, a 10-year HBA member, says it's worth it: "We reap a hundredfold in business, PR, and community spirit."

Paul and Shaeffer agree the parade is an opportunity for collaboration that helps both the builders and the decorators. "It allows us to show some of our work and also enhances the builders' homes," Shaeffer said.

Paul said helping the builders sell their homes is her goal, because there's a "trickle-down effect. The more houses they can sell, it brings me that much more business."

Paul believes having a presence in the parade also reinforces her standing with present and past customers. "We try hard to participate every year," she said.

Anderson said he got "tons and tons of wonderful reports" on a Sam Watts home he decorated two years ago. The response encouraged him to continue developing that part of his service. "I would like to let this become a good portion of my business," he said.