Introducing

COUNTRY FRENCH

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This year we are pleased to share with you the soft, feminine, timeless pieces of Park Hill's Country French Collection.  This collection is so much more than just a gathering of beautifully crafted and thoughtfully designed home decor; it's a collection waiting for a story to be told.

What will your story be? 

A DECOR8 HOME DESIGN SNACK

THE MYTHICAL WORLD OF TV INTERIOR DESIGN

Leslee Adams, CID
Residential Interior Designer
Graduate: New York Institute of Art & Design
Owner - Decor8 Home & Holiday, Chester, New Jersey

We've all seem them - TV Interior Design shows.   The homeowner maybe has dated furniture, dark cabinets, bare walls or possibly a cluttered living environment.  Enter the TV Interior Designer who briefly walks through the rooms chatting merrily with the homeowner about what they like or dislike, no notes or photos taken, no measurements done.  The following week brings the reveal - the homeowner enters their home and is cheerfully overwhelmed by the redesigned space - new furniture, paint, flooring, lighting and more.  The problem is however, these shows, though entertaining and often inspirational, give a  false impression of the entire process and often bring with them unrealistic expectations.   The time frame in which everything appears to magically come together on TV is forced.  This is not how it is in the very real world we live in and not how it is in the very real world of interior design. 

In the real world, there are often harsh realities to be faced.  If the project involves workmen, one discovers very quickly that they turn out to be human.  They get sick, they're often messy and they often don't show up when they're supposed to.   Things sometimes are installed wrong, or unfortunately arrive damaged and they have to be corrected or redone.  This takes time and more often than not, money.  Another really harsh reality is that orders often take longer to arrive and installations can be far more problamatic than expected.  Someone once told me, if you really could see everyone involved in producing just one item, you would be looking at a cast of hundreds of people.   As in cooking, the degree of success in creating the dish varies inversely with the number of people involved in the process.  This same thing applies to the design process as well.

Before engaging an interior designer, you need a clear idea of what you want to accomplish and what you can afford because more often than not, it will cost you more than you think.  This is where reality TV shows make me extremely frustrated.   Most of the product shown is donated and labor is volunteered on the design shows because the manufacturers and tradesman are looking for the publicity. This completely skews the cost they claim because all those factors aren't disclosed. Another factor that plays into the budget is location.  Prices in Texas are very different from prices in New Jersey.   

 Designers are trained to work with you, to talk to you about your project, to respect your opinions, to make you aware of other options available to you, but also to advise when your choices may not be the best ones.  The relationship is a collaborative one, not one of superior and subordinate.   Few things make the job go more smoothly than clients who know what they want, make decisions easily, and want to get the job done.  A successful relationship for an interior design project is not about any one person being right, it is all about what looks best and what is right for you.

How long the process may take depends on the magnitude of the interior design project and how multifaceted it is.  This means that various stages of the design process may take different time frames depending on what's involed.  There is no standard time.  The actual completion may be more of a trickle-down effect, or it might be an "opening night" blockbuster where you won't come in until it's all finished, the flowers are on the table, the music is playing, and the champagne is ready to pour.  However, true closure to a project does not happen until the last item on the punch list has been finalized and the last work person has left.  It may seem like an endless process but the end result will be well worth it.  Ultimately, the job gets finished and iyou can start to enjoy the changes to your life that the new design has brought.

Have questions or a decorating topic you'd like to us to discuss??  Don't be shy. We'd love to hear from you.
Email us at .  

HAVE A DESIGN DILEMMA?
NEED INPUT OR EXPERT GUIDANCE ...

Save Your Sanity.  Save Your Marriage. 

With Over 14 Years Experience in Residential Interior Design, We'll Help You Pull It All Together - from Room Planning to Fabric Selection to Lighting, Window Treatments and Installation and All The Rest.  Send us your information and we'll contact you with more details on our services.  Or, If Your Prefer, Just Call Us @ 908-879-0026!

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WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US

IT'S OUR FAVORITE STORE.  LESLEE IS GREAT TO WORK WITH.  HER WREATHS AND FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE GORGEOUS.

JANICE B., STATEN ISLAND

I LOVE THIS STORE!  I ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING THAT'S PERFECT FOR MY HOME - A PILLOW, A THROW OR SOMETHING FOR MY WALLS.  THE DISPLAYS ARE BEAUTIFUL!

ANN MARIE H., MORRISTOWN

YOU DON'T FIND DECORATIVE ITEMS LIKE THESE IN A BOX STORE.  THE SELECTIONS ARE UNIQUE, AFFORDABLE AND GREAT QUALITY.

LISA A., LONG VALLEY

MORE REASONS TO VISIT CHESTER ...

47th Annual Chester Fall
Craft Show
Experience a wide variety of hand made items including traditional craft, fine art, and country crafts. Find unique gifts for everyone on your shopping list as well as beautiful handcrafted furnishings for your home. Be sure to stroll through Historic Chester and visit over 80 unique shops and eateries which are just steps away from the show. You will discover a wonderful selection of antiques, crafts, clothing, jewelry, home furnishings and accessories, gourmet pet products, confections, and wonderful eateries.

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SATURDAY & SUNDAY
September 11th & 12th
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Municipal Field, 134 Main Street, Chester,NJ

DECOR8 HOME & HOLIDAY

15 Perry Street, Chester, New Jersery  07930

Tel: (908) 879-0026

Email:

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