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Changing Spaces helps homeowners redecorate without spending a fortune, which helps amid the current economy. Date published: 1/30/2003
ALICIA BURNS found that redecorating her living room and basement sim ply meant discovering treasures in her home. It was the multicolored rug from her bedroom that brought contrasting colors to her pastel yellow living-room walls. It was the framed pictures and the African candlesticks from her family room that added character to her basement. Within 45 minutes, the 42-year-old Spotsylvania County resident transformed her Fawn Lake house into a home. "Everything had its place before. But once we moved things, everything looks better," she said. "I love it." It took AnjelaEubank's fresh perspective to motivate Burns. Accessorizing and re-arranging furniture are a few of Eubank's many talents. The 49-year-old Spotsylvania County resident is the owner of Changing Spaces, a decorating firm mirroring the creative and financial techniques of the popular cable television show, "Trading Spaces." "It's about using what you have to decorate," Eubank said. She created Changing Spaces last October after taking a break from working as a public relations manager and fund-raiser for Hospice Support Care. For years, she decorated friends' homes as a hobby and finally decided to go into business for herself. A dedicated fan of the Home and Garden Television network, Eubank combined the concepts of "Trading Spaces" and the British version, "Changing Rooms," to create her business. The shows follow designers who help participants repaint a room, add furniture and sew window coverings in two days for under $1,000. "With the popularity of these shows, people will know what my business is all about--changing space with instant results," she said. From blending colors with textures to discovering hidden treasures, Eubank strives to create a comfortable setting inexpensively. She charges her clients a flat hourly rate of $25, with a minimum of two hours per week. Eubank took a few design classes, but she doesn't have a degree. According to state law, certification for interior design is optional. "If you could dress yourself, you can dress your house," she said. Many homeowners are beginning to agree. Some are skipping the interior designer all together and are heading straight to Home Depot or Lowe's for their designing needs. But Meredith Hayes, the president of the Virginia chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers in Richmond, said there are drawbacks to the concept. It might be cheaper and quicker, but many issues aren't addressed, she said. "Is the rug a fire hazard? Or when you spray-paint the chair, will it peel and be toxic if digested by a child or pet?" she asked. Some people are confusing decorators with designers, who have a combination of experience, examination and education behind them. "We need to have the knowledge and experience to ensure that person is comfortable with their space and that it meets [fire] code," she said. Burns isn't complaining. Looking across her living room, she smiled and said, "It looked done before, but now it looks warmer."
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