My Life

Here's the speech that I presented today to an exciting group of business ladies:

"This year I'm celebrating 25 years since I moved down to the Sunny South from the persistently precipitating Pennines.

After achieving a degree in Business Studies, down in sunny Bournemouth, I moved to Hatfield to take up a position in IT. 3 company moves later and I'd made my way up to senior management. I was managing global projects, large teams and budgets in the millions.

But it wasn't enough. There was something missing.

When my father died of cancer, a week after my son was born, I decided it was time to take stock. Every spare minute I spent studying Interior Design with a prestigious London college. When I achieved Distinction in my exams I realised that I had a natural talent, flair and a passion for Interior Design.

It was then that I heard about Ann Maurice, the celebrity House Dr on the telly, who whizzes around people's homes taking them from shocking to striking. Fortunately for me she was offering a training course in London so I booked myself on and am now a House Dr consultant as well as an Interior Designer.

For you, this means that I'm professionally trained to undertake a quick and economic makeover as well as rip your homes apart and rebuild them into palatial palaces to fulfill all your dreams.

I work with divorced couples who need an independent person to prepare their homes for sale, families who haven't decorated for 20 years, couples staying put and extending until the economy improves, as well as single professionals and many, many more.

I consider myself to be a lifestyle designer because my focus is to create you stunning homes that work around your daily life.

I create a retreat for you, your haven - a place where you can relax and unwind - your perfect home."

Public Speaking - A Beautiful Princess

For those who aren't aware, Gwendoline is a member of Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/) which is a global public speaking group.

Gwendoline has been asked to prepare a speech number 6 to showcase the skill of vocal variety.

Your voice has a major effect on your audience. A lively, exciting voice attracts and keeps listeners attention. A speaking voice should be pleasant, natural, forceful, expressive and easily heard. You need to focus on volume, pitch, rate and quality as well as appropriate pauses to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message. Your voice should reflect the thoughts you are presenting.

Here's Gwendoline's speech that she'll be presenting tonight. We'll keep you posted on how it goes:

A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS

Imagine a girl, barely 17, a beautiful princess with chocolate drop eyes, peachy skin and raven black hair. She's the life and soul of the party. With her raucous laugh, she's loved by everyone.

BUT, like every good fairy story, she has a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark secret! Something she's never told anyone before!!

As she trudges home her shoulders start to slump and her head bows down. It's started already - the anxiety, the gloom and misery.

She reaches the front door and opens it wide, the depression whips around her legs and starts to stifle her!

She steps inside - the pain, the searing pain!! The headache, the nausea, the migraine, the sickness, the sadness, the stress.

BUT, this is no fairy story, this is real life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I enter her home I pick my way up the stairs. I feel the depression oozing out of the walls, the sadness sliding up my legs and the cold stagnant air chilling my bones.

I push open her door and sidle my way inside. I'm greeted with a sea of stuff and a tower of tat - total chaos!

It's at this point that those of you with teenage children will tell me that it's normal not to see the bedroom floor.

(display line of bin bags)

From that floor I retrieved 27 bin bags of stuff. 27 bulging bin bags of stuff.

(display shoebox)

Plus, a shoe box stuffed with headache tables - all empty! A girl, barely 17, surviving off headache tablets!

Imagine a girl, barely 17, sat in a family sized car. Now imagine adding each bin bag one by one. One by one they're pushed and squeezed into every crevice, every nook and cranny.

The girl no longer sits upright, instead she's splattered against the car door, her face suckered to the window and totally contorted. Her neck is long and lean as she gasps for breath. She's being suffocated by all this stuff! The headaches, On No! The pain, the nausea.

A beautiful princess, with chocolate drop eyes, peachy skin and raven black hair - she's loved by everyone.

HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS SPEECH:

"From the start a beautifully dramatic evocative speech told with great feeling and actions."

"So dramatic and evocatively delivered creating quite a tension with the audience. I lost the polt a little. Consider what you'd like your audience to go away with. Your strong command of the floor and uninhibited gestures are a joy."

"Very good straightforward message created pictures that kept attention."

"Very powerful! You had us all hanging on your every word. Wonderful use of language and clear powerful descriptions. I was suprised at the sudden ending."

"Perhaps try to use more power in your voice. Good repetion - a girl barely 17."

"Passionate and well described. Great visionary. Bit depressing this I thought. Bit laboured and then the finish before I had time to take it in. Excellent otherwise."

"Your skills are very polished: gestures, props, modulation of voice! Just a small recommendation: prepare the audience for the end of the speech as it came as a bit abruptly and, personally, I wasn't ready for it yet."

"I found your arm movements a distraction. Good use of pauses."

"Awesome, simply awesome."

MY VIEWPOINT

I was very pleased with my speech as it was enthusiastically received and I do appreciate the comments about the ending being abrupt.

When I saw that I was already at 5 minutes I did round the speech off so that I didn't overrun my 7 minutes slot. From the comments I received it sounds as if I cut it off rather than rounded it off!

Toastmasters (www.toastmasters.org) is always a great learning environment. If you're a great speaker already then it can show you how to become a fantastic speaker. If you dread the thought of getting up in front of people then it's such a supportive group.

My next speech is all about researching a topic. It's going to be one of my crazy 'off the wall' subjects again that my audience won't be prepared for!

I'll keep you posted how it goes.

Gwendoline
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Regular Slot On Radio Verulam

Hope you managed to catch our creative director Gwendoline on Radio Verulam last night. It was such a fun packed session with plenty of industry top tips.

Such as the colour of the year according to Pantone, the leading expert in colour, being Turquoise. It's such a great colour as it mixes really well with neutrals such as Chocolate for a traditional style and also compliments Silver or grey for a more Contemporary setting. The ultimate uber chic style for Spring would be to mix it with white! Totally lush!

They also discussed the question, "Where do all the old sofas go?" This lead to the importance of recycling as much as possible, especially when the news is full of articles referencing families on the breadline. There are many places that sell your old items of furniture, and we're not just talking about the charity shops although they are the main outlet. You could also give your items away on Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/).

With so much information to share, Gwendoline's now been offered a regular slot with Danny Smith on the last Tuesday of each month (5:30 - 6pm GMT).

Each month we'll be bringing you a different aspect of interior design, from decluttering for Spring through to Xmas styling for the festive season.

So, keep your hears tuned to Radio Verulam (92.6 FM) http://www.radioverulam.com/.

Don't forget, if you'd like Gwendoline to bring her design knowledge and experience to brighten your event then just get in touch.

Gwendoline
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802
Website: http://www.ga-interiors.co.uk/

Radio Verulam - Drivetime with Danny smith

Recently you've heard our creative director, Gwendoline, on Radio Verulam in Elsbeth Jackman's show 'Tracks Of Your Life'. It was a fun filled session where Gwendoline shared with you her 14 favourite tunes and memories from her interesting life.

She showed such a wide taste in music from Frank Sinatra to Kylie Minogue through to Mika and Queen. All given with interesting snippets from her life.

Gwendoline has now been asked to contribute to Radio Verulam's evening show, with Danny Smith, on her specialism of interior design.

Have your ears tuned to Radio Verulam (92.6FM) on Tuesday 26th January (5:30 - 6pm GMT) to hear the latest trends and top tips in interior design. It's a great way to catch up in the comfort of your own home or office.

Don't worry if you aren't near a radio as you can listen over the Internet - just checkout the website www.radioverulam.com.

If you'd like us to feature at one of your events then just GET IN TOUCH TODAY.*

Gwendoline
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk
Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

* Gwendoline is a member of Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org) which is a highly acclaimed, global, public speaking organisation.

Interior Design - PERFECT PICTURE

In this age of instant technology it's ever more prevalent to have great photos for the property you're selling. Not only will they be used in the traditional estate agent window, but more importantly in today's marketplace, they'll be spread across the global Internet on at least 1 but potentially multiple property websites.

With the top property websites online 24 hours a day and receiving thousands of hits per month it's just mind blowing when you think how many people could potentially view your property online.

How do you make your property ping onto a buyer's list for viewing?
How do you make your home 'Hot Property Of The Week'?
How do you entice the buyer to call into your home and make that all important sound "I'd like to make you an offer"?

Of course, at this preliminary stage it's through the property photographs and description.

Our first impressions of a property for sale, rightly or wrongly, are formed in the first few seconds of viewing those photographs.

From the photographs we make judgments such as:
How clean is the property
How comfortable is the property?
How suitable is it for my own needs?
How desirable is the owner's life?

In an economic downturn, buyers don't just want their wish list of bedrooms, garage and en-suite bathrooms, they also want The Dream - they want to live the lifestyle.

From the photographs they want to see that the property lives up to their expectations - they want it to reflect their dreams and aspirations.

It's a lot to ask from a snap taken at a single point in time but that photograph can mean the difference between a visit to the property or a 'Goodbye, no thank you'.

So, how can you create stunning photos? Impactive photos that entice the buyer to view your home instead of your neighbours.

The first important point is to understand who will be your key buyer.

Who do you want knocking on your door? What type of person(s) will be attracted to the size and location of your property? Where do they shop? Where do they work? What are their expectations?

Your local estate agent should have a clear idea of your key buyer as they are aware of the types of buyer(s) most suited to your property.

The second important point is to create a vignette, or stage, that will showcase the key buyer's expectations in the photographs.

For example, a mature couple is more comfortable with traditional styling whereas a young, single professional would expect a sleek and contemporary home.

As makeover experts, trained by the celebrity 'House Dr' Ann Maurice, we use industry recognised techniques to subtly and successfully create appealing areas of interest for stunning photographs of your property.

With our keen eye and extensive knowledge we create the basis for those attractive, highly appealing photographs that look great on the Internet. Our aim is to help you create eye-catching photographs to hook the buyers in to choose your home as Hot Property Of The Week.

CONTACT US TODAY to find out more about how we can create those desirable images for you through our PERFECT PICTURE STYING.

Gwendoline.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
GA INTERIORS

Tel: 07841 519802
E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors

Thought for the day...You can lead a horse to water!

As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it."

With this in mind you should remember that just because you give someone information or professional advice doesn't mean that they are ready to accept it or act on it.

Your advice is most effective when it is given at a point in time that is meaningful to them. At a time when they can apply the information and take positive action. Otherwise, you need to drip feed the information until they are in a position to respond.

For example, our clients are suprised when they have recommended us to their friend and that friend has not been in touch immediately. We, however, are not suprised as we know that their friend will be in touch when they are ready to take our professional advice on board.

Remember: just keep putting the water out for the horse and it will drink when it's thirsty.

Interior Trends 1Q2010

Interior design trends follow fashion trends so let's firstly look at the fashion highlights for Spring 2010 and then apply them to interior design.

You'll notice 4 key fashion trends in the marketplace, as defined by French trend agency NellyRodi (http://www.nellyrodi.com/)

- Light Tech

- Ode To Nature

- Southern Folk

- Popular Appeal

(1) LIGHT TECH

Technology becomes playful in a sweet way with references to the naivety of the 50's.

Colours are fresh acidic tints that range from pop colours of vitamin-charged smoothies (green, pink, turquoise, yellow and acidic orange) to faded and somewhat veiled grey tints.

In the last quarter of 2009 Pantone (http://www.pantone.com/), the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries, announced their 2010 Colour Of The Year as Turquoise 15-5519.

- Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being. Turquoise is a colour that most people respond to positively. It has appeal for men and women and translates easily into interiors.

- Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

In the 'Light Tech' trend we'll see clean appeal like sharp-cut laboratory coats with technical fabrics and textured surfaces with miniature motifs in clean, precise graphics. Layering is more refined and precise.

How would you transpose the 'Light Tech' style into interior design?

This is a nod to the Kelly Hoppen look and feel (http://www.kellyhoppenretail.com/) with a slightly more graphical element.

The key to creating a 'Light Tech' design is to focus on texture and structure alongside feature lighting (Mode pendant light, PG304, http://www.bakerfurniture.com/) and crystal.

Obviously the colour Turquoise will make a strong statement in interior design and is striking with a silver backdrop, against a chocolate drop or a minimalist white box.

It's a stunning concept with depth and interest brought about by layering items so you take away the stark element to bring a sense of calm and belonging.

(2) ODE TO NATURE

Colours are soft and serene with chalky, light-faded, talcum powder colours accompanied by more intense shades of taupe and mauve. A range of dynamic, springtime pastels is blended with a softer base for added interest.

Ode to nature is symbolised with vertical structures, random drapes, twisted effects, knots or braids with natural motifs sometimes blurry or undefined.

The accent is on elegant ease with light and fluid fabrics in layers for a young, romantic mood.

How would you transpose the 'Ode To Nature' style into interior design?

In 2009 GA Interiors created a Swedish design entitled 'Scandinavian Chic' that focused on the purity of form, a strong element for any Ode To Nature design.

Towards the end of the year we created a 'Natural' design scheme for a London client with a monochromatic green colour scheme. We used varying strengths of green in our colour scheme for the open-plan layout of the home - a stronger green was used as the accent colour in the kitchen and playroom, moving around to a softer moss green accent colour in the lounge and dining room. All greens were taken from the same spectrum of the colour wheel giving a unified feel and designer look.

Both were simply stunning designs.

(3) SOUTHERN FOLK

From South America we rediscover the appealing glamour of seductive movie actresses and the humble elegance of traditional folklore outfits.

With vibrant, joyous party tints in splashes of colour such as blazing red and deep violet blend with more neutral shades of ochre, clay, beige and cactus green that evoke the dry, South American landscapes.

Taking into account Latin America's diversity we see large, rustic shapes inspired by Indians take their cue from Aztec motifs alongside tapered chic lines of gauchos' 50's seductive women and tango artists.

As would be expected fabrics are decorated by opulent ornaments, embroideries and appliques.

How would you transpose the 'Southern Folk' style into interior design?

With a move towards homespun and home crafting in 2009 with the economic downturn, we see this trend continuing for 2010 with 'Southern Folk' style.

Accessories are more Aztec or Mexican inspired with lashings of prints and adornments. Think big plants and huge pots for a modern take on the traditional look. This isn't a look for the faint hearted but you can consider softening the look with luxurious lace.

(4) POPULAR APPEAL

A playful, girly mood juggling vintage patterns with cheerful yet faded 70's colours creates a mundane atmosphere with a twisted angel.

Muted tones of pale blue, faded beige and soft khaki are complimented with intense hues of yellow or violet and stronger accents of red or sky blue.

A blend of retro elegance a la Jackie Onassis is reworked with romantically fitted items and jewel-like embroidery. Fabrics cultivate a vintage mood with cottons and wool alongside 70's sporty relaxed fabrics of supple denims, thick canvases and casual fleece. This is blended with a more sophisticated Halston style of chiffons, crepes and satins for that femme fatale look.

How would you transpose the 'Popular Appeal' style into interior design?

For me, this style feels quite eclectic. I love the feeling of playfulness alongside a mature design with femme fatale!

Glamour and opulence was quite prevalent for 2009 with many of our clients selecting boudoirs as their relaxing retreats.

The emphasis is on fabrics and sumptuousness with bespoke window treatments and modern crystal lighting!

To carry this design off your room needs a strong colour scheme. For a residential client we created a beautiful boudoir dripping with accents of purple:

"I couldn't stop just sitting in my GA Interiors inspired bedroom - it's definitely my favourite room in the house. Now I need them to get to work on my other rooms to match!" Mrs Russell.

Overall 2010 promises fresh and exciting design schemes. If you need a little help creating your own style for 2010 then just contact one of our inspirational designers.

Gwendoline,

CREATIVE DESIGNER,

GA INTERIORS

Tel: +44 (0) 7841 519802

E-Mail: gwendoline@ga-interiors.co.uk

Website: www.ga-interiors.co.uk

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gainteriors

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gainteriors

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ga_interiors