By KARAN MINNIS, Guardian Lifestyles Reporter

Soon to be homeowner Katrina McKenize, 24, is excited. She's soon to begin construction of her dream home. She's purchased her lot and has had her plans drawn up. But as far as how she wants the interior design of her home to look, she's hit a wall.

"I have hundreds of clip-outs that I love, but I have no idea how to bring these things to life. I think I need some help," she says.

To the rescue of people like McKenzie is Linda Wisdom-Stubbs, owner of The Decorators Den, #84 Christie Avenue, off Tonique Williams Darling Highway. She says if McKenzie really wants help, all she has to do is look at her own design style.

"When it comes to design — especially the colors and textures of fabrics and paints — people in their heart of hearts know what they like. The problem is pulling it all together," says Wisdom.

"To help my clients with this problem I give them a little exercise that is especially useful when dealing with those who know what they want but don't know how to articulate it to me.

"I give them a magazine, or a couple of magazines and tell them to flip through, and on every page, whether it's the colors in the room, the area rug, a lamp, or even a bed spread; whatever you see on any page that you like bend those pages. The great thing is that almost always when we sit down and we pull all of those pages together of the things that they like it's very consistent with what it is in their heart of hearts of what they would like to have. So as a designer, or even as a homeowner, when you pull that together you will see consistency in that persons design style."

Wisdom-Stubbs says it's all about finding the right match in the different design styles, from Asian, contemporary, country, eclectic, Mediterranean, modern, old world, traditional, even romantic styles, and she says a person can be more than one type, which would make eclectic.

She says when people do this exercise you get ideas of what direction to move in. "You'll see that this person is really earthy because they choose things that are brown or tan or yellow. Then you may have a person whose eclectic who loves a very nice antique but wants a wicker ottoman as well, meaning that there is no collation with the items that they choose. But when you pull that room together, it's so beautiful because its a mix of old and new and it's very interesting."

Wisdom-Stubbs describes herself as eclectic. "I don't like a set of anything. I would take an old chair, refurbish it and I'd mix it with something new, so when you walk into my house or when you pan a room, there are so many interesting pieces to look at because they are all individual.

"Then you have another type of person who is very retro, which was very popular in the 70s. It involves squares and circles, blacks and bright brilliant colors like splashes of turquoise, reds and oranges and greens. Generally very modern or retro people tend to like those funny shaped leather couches. Then you have persons who are very traditional and they like the four post mahogany beds with the formal drapery with sheers and they want the coordinating bed spread. All of this you can see from their selections."

Wisdom-Stubbs a simple exercise like this, makes any design project simpler, as it helps to narrow down the selection process.

"This is how we as designers shift through the styles to really determine what it is that that person really likes, otherwise the process will just get longer — even if you're not using a designer."

She says if you have no direction, the process becomes more tedious.

"In some cases, people will come to me with a room that was already designed by someone else and they ask for it to be reproduced. Now we will try to do so, even though we may not have everything to a 'T'. When we do this, we just go ahead and get all the necessary materials to pull that room together. That makes the decision process simple. So I suggest looking for a whole room and then look for pieces that fit into that look."

According to Wisdom-Stubbs, the bottom line in making any design work, is to know what you want in terms of style, which will save you time and it will prevent a headache.

Questions to ask yourself to understand who you are and what you are planning to do with your living space.

* What are your specific guidelines and limitations?

* How long do you plan to stay in your present home?

* What type of lifestyle do you lead ? — Entertain guests, late nights, holiday guests.

* What activities do you do in each room?

* Are children in the equation, or are you planning to start a family? What are their ages and needs?

* How much space do you need for leisure activities? — Office, study, sewing, reading, TV.

* Is there enough sleeping space for everyone and any guests?

* Do you have enough storage?

* Count rooms and list multipurpose uses. — Example, homework, bills, computer.

* Write down the furniture you currently own, what you like and what you dislike. — Be ready to get rid of what you don't want to make room for what you do want.

* Have you considered a color scheme, or do you have a favorite color?

* List color any pieces of furniture, fabrics or finds that would be a good start to develop a color scheme.

* How much do you want to spend either monthly or annually on your interior environment?

After answering these questions you should have a fairly clear picture of what you are working with or without. Use this outline to help you establish your living style and plan.

Steps to decorating success

* Create a file of clippings and samples that show the style and colors you would like to use in your home.

* Draw a floor plan of the room you will be decorating.

* Use "take inventory" questions to evaluate your existing environment.

* Create a budget that works in with your financial situation.

* Plan a schedule of what you will be doing when.

Source: rentaldecorating.com

Common design styles:

Arts and crafts

Asian

Contemporary

Cottage

Country

Eclectic

English Country

Mediterranean

Modern

Old World

Romantic

Southwestern

Traditional

Transitional

Tropical

Tuscan