A decorator, no matter how talented, can't always get the desired results because sometimes there is resistance or maybe a lack of understanding on the part of the client. I think it is the decorator's job to work as a guide, to bring out the best qualities and the best attitudes.

Design is about discipline and reality, not about fantasy beyond reality.

Nothing comes cheap, though the educated eye will always spot very nice things for the least money.

Decoration is really about creating a quality of life, and a beauty in that life that nourishes the soul, that makes life beautiful.

When Van Truex defined the difference between designing and decorating, he used the analogy of preparing a roast of beef. Design, he said, is the preparation and cooking; decorating is the final seasoning, the savoring.

A good decorator not only plans and schemes, but he also knows how the job is done.

Decorators should always remember that letting a client see too many beautiful things is a pitfall.