| ign="center"> | | | | they can create the right atmosphere, you may |
| With mortgages hovering around the 5 percent rate | | | | want to consider a colour consultant. |
| plus federal and state incentives for first-time home | | | | As with other professionals, you often can find the |
| owners, many Australians are moving into the | | | | right colour consultant through word-of-mouth. Your |
| housing market. So much so, that Prime Minister | | | | real estate agent may also be a good source and |
| Kevin Rudd claims new home owners are helping the | | | | local chapters of professional associations may |
| economy. | | | | provide lists of members in good standing. |
| It makes sense. Most first-time home owners inject | | | | A good general rule with any professional is to |
| money into the economy through, among other | | | | interview at least three firms or individuals. Prepare a |
| things, renovating their new purchases. In 2008, | | | | list of questions and listen carefully to the answers. |
| Australians spent more than $3 billion in home | | | | Of course youâre looking for someone who |
| renovations and thatâs unlikely to change in | | | | has the expertise, but more importantly you need an |
| 2009. While more families are looking for added value | | | | individual you believe you can work with. Ask for |
| from their renos, they are still prepared to invest. For | | | | references and check them out; be sure you view a |
| example, many first-time owners want to lower | | | | recently completed project and talk to the home |
| mortgage costs by constructing a rental apartment in | | | | owners about whether or not they were pleased |
| their homes. (They also may be interested in saving | | | | with the results. |
| future tax dollars by claiming depreciation on furniture | | | | The deciding factor may not necessarily be the |
| and appliances as well as on construction costs.) | | | | lowest bid. In all cases you want the right fit. A |
| Others are looking to incorporate green options, not | | | | contractor submitting a low bid might be doing |
| only benefitting from government assistance for | | | | several jobs at the same time andnot be able to give |
| eco-projects (such as installing ceiling insulation) but | | | | your job the time you need. A colour consultant, who |
| saving on electricity costs. | | | | is well-respected and has a great deal of experience, |
| But, whatever else they plan, most new home | | | | may submit a higher bid. |
| owners want to put their stamp on the house by | | | | The bottom line with any renovation is that it does |
| repainting, buying new window and floor coverings, | | | | what you wanted it to do. Whether youâve |
| and replacing worn-out furniture. Itâs a | | | | opted for a major reno or an interior re-design, it has |
| smart decision; these cosmetic changes are | | | | succeeded in making your new house a home. |
| unquestionably the easiest and least expensive way | | | | Leonie Barke is an accomplished Executive Colour |
| to make your new home yours. | | | | Consultant with a career spanning over 20 years. She |
| For new home buyers, the best way to ensure their | | | | has a BA in Creative Arts and Visual Arts â |
| changes are value-added is to consult professionals | | | | Specialising in the Theory of Colour, and attended the |
| who will help them renovate wisely and for the long | | | | School of Colour and Design in NSW for 3 years, |
| term. If you are concerned about making mistakes | | | | specialising in Colour. |
| and baffled by the choices available, why not | | | | Leonie worked as Major Colour Consultant on |
| eliminate the guesswork by hiring a colour consultant? | | | | contract with Dulux for 14 years and was the runner |
| Like architects, energy experts and contractors, | | | | up winner to the Dulux Colour Awards in 1993 and |
| colour consultants are highly trained in their field. They | | | | 1994. She was also the Secretary to the Queensland |
| specialise in the art and science of colour and will | | | | Colour Society from 1993 till 2006. Leonie now runs |
| work with you on a colour scheme that reflects who | | | | her own business as an online colour consultant at |
| you are and how you live. Unless you are | | | | colourndesignonline. |
| comfortable selecting colours yourself and know how | | | | |