This might not be the case for your avocado-toned kitchen or chintz sofa, but good design advice is timeless. Decades after pioneering interior designers Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper, and Billy Baldwin had their heyday, their dos and don'ts still ring trueno matter your style. Each of these greats had a unique idea of good taste, but all had careers that championed the revolutionary idea of individuality within the home. They all knew that thoughtful, personal choices are what stand the test of time and that any so-called design rules are meant to be broken. Which is why we're still taking their advice and you should, too.

A vibrant yet edited vignette done by de Wolfe for heiress Dorothy di Frasso.

WATSON SIMON

Elsie de Wolfe is considered by many Americas first interior decorator, by others simply the most famous of her time (the early 20th century)either way, she really did start it all. "Suitability" was her way of championing practicality. And the "simplicity" she put forth differentiated her work from the dark, heavy Victorian interiors so prevalent at the time (though make no mistake: Simple did not mean boring). And last but not least, "proportion": de Wolfe was emphatic that furniture be appropriately scaled to its room to avoid the proverbial bull in the china shop effect. Revolutionary at the time, but still very much applicable today.

The iconic Greenbrier hotel in West Virginia exemplifies Drapers signature style. Here, palm leaf wallpaper mirrors aqua and white striped walls.

Photo: Beall Gordon

Another of the earliest female decorators, Dorothy Draper had an exuberant, over-the-top aesthetic that certainly didnt come from copying anyone else. In her monthly advice column for Good Housekeeping, she emphasized thinking for oneself as well as sticking to an overall concept from the beginning.

Baldwin's signature slipper chair and sofa were low and wall-hugging, which helped this room (dubbed the Tall Room) in Woodson Taulbee's Manhattan apartment feel unclutteredand yet comfortable.

Photo: Billy Cunningham

Billy Baldwindubbed "the dean of indigenous decorators" by AD in 2000knew that a beautiful room is worthless if it is not comfortable and functional. A man whose dapper style helped define American taste, Baldwin believed rooms should be lived in and enjoyed by both the members of the house and those who came to visit.

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3 Timeless Decorating Tips from the Greats - Architectural Digest

Alice (Reese Witherspoon) is a single mom living in Los Angeles whose life changes unexpectedly when she allows three young men to move in with her. (Open Road Films)

With her filmmaking debut, Home Again, a romantic comedy about a 40ish single mom who embarks on a fling with a much younger man, Hallie Meyers-Shyer proves that shes her mothers daughter.

Mom, in this case, is filmmaker Nancy Meyers, a cinematic powerhouse with a track record of hit rom-coms that includes What Women Want, Somethings Gotta Give, The Holiday, Its Complicated and The Intern along with a reputation for luxe production values that has earned her the sobriquet of queen of interior design porn. No slouch in the romantic comedy biz himself, Hallies father, and Nancys ex, is writer-director-producer Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride).

In Home Again, theres no mistaking the influence of Meyers, who was a producer on the new film. The story centers on interior decorator Alice Kinney (Reese Witherspoon), who, after an ugly breakup, has moved from New York to the comfortable Los Angeles home she grew up in with her late filmmaker father and retired actress mother (Candice Bergen). True to the values of a Nancy Meyers movie, that house which is sure to inspire design lust takes center stage. Its there that Alice takes in three 20-something filmmakers as lodgers: a sensitive writer (Jon Rudnitzky), a tech-savvy actor (Nat Wolff), and a sexy director (Pico Alexander). The latter becomes, briefly, Alices boy toy.

Meyers-Shyer, 30, spoke by phone from Los Angeles about her debt to her parents and her desire to make her own way in the Hollywood jungle.

Q: The apple obviously doesnt fall far from the tree. Your mothers influence is apparent, particularly in your films attention to meticulously curated domestic interiors. I was struck by one scene around the breakfast table that featured platters of bacon on blue-and-white china. It was so mouthwatering and pretty, it was almost distracting. How important is production design to you?

A: Of all possible things I learned about from my mom, food on the table is just the smallest possible thing that she could have taught me. The larger lessons about having great heroines and great stories, about how warm and inviting her films are and how feminine they are are the themes I hope I carry on from her, more than anything having to do with set design or food. That said, my film does take place largely in a home and many of her films do as well where the house is a big character. I really hope that Home Again reflects me and my sensibilities.

Q: After graduating from the New School in Manhattan, you spent a year studying film at USC. But youve said your real education came on your parents film sets growing up. If youre trying to cut the apron strings, why work with your mother?

A: Carrying on the family business is a hard thing. As a debut filmmaker, you want to feel like you are paving your own way. But there was nobody better to have with me than someone who has been making, for so many years, romantic comedies with strong female characters. The thing I learned most from my mom was about layering my characters and making them nuanced, and not just types.

Q: Alices parents, like yours, are filmmakers. They seem to have been based on director John Cassavetes and his actress wife, Gena Rowlands. Is that deliberate?

A: Youre absolutely right. The character of [Alices father] is an amalgam of several 1970s filmmakers: Cassavettes; [Peter] Bogdanovich; [Paul] Mazursky. They were my influences while writing the film. The way in which I wanted to portray Los Angeles was inspired a lot by 70s films. I wanted to find a way to infuse that into the story, so I made him a 70s filmmaker. I wanted him to be someone who these three boys who are true lovers of cinema would be excited about to thumb through his scripts and photo albums. I consider the movie a love letter to film and Hollywood.

Q: Are you a particular fan of 70s American cinema?

A: Yes, I am. Its my favorite era. I watched a lot of movies from that period for research.

Q: You werent even born until 1987. How did you fall in love with that period?

A: I went to film school for a bit. Mostly, though, I watched a lot of movies with my parents. Movies of the 70s feel very grounded and character-driven to me. I love Jack Nicholson. I love Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait and Shampoo.

Q: Who do you relate to most in this film?

A: I find a little of myself in every character. I relate to Alice, of course, but also to the three boys trying to make it in Hollywood. I relate to Alices anxious older daughter, but also to the youngest daughter, because I also have an older sister. I can even relate to Alices ex, Michael Sheen, back in New York City. I put myself in every character.

Q: Do you perceive a decline or, as some have said, a crisis in romantic comedy?

A: It used to be a more commercial genre for studios, for sure, one in which big actors would star, going back to Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. It had great actors, major studios, big budgets. But its not just romantic comedies that have declined, as I see it. Movies about human beings are not being made as often. Theyve been replaced by superhero movies, action films. Its not as easy to get a romantic comedy made, but there is an audience for it. The Big Sick was a great example, and it showed that people want to embrace the genre.

Q: Is there a gender divide in the audience? Is there something about rom-coms that has ghettoized them as womens films?

A: Home Again is a womans story, through and through. Women do like romantic comedies, but in my experience, men love them, too. Im excited that an underserved audience is being served in this film.

Q: And that underserved audience is ...?

A: Women.

Q: ... or simply people who dont want to see another movie about space aliens?

A: Absolutely, that, too. One hundred percent.

Q: Theres a great line in the film about how, between the three guys who are living in Alices pool house, she has managed to combine the package into one perfect man: Ones her babysitter, ones her tech-support guru and the other is her lover.

A: I cant take credit for that line. The reference to the brains, the heart and the nerve is from The Wizard of Oz.

Q: Its a sad commentary on the male gender that it takes three of us to make one whole person.

A: I think Home Again is a really empowering movie for men. These are three passionate men who have real interests. It shows men in a really positive way.

Q: Theres another funny line, where a sleazy Hollywood movie producer tries to get the boys to change their vision for their first movie from a black-and-white art-house drama to a found-footage love story. Sounds ilke that one might come from personal experience.

A: Yes. When youre writing, you get to make a little bit of snide commentary. I definitely drew from past meetings with producers.

Q: The guy and the girl dont end up happily ever after. Are you trying to rewrite the rules with your first movie?

A: Thats just how the rom-com genre has been characterized. Home Again looks and feels like a romantic comedy, but ultimately thats not what this movie is about. Its not about a woman finding a man. Its about a woman finding herself.

Home Again (PG-13, 96 minutes). Opens Sept. 8 at area theaters.

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Her mom directed some of the best rom-coms of all time. Now she's made one of her own. - Washington Post

Its no easy feat to find an affordable apartment in Washington. Renters will scour the city streets for a decent deal, searching uptown, downtown and increasingly, underground. English basements in neighborhoods such as Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan and Shaw have become popular options for young people looking for a reasonably priced one- or two-year lease. But basement dwellings often have low ceilings, cramped rooms and little natural light, making them challenging to decorate.

We asked designers how renters can optimize these tricky spaces and make their basement dwellings feel like homes. Here are their tips:

Keep it cool: Lighter, brighter, cooler colors help the walls recede, says Jaye Langmaid, the owner of Hudson & Crane, an urban design studio in Adams Morgan. Light blues and grays can make a small room feel larger and enhance limited natural light. But dont be afraid to accent a wall in a darker color, which can lengthen an oblong room or hall. Stay away from warm colors, which may make a small space feel crowded.

Raise the roof: Shannon Claire Smith, a D.C.-based interior decorator and design blogger, says that renters have a number of ways to make low ceilings appear higher. I always have clients try to stretch the walls as high as they can, Smith says. A darker color on the ceiling makes it look like the night sky you dont know where it ends. Renters can also hang floor-length drapery panels or arrange artwork gallery-style so that it fills walls from floor to ceiling. If you dont have enough artwork to do that, a few large pieces can have the same effect.

[From homeowners to renters: A young couples stylish approach to downsizing to a one-bedroom]

Add mirrors: Decorative mirrors offer another way to create an illusion of space and light. Mirrors can help reflect what little natural light comes into a basement apartment, says Sarah Roussos-Karakaian, who co-founded the artisan contracting and design team Nestrs with her husband, Nick Karakaian. The light bounces around your space. Floor-length mirrors, too, can make a low ceiling look higher.

Look to the past: Theres nothing new about trying to make the best of a small, oddly shaped space. To find furniture that will fit down narrow stairwells and into cramped rooms, check out French, English and Japanese antiques, suggests Rachel Dougan, the founder and principal designer of ViVi Interiors. In Paris, you had really tiny alleyways and stairwells, Dougan says. These vintage pieces were made for smaller spaces to begin with ... and theyre made to be disassembled and put together again. Dougan especially recommends campaign furniture, originally made for soldiers on the move. If you dont like the old-timey aesthetic, she says, you can always add a fresh coat of paint to an antique piece.

Lighten up: The overhead lighting in rented apartments tends to be less than flattering, designer Anna Matthews warns. She suggests buying lamps that will warm up the space. For an affordable option, try Robert Abbey; if youre willing to invest, Matthews recommends Bunny Williams. I love to put good table lamps on either side of the sofa, because it makes it feel more like a home, she says. It personalizes the space, which is so important.

Multitask: Get the most out of a small space by purchasing furniture with more than one function. Have all your furniture be multipurpose, Roussos-Karakaian says. Couches can pull out to double as beds for overnight guests, and coffee tables with built-in shelves can serve as storage space. Roussos-Karakaian also recommends wall-mounted shelves: Use them as bookcases or fill them with decorative storage baskets.

Privatize: English basements often have ground-level windows, which may allow passersby to see inside. Solar shades or privacy blinds allow light to come in while preventing pedestrians from peeping into your bedroom. Jo Kerrigan, district manager for Next Day Blinds, recommends the brands Honeycomb Shades, which have a soft, delicate look but offer total privacy. The shades, made out of a polyester fabric, also absorb sound, making them ideal for a basement on a busy street.

[A beginners guide to window treatments]

Go green: English basements are often accessed through narrow alleyway entrances, and plants placed by your front door can help welcome guests into your home. They can also improve air quality in basement apartments, which may get hot during the day. Smith recommends the snake plant, also known as mother-in-laws tongue, a leafy indoor plant that helps purify air. (She also suggests that basement renters invest in air conditioners and humidifiers.)

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8 ways to make the most of a basement apartment - Washington Post

Photo: Francesco Lagnese / House Beautiful

Pops of orange add an unexpected splash of color.

Pops of orange add an unexpected splash of color.

A painted floor presents promising new possibilities underfoot.

A painted floor presents promising new possibilities underfoot.

Paint moldings or muntins a color (no, not white) to outline a room like a frame does a painting.

Paint moldings or muntins a color (no, not white) to outline a room like a frame does a painting.

Pristine white walls against a checkerboard marble floor create an MGM musical moment in this glamorous foyer.

Pristine white walls against a checkerboard marble floor create an MGM musical moment in this glamorous foyer.

A large-scale mirror provides the grand gesture every room needs.

A large-scale mirror provides the grand gesture every room needs.

With a massive light fixture directing the attention overhead, you hardly need to decorate the rest of the room.

With a massive light fixture directing the attention overhead, you hardly need to decorate the rest of the room.

If its star power you want in a room, try a slash of lipstick red.

If its star power you want in a room, try a slash of lipstick red.

Style Secrets: House Beautiful editor reveals the keys to unlocking a homes potential

Its the kind of image that requires more than a simple glance. First off, theres a yellow-tinted glass vase with pink and magenta peonies across from a couch where a bolster pillow picks up the floral theme. The white candelabras and wrought-iron mirror are the epitome of elegance, but that peach lamp adds a bit of whimsy.

Ahhh, to have that kind of talent that pulls all those pieces together. Want to learn how? Just turn the cover.

That elegant sitting room fronts the more than 260 images in House Beautiful Style Secrets: What Every Room Needs, by the interior design magazines editor Sophie Donelson, which comes out later this month. Insider expert tips, ideas shared by magazines readers and tricks Donelson has picked up along the way, show how spaces small and large can be transformed with color, texture, glitz and a wow moment.

I am not a designer, but I am constantly being asked for advice, says Donelson during a phone interview from her New York City office recently. She has been editor since early 2015. There are just these elements that work and grab your attention and make you feel something. . (Its about creating) a room thats memorable for other people and truly enjoyable for the homeowner, which is really the most important thing.

Before she ever took the helm of House Beautiful or wrote about design, she was a fan of altering her environment. Growing up, Donelson and her mother would often rearrange furniture to give a space new life. It is a tradition she continues with her family, tinkering with the setup in their New York City apartment. There is plenty of inspiration in the book to help target that rearranging.

Culled from photos from the magazine, including outtakes that will be new to its readers, the images show how these elements work in an elegant foyer to a modern kitchen, from a cozy bedroom to a sophisticated master suite. Unique pieces, such as a chandelier made out of an old drum, portraits picked up over 45 years and vintage plates from Mexico are visual reminders of the vast possibilities that could be sitting around in someones attic.

Donelson stresses the book carries on with the principle that has guided the magazine (which is owned by Hearst, the same parent company as this newspaper) through its 121 years. These are ideas to try and not to just buy. They are there to give readers confidence in their tastes and decisions. All the captions and the copy is written to draw your attention to a particular idea. Its not what you have to buy or have to do, but why it works and how you can make it work.

What does every room need? Donelson goes into detail about some of the elements, which will have people asking, Whos your decorator?

A grand gesture

Huge mirrors, gigantic urns, mammoth couches and sizable chandeliers create focal points and add dimensions in rooms of varying dimensions. Make sure the overscaled object is not overdone, Donelson says, but that vase, say, that looks colossal in the store just may be the thing for a grand room.

In an interior, where you have volumes of space, natural light and a lot going on, the eye can take in much, much more. I think we underestimate our ability to enjoy a grand gesture. How many times do you walk in a hotel, or even in a restaurant, and see this jaw-dropping object and have this Oh, wow! moment. Why shouldnt you feel that way at home?

Tactile temerity

Creating texture, whether underfoot, on the wall or with the furniture, provides a sensual experience, as well as visual stimulation. I dont think I have done a good enough job incorporating it into my own home, she says. I love tassels, fringe and nailhead (trim). I looked at my living room recently and I thought, where can I apply a little more texture? Maybe the next throw pillows I get, Ill get something that is embroidered.

Small spaces, big expectations

Donelson has learned from the best that making a small space shine is entirely possible. Absolutely, you should invest either time or money, or both, into a small space. Just because it is small, does not mean it should be bare bones or neglected.

In a small Manhattan apartment, for instance, a room that triples as a foyer, dining room and library gets a splash of class and versatility with a faux-marble painted floor.

Wall-to-wall inspiration

Dont be afraid to use wallpaper. It adds a layer of interest without busying things, so that adds a real designers touch in a way that has staying power and longevity. I am a huge wallpaper fan. I especially love it in a powder room or somewhere where you can enjoy it tremendously, briefly, and then you step away from it, in a way. Something like grasscloth, similar to fine paint, will change throughout the day. Wherever the light is hitting it, it will take on different tones because of its depth. My living room would be grasscloth if I could get around to moving my family out a couple of days, she says, with a laugh. Maybe next summer.

chennessy@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @xtinahennessy

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'Style Secrets': House Beautiful editor reveals the keys to unlocking a home's potential - CT Post

Ask most designers what color they usually paint interior trim -- no matter the wall color -- and they will tell you the same: white.

My go-to trim color for years has been Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White, a crisp chalky tone. Occasionally, I will use Benjamin Moore's White Dove, a softer, creamier white that works particularly well in more traditional rooms.

But lately I have seen several designers breaking the mold. They have gone bold and painted window casings, door frames, baseboards and crown moldings bright, saturated colors.

Most prolific in this gutsy movement is New York designer Steven Gambrel of S.R. Gambrel. He likes to choose a deep-toned accent color -- plucked from another element in the room, such as an accessory or a fabric -- for the room's trim. "Painting the trim a bold color better defines the scale of the room, and it gives the room's architectural elements -- windows and doors -- more prominence," Gambrel says. He thinks of a room's trim as he would a picture frame: A strong-colored frame focuses your eye and outlines that which is most important.

Of course, to paint trim a bold color, it needs to be in good condition and worthy of the attention color will draw. Neither is a problem for Gambrel, who works with some of the most prominent architects living today and who typically remains involved in the architectural choices from the beginning of a project.

When Gambrel's clients agree to go bold with a trim color, he always cautions them to wait until the room is finished before they judge it; only once the textiles, furniture and accessories are in does the room make sense. "Painting trim against a neutral wall in an unfinished room feels too strong," Gambrel says, "but when you start layering in carpet, trims, art and objects, it all becomes more balanced."

Balance is important to Gambrel, which is why when painting trim a bright color, he usually uses a textured wallcovering such as grass cloth or rough-cut plaster. The texture of the walls balances out the brightness of the trim; without the texture, he says, the room would feel too "jumpy."

For trim paint, Gambrel once used only the glossy oil paints from Fine Paints of Europe, but he has switched to Benjamin Moore's Aura semigloss paints, which are free of volatile organic compounds. (He still uses Fine Paints of Europe for front doors and very special cabinet details.)

Designer Meg Braff likes to paint the trim a vibrant color in rooms that have lots of windows and doors because, she says, "it unifies the space and makes the room feel less choppy." But unlike Gambrel, Braff does not always keep walls neutral and textural. Instead she opts for vibrant wallpapers, which typically inform her trim color selection. In her rooms, the bright trim balances and anchors the busier wallpaper. In some ways it's the opposite of Gambrel; he uses textured walls to balance the bright trim, and Braff uses bright trim to balance the vibrant patterned walls.

Braff also likes to use vivid colors for the trim and cabinetry of butler's pantries and bars. She says these smaller spaces, particularly when adjacent to an all-white kitchen, turn into little jewel boxes.

Designer Katie Ridder paints trim bright colors, but she does so in smaller doses. Ridder likes to use bright shades on window mullions (the grids that divide windowpanes) to add color to a room. She does this specifically in more-open floor plans, when one room flows into another, thereby making it difficult to switch wall color. The other benefit of painting the mullions: You can skip the window treatments. This works well particularly in rooms such as kitchens where adding a curtain or shade might be awkward or bulky.

Before you decide to paint your own white trim a bolder color, know one thing: Painting trim is time-consuming. All those edges and windowpanes need to be taped, and the paint must be brushed on by hand; you can't just roll it on as you do on the walls.

Elizabeth Mayhew is the author of Flip! for Decorating.

HomeStyle on 08/19/2017

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Interior trimmings in bold colors a break from all white - NWAOnline

By Mirin Fader | Aug 17, 2017Special to espnW

Kicker Becca Longo is competing for a starting position at Adams State. But the scholarship player is not out to prove the doubters wrong. She's just playing the game she loves.

Becca Longo places a football on the turf near the 20-yard line. She takes a few steps back and then to the side, positioning her right foot -- a lime cleat with a splash of orange -- farthest away from the ball. With both arms by her side, she gently wiggles her right arm, shedding lingering nerves and doubts.

Longo is alone on the field at Adams State, a Division II school in Alamosa, Colorado, a sleepy city of 10,000 about four hours south of Denver. The 5-foot-11, 140-pound freshman kicker is the lone woman on the Grizzlies' 94-player roster. She's also the first woman to earn a football scholarship at a Division I or II school.

But on this Thursday in early August at Rex Field, the only thing that matters is how high and how far she can make that football soar. She takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky, scanning for a cloud. There are plenty: giant, doughy streaks breaking free of the never-ending blue, hovering so low it looks like they could take a bite out of the San Luis Valley flatland.

Morning rain and thunder almost threatened to keep Longo from kicking today, but the weather didn't stand a chance. Not much does. Last week, she hopped the field's 7-foot gate to retrieve a ball, which left her with an inch-long gash on the palm of her right hand. She sprinted back to the field and continued to kick as the ruby-red stain pulsed.

I don't always have to prove myself -- but I always want to.

Becca Longo

Head down, follow through. The Chandler, Arizona, native whispers those words from her father, Bob, as she launches a kick that sails through the uprights. She misses just three during the 30-minute session. But Longo, who is money from 35 yards and in and who drilled a 54-yarder in July, frowns. She expects herself to make every kick.

Her eyes circle back to the clouds. She envisions Wonder Woman (she saw the movie seven times) lying helpless on the ground, struggling to fight Ares, the god of war. When the plane, flown by Wonder Woman's love interest, Steve Trevor, explodes in the clouds, Wonder Woman summons new strength, shooting an energy beam to wipe out Ares.

A bolt of energy shoots through Longo's own body. She strikes the ball forcefully, elegantly, and it's good.

"A lot of people think, 'Aw. She's a girl. She can't do this. She's not strong enough, she's not big enough,' " Longo says. "I think it's just something inside of me. I don't always have to prove myself -- but I always want to."

AAron Ontiveroz for ESPN

Becca Longo does lunges to Future and The Weeknd's "Low Life," and she fesses up to feeling like Beyonce on the football field.

Later that day, Longo and 42 teammates huddle in the weight room for the last leg day of the summer. "It's a Vibe" by 2 Chainz blasts while players grind through sets. Shirts are soaked with sweat. Hamstrings feel like ripping apart. Longo leg-presses 180 pounds (normally she does 360) and charges through box jumps. "I'm about to come out looking like Ronda Rousey's worst nightmare after my time here," she says, flashing a smile, going 45 minutes without a drop of water. "She doesn't take reps off," says senior cornerback Tim Brown Jr.

She can't. Not when she's battling two other kickers, freshman Tiago Paim and sophomore Montana Gomez, for the starting job. The Grizzlies, who went 2-8 in 2016, kick off on Sept. 2 against Black Hills State University.

Longo clutches 25-pound dumbbells for lunges. Senior quarterback Jorge Hernandez does the same. Future and The Weeknd's "Low Life" comes on, and the two shimmy their shoulders while singing: "Reppin' for that low life ... low life, low life, low life ..." It's a brief but blissful exchange for Longo. Here, the guys don't view her as The Female Kicker. She's just No. 45. She's just "Longo."

"She gets after it just like all of us," Hernandez says. "She's not just here to be on the team. She's here to play."

Longo, who converted 35 of 38 extra point attempts and made her lone field goal attempt (30 yards) as a senior for Basha High School (Chandler, Arizona) in 2016, doesn't back down. Not even from Grizzlies head coach Timm Rosenbach, a former NFL player.

"All right, guys!" he said last week, huddling up the team, "... and girl!"

Longo knew he was just trying to be inclusive, but she wasn't having it. "Coach," she said in front of everyone, "You don't have to say 'girl.' It's fine." It didn't happen again.

AAron Ontiveroz for ESPN

Quarterback Jorge Hernandez, right, knows Becca Longo is out to land more than just a roster spot at Adams State.

Once, after an extra point against Higley High (Gilbert, Arizona), she was hit by a player coming from her right side. He was shocked at the sight of her long hair flowing under her helmet, her eyeliner black and bright as the night sky. Longo shoved him back. "I felt like Beyonc."

Longo, who also will play basketball for Adams State, once went toe-to-toe with a Casa Grande Union High shooting guard as both rained 3s back and forth. Longo had the chutzpah to point her finger at the girl, as if to taunt: "Come here." The player motioned for everyone to clear out, but air-balled as Longo's defense smothered her.

I'm about to come out looking like Ronda Rousey's worst nightmare.

Becca Longo

That's Longo: wanting to be everything and everywhere. A wide receiver? She once snagged an epic one-handed catch, calling herself "Odell Becca Jr." A painter? She composed a turquoise watercolor sea horse and sea turtle in July. Interior decorator? She themed her dorm room "Beach," complete with a starfish, Tahiti Island Dream shower gel, a turtle-shaped jar and even a real-life beta fish named George.

Expectations are high for the 18-year-old. "She's already shown that she's got the grit and determination to push through and make it at this level," says Katie Hnida, the former Colorado and New Mexico kicker who became the first woman to play, and score points, in an NCAA Division I football game.

But the pressure mounts. Longo was on ABC's "Good Morning America." She had 18 interviews in one day. She's asked about becoming the NFL's first female kicker, despite having zero interest in turning pro. She can't go to the local fair without getting recognized (luckily her friend Abi turns away autograph-seekers by pretending Longo's name is Emily).

"All right now," Rosenbach told Longo. "Nobody cares who you are until you make a kick."

Longo laughed, then grew quiet. She stiffened her lip. "You're right."

Carlos Salcedo/Special to the Arizona Republic

Becca Longo converted 35 of 38 extra point attempts and made her lone field goal attempt (30 yards) as a senior for Basha.

Something compelled Longo to the field one day after class toward the end of her freshman year at Arizona's Queen Creek High School. The football team was practicing. There weren't any girls out there, so why not her? She had a powerful leg, too, from years of soccer (and basketball, baseball, Frisbee. Heck, she even stood up on water skis for the first time at age 4). She told the athletic director she'd be trying out for football. He laughed. "I felt like he doubted me," Longo says. "I completely shocked him when I went out and did it."

Her brother Bobby, 11 years older, wasn't shocked. As kids, the two would throw a football to each other as hard and as far as possible while swimming in Lake Pleasant in Phoenix. Once, Bobby threw the ball at her back when she wasn't looking. Longo zoomed through the water so fast you'd think she sprouted fins. She smacked Bobby so hard his back turned red. "She left a mark," Bobby says.

As a sophomore, she met Alex Zendejas, who has coached seven all-state kickers in Arizona since 2006; four of his family members have kicked in the NFL. Longo seemed to have natural talent. "I was amazed at how much power Becca had," says Zendejas, who became her mentor. They trained three times a week. "I thought something big was probably going to happen if she stuck to it." Zendejas has a rule that players end on one kick, make or miss. Longo didn't follow it. If she missed, she'd run and grab another ball and kick until she ended on a make.

But hours before her first game on junior varsity in 2014? Longo wished to disappear. She ducked down against her seat on the team bus, shielding her phone (and the tears streaming down her cheek) as she sobbed to her mom, Andrea: "I can't do this. I'm going to throw up." Too late. The bus pulled up to Poston Butte High. Crisis No. 1? Finding a girl's restroom. Three girls spotted her. "Are you Becca Longo?! Oh my gosh, it's her! The girl football player!" They escorted her to the restroom, bringing 10 more girls. Then 10 more. Soon a line for photos crowded around Longo's stall, asking for photos with her. Longo hadn't even washed her hands.

Just like that, Poston Butte kicked off the ball to Queen Creek, which ran it back for a touchdown. No time to run away. Longo rushed to the field for the extra point attempt, her leg shaking so much she couldn't feel it. Even her dad's hand wobbled as he held up his camera.

"Braxton!" Longo screamed to her holder. "I can't do this! Run it in!"

"Becca, just kick the ball!"

She did. Every muscle in her body tingled. The crowd exploded. The guys tapped her on her helmet. The moment was so sweet and so sudden she almost blacked out.

Longo soon transferred to Basha, which was coached by Gerald Todd. Todd's brother, Everett, who is now the defensive coordinator at Grambling State, had coached Hnida while an assistant coach at New Mexico.

"How do you coach a girl?" Gerald asked Everett.

"Man, I don't coach girls," Everett said. "I coach football players."

Gerald had Longo kick in front of the entire squad her first week of spring varsity practice. Her misses would determine the number of sprints to run. She started at 17 yards, backing up 5 after each make. She reached 32. Boom! Then 37. Boom! Then 42. "There's no way," Gerald said. She missed, but he was so impressed he let her try again. Boom! The boys jumped and screamed and embraced her.

"That was the moment that everybody just bought into Becca," Gerald says.

She earned the starting nod. She ignored nasty comments from some opponents. All that mattered was her teammates had her back.

"They respected me because I did everything they did," Longo says. "And then some."

AAron Ontiveroz for ESPN

To coach Timm Rosenbach and the rest of the Adams State football program, Becca Longo is just another player.

"She's going to get drilled by a 300-pound lineman."

"She's going to get her neck snapped."

"She's just a publicity stunt."

"She's going to die on the field."

Longo ignores the daily tweets that come her way. "If they want to think that, they can think that," she says. "Then I'm just going to kick a game-winning, 55-yard field goal ... see how loud they are then."

AAron Ontiveroz for ESPN

Becca Longo already has been both a target and an inspiration.

"I've been doubted in everything I've done," she says. "Being mentally strong is the only defensive mechanism I have."

Few expected her to play college ball at all. Adams State hadn't even intended to give her a scholarship. Offensive coordinator Josh Blankenship had heard there was a girl in Arizona who was accurate, powerful, disciplined. He went to Basha to meet her, eventually inviting her to campus for a tryout, which is permissible in Division II.

She went 23-for-25 during the February tryout, fantastic for anyone unless your name is Becca Longo. The two misses pierced her. "She puts more pressure on herself than any of us could ever do," says Ross Brunelle, the special-teams coordinator who conducted the workout. She criticized herself for not getting height on the ball, for not following through, for having her plant foot too far from the ball.

"I liked that she felt that way," says Rosenbach, who secretly watched the session. "If you can feel that way, you're a competitor." Bottom line: Rosenbach needed someone automatic from 35 and in; Longo was it. "I don't care if the player's a martian. You're going to recruit that player," he says. "The gender part wasn't really a factor to me."

After signing her letter of intent, Longo thought of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every Christmas as a kid she'd belt out: "You'll go down in historrrryyyyyyyyyy," telling her mom some day she would. She beamed on signing day in April reading the headline: "Becca Longo is going down in history." Her Instagram was flooded with comments, mostly from little girls.

"You inspire me."

"I'm going to play football just like you."

"All seven of my daughters look up to you."

"That's her favorite part: the little girls," mom Andrea says. "There are so many little girls following her, recognizing, 'I can do this. She did this, I can do this, too.' "

Back in the weight room with the guys, Longo prepares for a lying hip bridge walkout -- which is, in her eyes, torture; it makes her hamstrings feel like they're busting out of her legs. But no one can know she feels like collapsing, that her legs are shot from kicking and playing pickup hoops earlier. She lies on the ground and stares at the ceiling, as if contemplating her two options: buck up or break down.

She thrusts her hips up, forming a bridge, then moves her legs out in small, choppy steps until they are fully straight. She holds the position for five grueling seconds, clenching her teeth tighter to avoid wincing. She moves her legs back in small, choppy steps until she returns to her original position. Rest. Another set. Rest. Another set. Done.

Pulling herself off the ground, Longo turns around and notices a faint squiggle of sweat soaking into the surface. It sort of looks like an "L." She smiles quietly to herself before quickly resuming a poker face. She heads toward the door, her biceps bulging as she clutches a ball. What will Wonder Woman do next?

Original post:
Drilling kicks and nailing drills, Becca Longo bids for starting job on Adams State football team - ESPN

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Three Parts:Gaining ExperienceStarting an Interior Decoration BusinessBecoming an Interior DesignerCommunity Q&A

If you have a love of decorating and a knack for arranging furniture and choosing dcor and color, a career as an interior decorator may be perfect for you. To become a "decorator" you dont need an extensive education or a fancy degree, just a good eye and a passion for the job. However, if you are interested in interior design, you will need to take specialized courses and gain the proper licensing from the state, depending on which state you are in.

Part 1

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Practice interior decorating. Volunteer to help friends and family with decorating projects. Look for volunteer projects with local organizations. Look for service organizations like Habitat for Humanity and local shelters. Even decorating spaces for special events is good experience.

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Get materials. Find sources for materials and supplies. Without a license, you may not be entitled to designer discounts. However, you can begin to negotiate with suppliers if you are buying in bulk. You can also learn to find inexpensive sources for materials like overstock stores and thrift shops.

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What are the basic qualifications needed to become an interior decorator?

wikiHow Contributor

Nothing really, just as long as you have passion for it, an eye for decorating, and continue to learn different decorating styles and trends. You could consider taking a short course to get a certificate if you really want some kind of proof that you're qualified.

What materials are needed for interior decoration/interior design?

wikiHow Contributor

Measuring tools, flooring samples, wall covering samples, a computer software for showing rooms and different ideas of dcor. A well strong knowledge of what is popular, what is coming back in style, what is not, a great caring attitude, and great business ethics are also important.

What if I am not good at drawing, but I love designing and I want to be an interior designer some day? Should I pursue this course in life, or should I find another course that is more suited to my skills?

wikiHow Contributor

You can get through it with a lot of effort and don't slack one bit. Commit yourself myself to do your 110%. In this way, you'll become a successful decorate with a job you very much love. The thing you need to understand is that if you love your career, and you love what you do and what it will help you become, then those hard steps arent so hard anymore.You learn how to draw eventually, because talent is indeed just 1 percent of the mix and effort is the last ninety nine percent. If you love it and work hard, youll be fine.

I am currently in school and want to be an interior decorator. What subjects should I take?

wikiHow Contributor

Graphic Design, Photography, Interior Design, Furniture History (Purpose, Mood Creators, Manufacturing), Home Structural Design, Introduction to Art: History, Color Education, Medium uses, Marketing (if you want to be self employed), and Interpersonal Relations. Brand Popularity and History is another good choice.

Is math important when it comes to interior design?

wikiHow Contributor

I'm an Interior Design teacher. I'm always surprised about the difficulties my students face in understanding drawing in scale. This is math we all study in primary school (at 7/8 years old) and it is fundamental to design in the right proportions, otherwise you can't deal with the concept of space. So the answer is: yes, BASIC math is important.

Is interior designer a good occupation?

wikiHow Contributor

You need to network with a lot of people in this business. I think you will find that if you are prepared, educated, hard-working, and have a natural talent for this, you will do well.

How much money can I make?

wikiHow Contributor

Quite a decent amount, but it really depends on your location, how good your work is, and how much experience you have.

How much is an interior designer's salary?

wikiHow Contributor

It depends on your area. Stop in a home interior design stores in your city and see if they will help answer your questions.

What is the difference in between an interior designer and interior decorator?

wikiHow Contributor

An interior designer focuses on decorations and modifications to the structure itself: floors, windows, electrical systems, etc. It's a much more inclusive job that goes beyond just decorating the house.

How can I start practicing interior decorating as a kid?

wikiHow Contributor

When I was a kid I would use the family desktop computer. I would draw rooms and decorate them using the paint program on it. If you would like an even better option, there is a program in the Microsoft app store called "Planner - 5D Home and Interior Design," it allows you to switch from 2D to 3D easily and it is well worth it to spend the $10-$20 for the full version. You will have access to all materials and be able to save them, as well as take snapshots too. If you don't have access to a computer, good old fashioned graph paper, and a ruler work. Make sure you do well in school as well, as it will help you when looking for a college.

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How to Become an Interior Decorator (with Pictures) - wikiHow

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Enrol and start studying at any time during the year.

Quickly improve your interior design skills with this thorough introductory course - you can graduate in one year or less.

This course makes learning fun with rich course content, slide shows and interactive quizzes.

This interior design and decorating course is a thorough introduction to the subject, comprising 10 detailed lessons with accompanying self-assessment assignments. With around 150,000 well-chosen words, over 250 colour illustrations, and some 30 optional Worksheets to complete in your spare time if you wish, this course will teach you what you need to know to get a foot on the education and career ladder - all in all, more than many "Diploma" courses you may come across. To find out more, compare Rhodec.

You'll gain a solid grounding in the subject of interior design and decoration, more than sufficient to enable you to consider taking on small commissions or to advise friends and family; and the flexibility of being able to continue to the more comprehensive Diploma Course should you wish to do so at a later date.

HOWEVER, YOU DO NOT NEED TO STUDY THE INTERIOR DECORATOR COURSE BEFORE ENROLLING ON THE DIPLOMA COURSE. THEY ARE BOTH "STAND ALONE" COURSES. YOU SHOULD NEVERTHELESS BE AWARE THAT NO CREDITS FROM THE INTERIOR DECORATOR COURSE TRANSFER TO THE DIPLOMA COURSE.

Topics covered include: elements and principles of design; detailed colour theory, including full development of colour schemes; materials such as wood, stone, metal, glass, etc.; how to present sample boards; measuring rooms and estimating materials quantities; simple plans and elevations; decorative paint finishes; planning rooms; soft furnishings - textiles, window treatments, upholstery, carpets; internal fittings; lighting; making the most of your time when you visit exhibitions; professional practice; and much more besides.

This course is officially known as the Associate Diploma Course. See the educational objectives of this course.

This Course has a duration of 12 months but can be completed in considerably less time. Although a student is permitted to take longer than 12 months, an extension fee will be charged if the study period exceeds one year from the date of enrolment. The self-assessment nature of this course means that you will not have a tutor to grade your work.

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Online Interior Design Courses 2016 / Best Free Decorating ...

Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

Sample of reported job titles: Certified Kitchen Designer, Color and Materials Designer, Commercial Interior Designer, Decorating Consultant, Designer, Director of Interiors, Interior Design Consultant, Interior Design Coordinator, Interior Design Director, Interior Designer

Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information

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Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities

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Interest code: AE

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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data and 2014-2024 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

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Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

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27-1025.00 - Interior Designers - O*NET OnLine

Welcome to 7WD Group - A Complete Space Design Studio - Architecture - Interior Designing - Designer Furniture Factory - Landscape Designer - Space Harmony by Vastu, Fengshui, Chromotherapy. 7WD specialized in Morden, Classic Design with a global influence. 7WD Known For Luxury & High End House Designer In Delhi, Whether designing residential or commercial spaces, 7WD has built a reputation on achieving highly individual results for a discerning, Indian & Outside clientele. 7WD crafts visual designer stories that become signature surroundings. Guided by clients' aspirations, as well as their diverse experiences, the firm designs great Exteriors & Interiors, which allow clients to fully express who they are, and what holds meaning to them.

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7WD Is The Best Interior Decorator, Interior Designer In Delhi