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When you think about home remodelling and interior decorating, the popular cable channel, Home and Garden Television (HGTV), may come to mind. But, what if you could get the same professional services right here at home? Members of the Association of Qualified Interior Decorators of T&T (AQIDOTT) say they’re up for the challenge. Founded in 2009 by president/director, Lestra Henry, AQIDOTT comprises 25 members, and is a non-profit organisation which acts as a support system for decorators under its membership, and by extension the general public. Henry also teaches the tricks of the trade through her company, Lestra’s Cottage—School of Interior Decorating, at Palm Plaza, Arima.

Secretary and graduate of the school, Helen Alexander, said the association was currently on a mission to promote the field in T&T and was in talks with the National Training Agency of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education to get the green light to award graduates with a diploma level certification, known as the Caricom Vocational Qualification (CVQ). “We are also awaiting word from the ministry for the courses to be Gate approved. Our courses are tailor-made for Caricom areas yet it’s up to international standards.” Alexander said the association—the first of its kind in the Caribbean—was also calling on both corporate and private T&T to assist AQIDOTT to further promote the industry, which she said had “real potential for growth.”

Stating that more people were beginning to consider interior decorating as a lucrative career option, Alexander added, “Thanks to television, people are more willing to say ‘yes, I’ll pay a decorator to make this look good.’ “Sometimes people have a house for sale on the market for a long while and wonder why it’s not selling. They don’t realise that it could simply be due to the way it’s laid out. It takes a professional to see that and guide them through it.” Alexander knows what she’s talking about. The well-spoken entrepreneur is the master-mind behind Decorate For You, an interior decorating company she launched at her Arouca home in 2009.

When it comes to decorating, Alexander, who honed her skills through years of helping friends decorate for weddings and other special events, assured that her services were not limited. From home and office consultations to de-cluttering—she can do it all. “People tend to think of a house and the inside of a house whenever they hear the words “interior decorating.” However, it really means the inside of any space. “You can even decorate something like a garden, because that’s also a space and so the same rule applies. It’s such a great field to be in.”

• For more details on AQIDOTT contact Alexander via aqidott_decorators@gmail.tt.com or Henry at 749-6851.

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