When Jen Foley put her Holbrook house up for sale, she asked her friend Daryce Morris to stage it to show to potential buyers, and, as a result, the house sold quickly, Jen said.

Two years later, in her new Braintree home, Jen, a working mom with two kids, had only been able to get through that first layer of interior design---some paint, pictures, and furniture remaining where it first fell. She just wanted to take her living room up a notch with all of the little accents that turn a regular room into a soothing sanctuary. So, once again, she called her friend.

Daryce is an interior decorator whose creative ability extends way beyond wall accessories and window treatments. As part of her Hanover-based business, Interiors by Daryce, she has added the 'Design with Wine' soiree, a decorating party where guests can see the before and after transformation of a room which Daryce does on-the-spot.

The soiree serves a dual purpose. "The decorating party is an excuse for people to get together, and it is also a way for them to see what I'm capable of," Daryce told South Shore Woman.

What's more, Daryce performs her magic free of charge for the party host, only asking to be reimbursed for items procured for the room, with a 20% markup on the retail value of the product.

Jen, ready to give her living room that extra lift, decided to have her own decorating party, but with a different spin. Given the season, she asked Daryce to update the room for the holidays. And, given the economy, she invited her friends over for a 'What's Old is New Again' exchange, asking them to bring items they already own, but no longer use or want, for an evening of swapping.

 About 25 ladies showed up to Jen's party and got a glimpse of the living room 'before'.

Then they moved into the dining room for appetizers and 'shopping' of gently used Coach, Kate Spade and Vera Bradley bags, framed prints, lamps, clocks, even a glass bathroom shelf.

"It was a wonderful night. We had a lot of laughs, and the secret bargain hunter came out in all of us," Jen said, noting that leftovers from the swap were donated to The Bureau Drawer in Quincy, which provides services to families on the South Shore.

And, at the end of the night, the women were wowed by what Daryce had done.

"More than one person commented they couldn't believe it was the same room," Jen said. "No one could quite remember where the piano had been pre-decorating. There was greenery everywhere, wrapped Christmas presents, and even gold mixed with silver, and it worked. The room was cozier than I ever expected it could be!"

In addition, Daryce was able to showcase her talent, and prove that giving a room a much-needed facelift can be done quickly and on a tight budget.

To book your own Design with Wine soiree--- or a party theme of your choice--contact Daryce at:

daryce@interiorsbydaryce.com

www.interiorsbydaryce.com

 Daryce Morris (left) and Jen Foley

Comments(1):

1. Design with Wine soiree

   Loved this article and I will definately be calling for a soiree after the holidays!!!

   Monday, December 21, 2009 sheela