"They are used to making decisions and being in control," Helen Harris, of the Golden Pear, said, describing one type of "almost" decorate it yourselfer. "They want to participate more without allowing the process to become overburdening." Palmer Beebe, of J.W. Graham, described the other type. "They are afraid to take a chance. They have the real estate agent in mind instead of thinking of their own comfort and pleasure. They bring in photographs of a foyer or mantle. They describe the room and start talking about colors. They want someone to tell them it’s okay."

"When you come home after a busy day, " Harris noted, "you should have nice surroundings, peaceful things that make you feel good. Signature pieces create an aura that focuses an entire room. Art isn’t always something you put on the wall." Art may be an individual, personal piece that tells time or illuminates a room or holds a television and VCR or provides comfortable seating or serves the salad. It can be hand-crafted, unique, and still useful. Art is affordable–even if only in small touches or as a special item in the bridal registry.

Beebe noted, "Every room needs a beautiful corner and every home needs a beautiful room. It’s important to have enough colors in a room. When you come into a store, don’t let price scare you. You can love it without having to own it. Browsing gives you a sense of what’s available. But if it’s perfect, what difference does the price make?" Both Harris and Beebe advise ignoring what’s trendy and buying pieces that you love. "When you fall for trend," Beebe said, "you’re a slave to trend and then you’re stuck with it when it goes out. If you buy things you love, you’ll still love them 20 years from now."

The Golden Pear and J.W. Graham both "intrigue adult audiences." Casual visitors choose to pay attention, lingering, asking questions, touching objects or materials. Harris arranges window treatments, adds architectural elements such as lentils, pediments or pilasters and creates whimsical trompe l’oeil designs, faux stone grottos or marbleized walls. Eighteenth-and 19th-century European antiques and signed, custom furniture accented with faux marble tops, cartouches, scrollwork and exquisite hardware are featured. Italian maiolica tableware and reproduction murals, European dining tables, chairs and accessories as well as leather and mohair easy chairs are on display.

Beebe features distressed mahogany furniture alongside wondrous accessories by American artists such as cut glass "house jewelry" doorknobs. Whimsical and serious clocks, lamps, glassware, wind chimes, stained glass and fountains are displayed alongside ceiling fan or lamp pulls and trompe l’oeil windows. He is particularly proud of his selection of lamps, which contain real musical instruments or reflect hobbies or interests or are simply beautiful. "You can do so much moodwise by having points of light in a room, not flooding it with light," he noted.