Wendy-Lynne Burgess used to design clothing and got into interior decorating and design when a friend saw the drapes that Burgess had made for her daughter. Burgess’s friend was upset because she had just paid a professional to make custom drapes for her home and now was regretting not asking Burgess to design her drapes.

The rest is history. Burgess, who currently resides in Castlegar, B.C., has been in the business since 1972 and has won many design awards over the years. She spoke with Kootenay Business about her career and offered some tips on how to increase the esthetic appeal and value of your home.

How long have you been in business?

I have been in this business since 1972. It started from someone liking my curtains. I was headhunted in the ’80s to run a sewing room that made custom drapery for retailers across Canada. So I managed that national work room for a number of years.

Has your business always been called W L D-synz?

No. It used to be Fantasy Interior Decor and the name change happened in 1996.

Can you offer any tips on how to better the appearance of one’s home?

Window coverings will increase the appearance of one’s home 100-fold. This is one thing people look at right away. If window coverings need to be replaced, it is a huge bill. Window coverings for an average home can be anywhere in the range of $1,000 to $15,000, and that is an average home—it depends on what you choose.

What is the newest thing in interior design?

The newest, latest and greatest is modern draperies from Hunter Douglas. They are selling the first draperies on the market that can have a warranty . . . It will be going into my living room within the month.

What is the least expensive way to improve the appearance of one’s home?

The quickest, least costly way to improve the home is paint.

What colours do you recommend?

Keep it neutral but not white.

I am a fan of red. Would you steer me away from that?

Trends come and go and I know what the latest trends are. If that is what you want to do your house in, I am happy doing it in those trend colours. But as a designer, I decorate and design people’s homes around their personalities. A big question when I am working with someone is how long they are planning on staying in the home, because the decor of a home will last 10 to 15 years. Depending on the home, I would recommend neutral colours that could have anything go with them. And when I say neutral, it could be a buffy, sandy colour or a grey—black and white are not colours.

Are there design styles that you like to focus on?

No, every house is taken in individually to represent the personalities of the home and the occupants.

Where do you work?

I cover the West Kootenay—but in saying that, I am heading to Cranbrook tomorrow and I still have clients in Vancouver. I have done clients in the Northwest Territories and the Queen Charlotte Islands, and I work with people over the Internet if they want—but mainly in the West Kootenay.