Once upon a time, in a quaint, gingerbread-style house on the Northside of Richmond, there lived a small family with big plans — plans to redecorate the master bedroom. With the determination of a small (but powerful) pup and the creativity of a talented interior designer, all their decorating dreams were sure to come true.

Lucy, a five-and-a-half-year-old Maltese and cocker mix, runs her household. Lucy's mom and dad brought her home when she was just eight weeks old. Little did they know she would soon be calling all the shots, even initiating an exciting redecorating project.

Lucy noticed the master bedroom had been repainted four times since the family bought the home in 1997. And around the fifteenth time her mom and dad rearranged the furniture, to no avail, Lucy sensed their dissatisfaction and took matters into her own paws.

She called upon the expertise of interior designer Christine Shorr. To get the rubber ball rolling, Lucy called a meeting over wine, cheese, bread, olives, and dog biscuits. She described to Shorr her ideal bedroom, and the ideas started rolling.

Shorr created an inspiration board to help Lucy and her family visualize the overall concept for the room. With photographs from Web sites and old magazines, Shorr put together a collage of images that were earthy — mostly green and tan — and relaxing. Among the cut-outs were depictions of some of the family's favorite items, including Aveda hair products and Greenies dog biscuits.

Gaining Lucy's enthusiastic approval, the designer got right to work.

Naturally, Shorr started with Lucy's domain: a poochsized dormer with ample natural light, enough wall space to display Lucy's portraits, and room for her prized rubber chicken. Shorr reupholstered Lucy's bed in brown and cream zebra-striped fabric with green trim. The same fabrics were used to upholster the chair, vanity bench, and throw pillow for the bed, which created a satisfying continuity throughout the room.

"While I designed the space for Lucy," Shorr said, "I also kept her family in mind."

Against latte-colored walls, Shorr threw in splashes of herb greens, brown, and cream, which Lucy's parents loved. With plants, bamboo window shades, and framed photographs natural botanicals, the room is calm and earthy.

By choosing similarly sized furniture with differing features, Shorr created a satisfying symmetry, while avoiding the "matchy matchy" look that Lucy doesn't like.

She also kept costs down by refreshing some of the family's furniture with a new coat of paint and different hardware. Shorr added warmth with a cream-colored area rug underneath the bed and candles throughout.

As a finishing touch, the designer placed a decorative wall hanging with the letter "M" above mom and dad's bed. Lucy determined stood for "meat" or perhaps "Milk-Bone." When all was said and done, Lucy and Shorr felt they accomplished their goals. "Arf, arf," Lucy said, indicating her satisfaction with the outcome.

From devouring treats to designing relaxing retreats, Lucy proved to be quite a canine. Thanks to this amazing pup, she and her family now have a beautiful, quiet place to relax after long day of chasing cats in the park. And they all lived happily ever after.

Working with a Designer

1 Collect ideas. Before you start searching for an interior designer, collect fabric swatches, paint chips, magazine photos, and print-outs from Web pages you like. These items will help communicate your style to the designer. 2 Nail down your budget. Decide on a comfortable price range. Your designer will help you itemize expenses within your budget. Oftentimes, designers can save you money by helping you make smart spending decisions. Designers are privy to drastic price discounts on things like furniture, fabrics, curtains, and linens. Tip: Ask whether your designer passes those discounts on to you or marks the prices back up. It's a fair question. 3 Research designers and make a decision. Home decor stores work with designers all the time. Ask which designers they've enjoyed working with. Another resource is the American Society of Interior Designers' referral page, at asid.org/ find. Once you've compiled a list of possible designers, call them and ask questions. Inquire about prices, contracts, and processes. Tip: The cost of hiring an interior designer can vary drastically based on your project, your location, the room, and the designer. According to costhelper.com, some designers work for free, earning commission off of the products you purchase for your project. Some charge a fixed fee, anywhere between $500 and $10,000. Others charge an hourly rate, somewhere between $35 and $500. And some designers use a combination of these pricing structures. Get the full scoop before you sign a contract.

Designer Christine Shorr and client Lucy. 4 Consult with your designer. Once you've chosen a designer, set an in-person meeting. Tell your designer what you want, using the ideas you've collected, but be open to your designer's ideas, too. 5 Review the inspiration board and design plan. After your consultation, the designer will create an inspiration board or file that displays the overall concept for the project. Make sure you and your designer are on the same page — literally. If you like the concept, itemize your budget and create a timeline for your design project. 6 Shop. Once you and the designer know what you're looking for, it's time to shop. Trust your designer to make purchases. Remember, your designer knows where to find all the good deals. 7 Put it all together. The designer will arrange (and rearrange) your new purchases and existing pieces until your new room is just the way you want it.