By KELLEY DAUGHERTY
Special Sections Editor

In Fayette County, there are few places that offer the one-stop shopping of Home Depot for building and remodeling and now, the home improvement store has expanded their services to include all of the design and decorating advice you need.

Paula Holden heads up the design department at Home Depot in Fayetteville offering all the coordinating techniques needed to pull a room together. From window treatments to kitchen cabinets, the design center will guide customers through the entire decorating process.

"We want to let the average homeowner know the design services are available," Holden said. "And we offer them free of charge."

When you begin remodeling or even building your home, bring in your blueprints to take advantage of all the products and services available from the beginning of the process.

The design center will help you by starting with the lighting process, which will set the mood or atmosphere of the room. >From there, you will move on to walls, which may include paint, wallpaper, cabinets and window treatments. Custom-designed kitchens by Home Depot save the thrifty homeowner because only a measurement fee, which goes toward installation is tacked on to the entire job.

The store boasts of its state-of-the-art technology that allows the paint department to match any color. With a swatch the size of a dime, the computer is able to sample the color and mix pigments with the paint to achieve the exact same color.

The most important thing to do, says Holden, is to get the customer to share their needs and desires so the home improvement specialists can help them achieve their goal. Furthermore, this will allow them to tell customers the most efficient way to spend their money.

Home Depot can help with virtually every aspect of home building, except the building itself and pouring concrete or asphalt.

Holden also gives free in-home consultations and any design consultant in the store can give an in-store consultation, though they urge appointment be made for undivided attention. All of the consultants are required to take Lynette Jennings classes and become certified in kitchen and bath. All in the design center also attend flooring college where they learn how to lay tile, linoleum and carpet as well as veneer flooring.

Since none of the employees at Home Depot work on commission, Holden says there is no pressure from the departments to urge sales or brand preferences.

"We're about customer service," said Donnie Wellington, assistant manager of the store. "This is an excellent company and we're proud to be here."

Holden says they "stand behind the product. There is no gray area."

Home Depot also offers services to help contractors and builders. Contractors and builders can call in large supply orders and the store will have them loaded and waiting at the door for pick up or delivery services can be set up for the next day on stocked items.

"We ensure quality," said Chuck Clymer, Home Depot contractor, "we're not infallible, but we will make it right."

Other conveniences include charge accounts that provide special offers and promotionals and that offer builders and contractors opportunities to buy supplies before a house is sold or a job is finished.

Home Depot also guarantees customers the best prices by matching any competitors price and then reducing it another 10 percent provided a written, valid quote from the competition.