i lack the designer gene

I have no theme.

I'm never at a loss for words, but I knew I was in trouble when Arly Joe's wife, Esther, asked me how I liked my new apartment, and then she said "What's your theme?"

Gulp. Granted, I've watched how many episodes of Trading Spaces, Changing Rooms, While You Were Out, etc. They're guilty pleasures -- although I've moved on from those shows. And yes, I occasionally do have design ideas, but I haven't made that final leap into translating that to my own life. For starters, I'd rather pay someone else to do it for me.

So, I have no theme...but somehow, I bravely answered that I hadn't figured out what color to paint the walls, but then I remembered, I have a lot of Chinese furniture, scrolls and other paintings in the apartment. Yeah, the Far East -- that's my theme...I guess.