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Interior Design

8 Reasons You Should Hire a Professional Interior Designer

February 13, 2018

8-reasons-you-should-hire-a-professional-interior-designerThe internet is an amazing tool. Technically, you can learn how to build your own house watching YouTube videos and reading blogs. However, the reality is that most people really can’t build their own home regardless of how much they research. Interior design is similar. You either have a knack for it, or you don’t.

Even if you have the knack, you may lack the valuable industry connections that lead to a more cost-effective project or you might not have the energy to complete your vision in a reasonable time frame.

8 Reasons To Hire a Professional Interior Designer

  1. Your colors just don’t work. You studied those House Beautiful spreads diligently, copied the exact same color scheme and…it just doesn’t work. This is the result of not knowing how to integrate the combination of space, lighting and design elements present in a room. Those colors worked in that space, but that doesn’t mean they’ll work in yours. A professional will help you select a color palette that works in your specific living space.
  2. Budget is an issue. What?!? This may seem counterintuitive but people on budgets are the best candidates for a professional designer. Left to their own devices, the budget gets blown long before the design is complete and they’re stuck with an unfinished product. A designer knows exactly how to structure an interior design budget with the monies available and has professional relationships with subcontractors and vendors, yielding much lower prices than if you hire them on your own.
  3. You value your time. Do you feel like spending after-work hours and weekends for the next XX months on your interior design project? A professional designer will work on it while you’re at work, on vacation and doing the things you love so your design comes together in the meantime.
  4. We speak Construction. The construction world is its own culture and there can be a disconnect when homeowners opt to be their own general contractor. Professional designers speak the language, which goes a long way when your remodeling and/or adding on.
  5. You want more than the basics. Sure, you can study the color wheel and learn how to work with texture, shape, proportions, etc. But, if you want to get to the more complex aspects of design, like pattern layering or making a modern design work in a traditionally designed existing home, it often requires the assistance of a professional.
  6. A little validation is always nice. Hiring a professional interior designer doesn’t mean a permanent working relationship. In fact, some of the most fun work we do comes in the form of a single consultation or two that are set up to guide, facilitate and nurture our clients’ ideas. Bring your ideas to us and we can give you the thumbs up, a little professional critique and/or offer you solutions or ideas you may not have thought of to help round out your existing ideas.
  7. To avoid the design rut. Often, clients want a whole new look only to find their “new design” is just a different version of the old one. An interior designer can help you break out of those ruts and embrace different or more daring sides of your aesthetic tastes.
  8. To design your “forever” home. The Great Recession caused many homeowners to go back to “forever-home mode” rather than investment mode. If this is the case, your designer will help you balance timeless interior design aspects with more transient and trend-oriented features so your home can evolve without the need for major remodels in the future.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, professional interior designer

Remodel or Relocate?

February 9, 2018

remodel-or-relocateAlmost every homeowner will face this decision at one point in their lives: remodel or relocate? Whether your house is a recently empty nest, is outdated, or you desire to make the house fit your aesthetic taste and lifestyle a little better the decision to remodel or relocate should be evaluated very carefully so you make the wisest choice for you and your family – both financially and emotionally.

Should We Remodel or Relocate?

Here are some of the things to consider when deciding whether or not to remodel or relocate.

Know You’ll Rarely Make Your Money Back. There is rarely a remodel that will earn 100% of your money back. In fact, Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report for 2014 cites energy efficient front doors as the wisest replacement item, gaining just shy of 97% of their value back in resale. Hm. Front doors are important when it comes to curb appeal, but they certainly aren’t the reason why you’re remodeling, right?

After the front door, the average ROI on typical remodeling and renovation projects are as follows:

  • Wood Deck Addition: 87%
  • Attic Bedroom Addition: 84%
  • Minor Kitchen Remodel: 83%
  • Master Suite Addition: 66%
  • Bathroom Addition: 60%

So, there are some of the official numbers. However, what those ROI figures don’t take into consideration is the enjoyment a remodel provides while you’re living in the home – those factors are priceless. Plus, homes that are updated with timeless design elements are much quicker to sell, another major bonus.

Are You Looking to Downsize? If your home is simply too big for you, a common occurrence when the last of your little birds flees the nest, you may be better off relocating and using a remodel to make your new home more decidedly yours. There is nothing that remodeling can do to shrink your home. However, I will say that with the rising costs of long-term healthcare for seniors, many couples are starting to think about remodeling an area of their home into a studio or one-bedroom suite. These make wonderful guest spaces when family and friends come to visit and can transition into a caregiver’s living space down the road so couples can affordably age in place.

Remodels Are Typically More Affordable Than Buying a New Home. If you are simply exasperated with your current home and feel like moving is the only way to get what you want, consider that moving is more expensive when you analyze dollars spent per square foot. It can be hard for homeowners to see the potential in a home they have lived in for years – or decades. I recommend scheduling a consultation with an interior designer or three to see what they have to say. You may find your “Wish List” is largely attainable with a well-designed and executed remodel.

Moving Often Means Remodeling Anyway. Keep in mind that it’s very rare that you’ll find a home that is completely turn-key. In most cases, you are going to need some new coats of paint, new flooring in all or some of the house or there will be bathroom and/or kitchen fixtures you’ll want to replace. If you decide not to remodel your own home, going through the hassle of selling or renting your house, buying a home and then remodeling anyway may mean you were better off staying put in the first place.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, professional interior designer, relocate, remodel

Modern & Neutral

February 8, 2018

modern-neutralWhile modern interiors are certainly trending right now, the adjectives that describe them aren’t always very attractive: sleek, streamlined, lines, cold, hard, glossy. They don’t necessarily make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, and modern interiors are often criticized for not being comfortable or inviting.

I have found, however, that the key to designing a comfortable, inviting and soothing modern interior design is to keep neutrality at the core of it all.

Use a neutral mantra when creating a modern design

Here is how to keep a neutral mantra running through the core of your modern design, so it’s pleasing to the eye and welcoming to the heart.

Opt for a monochromatic look with warmer tones

There is a huge difference between an all-white or an all-cream interior, and the same holds true between a chocolate brown and a black interior. All of the above are considered “neutral” and yet the cream or chocolate brown versions are almost always going to have a more warm and welcoming energy – especially when paired with other modern design elements. Grays also work as a neutral, monochromatic theme that can create an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

And, did you know that almost all color hues can become “neutral” in their expression when they’re pared down to their softest and most subtle shades? If you like color but are looking for more graceful and discreet ways to express them in your home design, consider exploring the use of soft, pale shades as your monochromatic backdrop or as your secondary color theme.

The low profile mid-century modern couch

The look of a low profile, mid-century modern couch works in just about any home – including traditional ones, believe it or not. Sure, you can go with some of the bolder and swankier colors that the 1950s and early-60s were known for, like burnt orange, marigold, greens and reds – but you can just as easily choose your couch in a paler color that blends in – or stands out slightly – from the rest of your neutral décor.

Add a bit of shimmer, shine, and reflection

Look for textiles, fixtures, and finishes that have a little shimmer, shine, and reflection. Those who are interested in a neutral décor won’t be attracted to standard, reflective metallic finishes. However, you can find brushed or satin versions in golds, bronzes, and silvers that have a much softer approach and land more like a soft bell than a piercing chime.

Do use mirrors to capitalize on this effect, and mirrored furniture offers another way to magnify existing décor or to enhance light play in a modern and neutral design.

Think about elemental variation

Enhance your neutral and modern design motif by varying the elements used in each room. Consider the basic elements – stone, wood, metal – and then see if all three are represented in each space. Hardwood floors or beautiful wood trim may be all you need in the wood department, an exposed brick wall or naturally finished pottery or ceramics can cover the stone department – as does a stone hearth or stone tiles on the floor or around the perimeter of the floor. Metal is easy to incorporate via drawer and door pulls, mirrors, and the metallic accents we discussed above.

Use area rugs

Don’t forget to use area rugs to anchor your spaces, add color or pattern where needed or to provide a richer, textural component. Since modern designs tend to lean towards harder and glossier, softer or woven textiles – including throw rugs – can be a great way to soften things up. Plus, they’re easy to move or replace as tastes or styles evolve over time.

One of my favorite things about neutral and modern decors is that they are timeless. I have clients who’ve inherited their modern couches and furniture from grandparents or great grandparents and -when well-made, or reupholstered – these pieces look right at home in their contemporary homes.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, professional interior designer

Choosing A Headboard To Match Your Style

January 19, 2018

choosing-a-headboard-to-match-your-style

While the bed frame plays a part in your bed’s style – the headboard is the star of the show. There are as many headboards to choose from as there are mattresses on the planet, it seems like, so choosing the right one for your bedroom can get confusing pretty quickly.

Have you identified your design style? This is one of the simplest ways to narrow your bed design options. If you’re a modernist, you’ll typically be attracted to a different set of headboards than if you’re a traditionalist.

Not quite sure where you fall on the “Design Style o’ Meter?” Read, What’s Your Interior Design Style, and you’ll be pointed in the right direction. Once you’ve determined what you like – and what you aren’t as fond of – it will be easier to do online searches for bed frame images.

  1. Start searching images. Once you’ve narrowed down your preferred style, start using Google images, Houzz or other online interior design platforms to view images of beds with those keywords attached to them. Print out, bookmark or use an online design idea book to save images you like. This will help you to continue whittling the choices.
  2. Think about your bedroom. Often, the size of your bedroom dictates the type of bed frame that will work. If you have a large bedroom, the world is your oyster. However, medium- to smaller-sized bedrooms will want to think about proportion. For example, you may be a traditionalist who loves four-poster beds, but that bed will take over a small room. Then again, this might be something to work with, creating a magical bedroom where the bed is the focus – furnished with comfortable accent pillows, chiffon drapes, etc. – truly a boudoir effect.
  3. How tall are your ceilings? This is Part 2 to Number 2. Using the four-poster example again…a tall headboard will make a low ceiling feel even lower. If you have ceilings that are the standard 8-feet, an interior designer would say to choose a lower-profile headboard. If you are drawn to taller headboards, use other tricks to add height – like mounting window curtains closer to the ceiling so floor-length drapes give the illusion of height.
  4. Think about wear and tear. I once had a lovely wooden headboard with a large rattan insert. It was gorgeous…until about the 10th time my elbow punched the back while readjusting my reading position. It formed an unmistakable hole that was difficult to hide, even with the pillows set just right. That was an expensive repair, but it was necessary to preserve the look of the headboard. Think about how you use your bed. If you only sleep there – a higher-maintenance material will be fine. If you read or work in bed, propped up on pillows, consider that when choosing the headboard’s materials. For example, upholstered headboards are lovely, and comfortable – but you might need to invest in a steam cleaner to remove oils from hair and hair products that will build up over time.
  5. Comfort level. Continuing with the comfort theme, wrought iron beds are a versatile option, but they aren’t all that comfortable when you want to read or work on your laptop. So that way the headboard will feel when it comes in contact with your head, a hand or an errant arm is definitely a consideration, even if it isn’t a driving force while making your selection.
  6. Is it a feature? Do you want your headboard to be a feature in the room, adding texture, color or depth? Or would you prefer the bedrame to fade into the background, blending with surrounding colors and features? Some headboards are barely there while others scream, “look at me!”

Filed Under: Accessories, Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, professional interior designer

Choosing A Backsplash

January 16, 2018

choosing-a-backsplash

Backsplashes are more than just an extra layer of protection for your kitchen walls. They are also the means for some serious design impact. Color, mosaic work, continual expanses of natural stone – whatever your tastes, choosing a backsplash for a kitchen remodel should not be a last minute decision.

Standard Backsplash or The Whole Shebang? What Makes the Most Sense?

One of the decisions you’ll have to make in regards to your kitchen backsplash is whether or not you should tile the entire wall or go with a standard height version. Typically, a “standard” backsplash is about 4-inches high, although you are free to go a little higher. Often, clients who opt for this style will use 6-inch or 8-inch high options, so keep those heights in mind when reading “standard” or “partial” in the considerations listed below.

There are a few considerations that come into play when choosing a full or partial backsplash for your kitchen remodel:

Budget. Not surprisingly, the more materials you use in a remodel, the higher the price tag. Thus, a full backsplash will cost more than a partial version. If you have splurged on your cabinet and countertop materials and want to save a little, choosing a partial backsplash will help, especially if you want to match your backsplash to expensive countertop materials. You can meet a little in the middle by putting a full backsplash in a section or two and leaving the rest at standard height (more on that below).

Aesthetics. What look at your going for? If you have a formal kitchen design, or a very modern kitchen design, a full backsplash might be the best look for your overall presentation. It creates a very regal and clean aesthetic, streamlining the finished design.

Kitchen wear and tear. How much do you use your kitchen? Who uses the kitchen and what’s their cooking style? If you have a busy kitchen, filled with boisterous chefs and/or assistants who aren’t always careful about where the sauces, dish water, pot splatter, etc., lands, a full backsplash might be in order – particularly behind the stove top. You will appreciate cleaning last night’s dried marinara sauce off of smooth tile surface rather than a textured wall surface. Plus, you’ll mitigate potential long-term damage to the wall, which may eventually need to be resurfaced or replaced if cumulative damage causes dents or a cave-in.

You can have both! Keep in mind that you don’t have to pick one or the other. In some households, full backsplash areas are installed behind the stove, sink or any major food prep areas where food or liquids are more likely to infiltrate the permeable wall surface. The remainder of the kitchen can have a standard backsplash height.

How often do you change your color palette? This can be an important factor. If you are someone who really enjoys changing your interior color scheme every few years or so, I recommend going with a standard backsplash height. That will allow you the freedom to paint, paper, stencil or generally get creative on the wall space between the countertop and upper cabinetry. This is much, much simpler, not to mention more cost efficient, than ripping out and reinstalling new tile work. It is also preferable to living with tile work you wish you could change.

Working with an professional interior designer ensures you think about every aspect of your interior design – even the seemingly insignificant details – so you can enjoy a completed remodel that balances function and aesthetics for your household.

Filed Under: Interior Design Tagged With: decorating, decorator, design, designer, home, home design, home interior, interior, interior decorating, interior decorator, interior design, interior designer, living space, professional designer, professional interior designer

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