Meeting Your Interior Designer

Lets face it, it’s never easy for any of us to invite a semi-stranger into our home, especially someone who will be offering invited suggestions on how to re-design your home. To make things easier on everyone I’ve assembled 10 steps to preparing for a first visit with an Interior Designer, which will take some of the guess work and jitters out of opening your door to your new partner in design.

Here we go . . . 

  1. Prepare two “Ideabooks” in Houzz of items you like and dislike, and include notes as to why, and then share with your designer.

    Computer Couple

  1. Decide which items you would like to keep in the rooms you are asking the designer to re-design, and decide if these items must stay in the newly designed room or if it can be used elsewhere in the house.

    Antiques

  1. The designer will want to tour your entire home to look at your current style and to see how your family lives. Please know that as designers we do not expect to see a perfectly clean home, designers are real people too.

    Dutch Door

  1. It will help your designer if you and your pertinent other have discussed a budget. We realize that you will need guidance as to what quality investment pieces cost and we will be able to narrow down the costs and give you a range at your meeting.

    Interior Design Costs

  1. A list of prepared questions is encouraged and welcomed.

Interior Design Questions

  1. Like Houzz, Pinterest is a great place to assemble ideas of items/designs you like and dislike and then share these Pinterest “Boards” with your designer.Pinterest for Designers

  1. For the designer that you plan on hiring it will be helpful for them to have samples of items that are already installed and staying; carpet, tile, paint, drapery material, etc.Designer Fabrics

  1. If anyone in your family has allergies to textiles such as wool or feathers, you will want to have these notes prepared for the designer.

    Allergies to Textiles 9.  Think ahead as to any important family events that may coming up and share those dates with your designer. You will both want to be on the same page for expected delivery schedules.

    Planning Your Remodel

  1. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your time working with the designer to create the home/office of your dreams. This should be fun process for everyone involved.      Designing Fun

Hopefully these little hints have helped, now lets get together and have some fun!

 

 

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Summer style guide (4)

I’ve learned over the years you don’t need a lot of accessories to make a big impact on a well designed room.  Here are my favorite four must have accessories.  I make sure I always have these items with our team when we accessorize any room.

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1.  BOOKS – You can do so much with these little treasures.  First I start with the the staple, the Coffee Table books.  These usually have to be on subject to something that the client, our yourself is interested in, or is written about the surrounding areas (city, beach, zoo, etc).

Then I always have books for stacking, leaning, texture, etc.  I use these groupings in bookcases, under lamps, bringing a pop of color.  My best place for picking up these little high impact, and cost effective treasures, is at a Goodwill type of store.

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2. FRESH FLOWERS / GREENERY / ALL OF THE ABOVE –  I’ve never designed a room that didn’t have some form of real, or faux real :), plant on display.  Succulents are all the rage and I don’t see them going any where soon, and most of my clients love them because they are basically immune to the forgetful gardener.  I personally like orchids as they can be used in an masculine design or a romantic soft setting.  For those of us fortunate enough to the live in the San Diego area, have you heard of the Orchid Farm that basically babysits your orchids once they have finished blooming.  Just pick them up once again when they are in bloom for a new season of beautiful.  This service is offered for as low as $1.75 a month.  (Click here for more information)

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3.  CANDLES – Candles are one of those 4 MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES that could be multiplied by ten.  Every room should have a candle.  In my own home I have at least one in every room and it brings me such joy, and calm, when I light them every night.  You may also want to consider the new battery operated candles,   they’ve become so realistic!  Also, when ever I’m near an Ikea I make sure to pick-up lots of theri incredibly affordable candles, just a couple of dollars each.  A great bargain!

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4.  TRAYS – Their just not for room service anymore.  Our styling arsenal always has several trays as they can be used on ottomans, in bathrooms for a grouping of all of your necessities, in a kitchen for a collection of snacks, in an entry for a place to drop your keys and mail when you come home, etc.  So many uses for such an expensive accessory.

In my own home these FOUR MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES are always being rotated in-and-out of my design as it’s an easy way to add a fresh look for those days when you feel like your room needs an update.

Give us a call if we can help.  We do offer a service to come into your space and just update your accessories for a fresh new look.

 

 

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Rancho Santa Fe - Before and After

Where do I begin, this bedroom received a breath of fresh air.  When we first consulted for this Rancho Santa Fe – Master Bedroom Makeover, the homeowner asked that all of the heavy furniture be removed and that hints of “nature” be introduced.  Mission Accomplished.

Rancho Santa Fe Master Bedroom

We replaced the carpet, painted the walls, removed all existing drapery and installed custom window treatments.  Then all new furniture and custom bedding were put in to production.  Very few things in this room were left untouched.

 

All that darkness is gone!  Let the sun shine in.

Master Bedroom Before and After

All of the dark furniture was removed and accessories were removed.  Let the sun shine in!

Master Bedroom Makeover

Look at all of that detail on the duvet cover.  All of those white knots were hand made in our incredible workroom.  Then make sure to take a look at the far corner where the chaise is now located, there was once a fireplace there.  For various reasons we were not able to remove the fireplace which the homeowner really disliked, so up went the new wall.  You would never know it’s behind that wall.

Master Bedroom Details

Behind these two small tables is a new sleeper sofa that accommodates some young children when they want to camp out in this freshened up room.  It was important that these two tables be easily moved when that sofa was put into use.

Master Bedroom Custom Bedding

More of the custom pillows and bedding.  This is one cushy bed!

Master Bedroom Makeover

The chests on either side of the bed are known as Bachelors Chests.  I try to always use them when we have a large room, they help anchor the room, and feel so much more appropriate than an standard night stand.

Master Bedroom Makeover

I had a lot of fun designing the Corona, the item hanging over the bed.  I really need to thank my work room for their patience, because when I came in with my drawings I’m sure they just wanted to say, ‘really Susan’.  You see, this was all happening at the busiest time of the year for our industry, the Fall.

Custom Pillows

Yep, these make me happy.  Lots of custom pillows make for sweet dreams, a comfortable place to read, or just to cuddle up and watch your favorite television show.

Bedroom Makeover

Remember that fireplace I told you about earlier, here it is in all of it’s glory at my first visit with the homeowner.

Sitting Area

. . . . and here it is now.  No more fireplace!  Oh, and that stunning chaise, it’s a recliner.  The entire back end of the chair goes down on a power switch and basically makes into a twin bed.

We still have a few additions to this Rancho Santa Fe room, such as a new chair which will sit next to the sofa, and a custom wall waterfall which will finish giving this homeowner that feeling of nature she craves.

Let me know your thoughts about this new room.

 

 

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