Who Should Work With an Interior Designer?

I love running an interior design practice. I love being a designer and working with the busy, successful and on-the-go clients who ask me to show them how to put more beauty and therefore balance in their homes. But I have never believed that hiring a professional designer is the right choice for everyone. Certainly, excellent interior designers bring great value and benefits to the clients who engage them. If I didn't believe this, I wouldn't do what I do. However, without question, designers are luxury items and the people who tend to engage interior designers are generally affluent, busy, discerning - and they want a particular quality and type of design in their homes. I am neither for nor against hiring a professional designer. But I do believe it  has to be the right choice for both parties - meaning both client and designer alike. If you're on the fence as to whether you'd enjoy working with a designer, here’s a little guide to help you decide if engaging a designer would be a little slice of heaven for you, or a trip to you-know-where…and I don’t mean Hoboken. 


Here’s who should NOT hire an interior designer: 


1) Die-Hard Do-It-Yourselfers (DIY'ers).



Don’t do it. It will be a disaster for both client and designer. DIYers are not likely to value the experience, fresh perspectives, studied design technique, service, resources, legwork, and intellectual property a designer brings to the table. It’s much like people who don't appreciate the value of having an accountant do their tax return. There’s nothing wrong with being a design DIY'er. I have a pal who lives in a palatial home in an upscale area and she and her husband are design DIY'ers through and through. Would their home be featured in a design magazine? Not likely. But who cares? It works for them and for their lifestyle. Hiring a designer has nothing to do with how elegant or “classy” you are. Hiring a designer has to do with your goals and what is important to you. 


2) The Bargain Shopper.



Don’t do it. We all want good value, but finding good value is one thing, wanting the cheapest item at the cheapest price all the time is something else. The Bargain Shopper is the person who would choose price over quality every time. This individual would never be happy working with a design professional because they will not value the service a designer provides and they will be suspicious of recommendations. Bargain shoppers probably don’t care if window treatments are in the correct proportion to the windows, if they are poorly made, incorrectly hung, unlined, undercut or out of date. Bargain Shoppers are more likely to want to work independently and will likely feel satisfied with whatever result they achieve. Good enough is good enough for them, and if that’s your MO - I say run with it and keep working on your own.  That's ok too!



Here’s who would enjoy working with a designer:


• People who have a very particular aesthetic or look they want to achieve.
• People who have a particular aesthetic in mind, but who are too busy with family or career – or both - to know how to begin to pull it together.
• People who are very sensitive to the way their environment looks and feels.
• People who view home as an extension of – and expression of – themselves and who take great pleasure in being surrounded by a brand of beauty that nurtures and supports them.
• People who are about to undertake an extensive renovation and feel overwhelmed or confused by the breadth of decisions to make.
• People who just moved into a new home and cannot make their old furnishings work or get them to “fit."

• People who look longingly at design magazines and really want something that looks and feels “like that” but, try as they may, can’t get there themselves.
• People who have a long narrow room, or an oddly shaped room that they can’t get to feel right.
• People who recognize that they can’t achieve the look they want themselves.
• People who struggle with odd or mismatched windows in a single space and have no idea how to handle them all.
• People who expect excellent value for the dollars they spend, but who also value the service, perspectives, unique ideas, and finished result a design professional brings.
• People who truly want to love and enjoy their home, but who don’t enjoy the design process.
• People who are willing to pay a professional for a professional result.
In general, the individuals who are best suited to hiring interior designers recognize that working on their own, they are no more capable of achieving their home and design goals than I am of filling my own cavity – no matter how many dental shows I watch on "The Dental Channel." If you find that you are in the market for a designer – go for it! The experience should be wonderful for you, whether you want to work with a designer for the first time, or for a better experience than you had with a former designer. Take heart. The right designer for you is out there (every shoe has its match). Talk to friends, talk to designers. Look at web sites. Interview people to find a good fit. You will find your match, and you’ll be so glad you did.
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Shore up Your Home: Quick Fixes for Home Spaces

Back in the New York metropolitan area where I grew up, we went to the beach. Here in the great County of Bucks in Pennsylvania, people seem to go "down the shore." Well, it's raining on this hot summer day, so there is no "shore" in my future today. Instead, let me help you finetune some of your home spaces by suggesting easy interior design tips to shore up your home that are easy enough to do yourself.

The Kitchen


Heart of your home. This is the epicenter of family life and guest visits alike. It's around this table that stories are told, Life plans are made, children are taught, prayers sometimes said and delighted laughter shared. When I align the function and beauty here, all of the activities that occur in it benefit as well. Here are some kitchen enhancements you can think about.

Shore Up:  Make sure you have the right colors here - the ones you love. Be sure storage is ample AND organized so that things are stored where you need them. If not, cull down (read: throw away!) and reorganize making it so. Ensure ideal seating even if you have to consider swapping some chairs for a bench. And do your kitchen this favor:  REMOVE at least two accessories and watch things open up. 

The Family Room


Ah, the Play and Share Space of the home. It's here that we gather with family and friends, watch a great game with pals, snuggle up with the paper or good book or gather round for family movie or game night. And let's not forget that rejuvenative Sunday afternoon nap.
 
Shore Up:  I always like to have a soft, fluffy throw stored here for clients, or keep one beautifully draped over the arm of a chair to make snuggling in even easier. Create storage for all of the kids' items so that when it's adult time, you can get some. Opt for a love seat and sofa rather than two club chairs with a sofa if nap time is high on your list - great for his and hers cat naps over the Sunday Times. Make fabrics on upholstery touchable and soft to the skin. Do this room a favor - update all of the lamps and remove all your accessories and then reload all but six. 

The Master Bedroom


Your Inner Sanctum. This is the space that like no other in your home should still the incessant beating of the world's endless drum. Your core should open and relax here. Whether you want to get your sexy on or snuggle up with a good book, this space should feel picture perfect to you.

Shore Up:  New bedding will reinvent this space. Consider either an upholstered bench at the end of the bed, or a small arm chair in the room for a convenient place to perch. Re-invent a tired bedroom set with an upholstered headboard or consider adding a demi-canopy. As ever, if budget allows, go custom on these items for the greatest pay off. I'm always in favor of a lamp update here. And do clear off those nightstands.


The Children's Room

The Image-i-narium of your home! Young minds, unfolding souls. Do you remember your childhood room? It was here that you dreamed your dreams and planned your plans. Crayon magic and make believe eventually gave way to adolescent hopes, wishes and wonderings if the world would make a place for us once we flew the nest.
 
Shore Up:  Let the young have their spaces. For little ones, add new bedding in their favorite theme and select a fresh new wall color that can "morph" into their more grown up room. For tweens and teens, create zones for rest, for homework and for entertaining a pal or two. Give kids plenty of input into their room's design. Need an inexpensive window treatment? Purchase a ready made valence and a contrast grosgrain ribbon. Then hire your favorite tailor to attach the ribbon just above the hem of the valence. If need be, call in a pro to show you how to take their young dreams and put them into plausible and long-term-staying-power design.

Treat these spaces with the care and respect you would any sacred spot in the garden. After all, it's in your home that you "grow" your family and your Life.  Design is powerful and abundant. Use her well and enjoy the fruits of her yield for many seasons. Of this I am "shore."Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/search/label/home%20decorating%20%28and%20ideas%29
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The B-Word. And Design

No – not THAT “B-word.”  Let's keep this clean. BUDGET. That’s the B-word I’m talking about. BUDGET. 



 


I always approach the topic of BUDGET very delicately with a new client. People get very funny talking about money. They may have been taught that “it” is not discussed; they may fear that I am trying to judge them, size them up, look them over or worse – work them over!


Not so, not so, not so.


The thing of it is this: Budget drives design. And it's as much a part of the process as paint chips and fabric swatches, and you wouldn’t be embarrassed to discuss those things. Budget must be viewed in the same way. Budget is king because it will direct and drive every single design decision made in a project. Always.


The scariest words I ever hear from a new client are “We Have No Budget.” Those are the clients that I know will be the 1^st to have sticker shock and either panic, shut down, or run. They will waste design time and design dollars because they will be searching the wrong venues. They will be highly unfocused and will be unable to make decisions. They will drive up their design time, and drive down the prudent use of their time.


Why does a designer – and you – need to know your budget? Very simply:  So we can design TO your budget, not above it. By knowing budget, I know how to guide to best advantage to get the most power out of that budget. Furthermore, by knowing a client’s budget, I know what their expectation is regarding quality of goods. I will not suggest Raymour and Flanigan to the client who really is expecting a custom 8-way-hand-tied sofa in a fine fabric or upper end silhouette or color. I will not suggest a mid price point resource to the client who is looking for an entry level price point retailer. Making the wrong recommendation in any of these scenarios would have disastrous results, to include completely breaking down efficiency – and worse – destroying trust and faith – from client to designer.


My final words on budget can be borrowed with a bit of a twist from my favorite, Will Shakespeare:


“Budget” is neither good nor bad,
But thinking that makes it so.


Budget isn’t good. Budget isn’t bad. Budget is just a thing. Like a paint chip. Let it go. Breathe. Make a budget decision – don’t judge it nor expect anybody else to either. Just let it be. Do this, and watch your design wishes fall in line – Bingo. Another great B-word!
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The Art of Choosing and Hanging Art

Pierre Auguste Renoir - "Fruits from the Midi", 1881




Renoir or bust? Original or forget it? Frankly, there are no hard fast rules when it comes to purchasing art, except this one:  Buy what you love and, if possible, buy it when you see it. Must it be museum quality, collector quality or cost tens of thousands of dollars? Only if you’re an elitist or a billionaire. :-)   




Mix it Up



Try to open your thinking beyond just oils or watercolors hung everywhere. You can also hang wonderful pieces of architectural salvage too – grates, grillwork, wrought iron, heavily carved wooden doors with an ethnic bent (yes, you read that right…).  You can frame things like black and white photos you took yourself - to collectible items like handkerchiefs from your grandmother - to old faded sheet music. Think outside the box. Try to vary things if you can. Rather than having every piece of art behind glass, do throw in an oil or watercolor or mixed media piece if it’s in line with your tastes. Don’t forget sculptures. Don’t overlook craft fairs.




How to Hang Artwork



Rather than taking up space here, if you’d like to know more, click on this link to a great archival post in my blog all about how to hang artwork. It’s filled with loads of great tips. In fact, COUNTRY ACCENTS MAGAZINE loved the post so much, they asked me to do a piece for them last fall. To read the blog post on hanging artwork, click here.


Great Art Resources

If you ARE in the market for a certain piece and size of “something” for some specific spot, here are two great resources I share with clients as appropriate; one is lower on the price point scale and one is higher. This 1^st one deals in “giclees” – these are made to resemble oil paintings in an accurate manner, but are really printed on canvas. They can be hung unframed for tighter budgets, or framed if you have the bucks to spend on framing. This web site has a selection that is gi-hugical…and can customize your sizes! Check out Artaissance at www.artthatfits.com. They do sell directly to the public so you’re in like Flynn.




Another favorite resource of mine is in New York City. I often travel there from my home near Philadelphia, PA. They actually hand paint sections of paintings from Dutch masterpieces…to any size you want!  Spectacular. Their work is stunning. Because it’s an original, you will wait 3-6 months for it and you will pay for the cost of a hand painted oil…although not an original.  This resource does not sell directly to the public, (to the trade only…) so if you see something you like, give me a ring and I’ll help you purchase it. Check out: www.dutchtouchart.com.

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Color Psychology

Have you heard of the psychology of color? I just attended an interesting presentation at the design center on this very topic. Color is a fascinating topic for this Philadelphia designer - whether color theory or color psychology.  This blog visits the latter. 

We all respond to color from our cultural bias (!True!), as well as our experiential bias. However there are psychological studies done on this topic as well. Thanks to these findings, you are affected, Jane Q. Public. That's right. There's a reason you'll see orange in fast food restaurants (studies show it stimulates appetite) or that you'll see soft greens in hospitals, used for their calming effects. In simplest terms, color has its own language and it makes us feel a certain way. Color can be used to harmonize a space, to alter a space, to set the mood and ambiance of a space. But, from the viewpoint of color psychology, it affects personal mood and feelings based upon the above caveats. Here's a quick look:



1. Red
Red is the first color newborns can see after their initial perception of black and white. They don't see pastels...contrary to popular nursery design. Studies have shown that red can raise blood pressure and heart rate, also acting as a mental stimulant. (Maybe I need a red office?) Because red stimulates appetite, some say food tastes better when surrounded by red – no wonder it’s such a great and popular choice for dining rooms.

 
2. Blue
Color psychologists believe blue to act like red’s opposite. It’s thought to decrease the pulse rate, lower body temperature, and reduce appetite. (Hmmmm...on that theory...what if my chocolate was wrapped in blue…note to self…) Color psychologists notice blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is a good choice in interiors where relaxation is desired.



3. Yellow
Yellow has been proven to stimulate the brain in various studies. This stimulation can make you more alert and decisive, helping memory and promoting clear thinking. Hey, with a yellow kitchen, you just might not need that extra cup of coffee in the morning!


4. Green
Green is often used in decorating for its calming effect. It is the color of the outdoors. I remember reading in my QVC host training days that precious gem cutters will sometimes rest their weary eyes for a bit by staring at green emerald or jade or some other such green subject for a bit. Green imparts a fresh, organic feel and sensibility to a space. No wonder it's thought to relax our muscles and help us breathe more deeply and slowly.

 

5. Purple
Purple is a wonderful and mysterious color in that it is the combination of two complete opposites on the color wheel – red and blue. Purple can be invigorating or calming, depending on how much red or blue it contains as well as how saturated it is (...how deep it is). Think soft lavendar vs. electrified violet,  pictured left.


In the end, color does have a profound effect on how we feel – that is how WE feel – not what color theorists say. Blue may be the color of “heaven" for one of my clients - and the color of “not on your life” for another. I always find it fascinating to notice the colors that keep showing up in a client's inspiration photos. It tells me so much about who they are and what they crave.It's up to me as their designer to use color wisely in order to coax and carve a space to achieve our shared marvelously beautiful and evocative goal. 
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Choosing the Right Interior Designer for You - The Interview

Interior Design - like ice skating - is exponentially harder than it looks. 


Most people come to this realization when they stand looking at a room in their home wondering why it has missed the mark and how to fix it. There is so much science and technique to design - a pro will bring ideas resources, nuances and uniqueness you'd never thought of - as well as the protection to avoid the costly disasters. Yet as with any knowledge worker - whether a lawyer, accountant or doctor - you want to find a great one who can deliver the end result you are after and in a process that you'll really enjoy, too.


How do you find the right designer - whether looking for a new designer or trying one for the first time? Read on.



Pick Up the Phone and Call the Designer. But Ask the right questions when you do. It amazes me that new clients forget to ask critical questions like these:
1. Can you tell me about your design philosophy?
2. Would you describe your working process - if I hired you - what should I expect?
3. Do you have any referrals I could speak with? (Yes! Ask for referrals upfront - why book an appointment with this person and waste your precious time if it's not a good fit?)
4. Then...ask for their rates.
Once you have selected your designer, here are some things you can do to insure your best results and a wonderful working process.


How to Be A Good Client to Support your Best Results:

1. Be on time to all meetings. 
2. Keep the conversation friendly, yes, but professional – double yes. Design is such a personal process and a good designer is aware of supporting your comfort while also being professionally respectful. Do not share the ins and outs of every personal trial and tribulation. After all, depending on how you are being billed, doing so you will either be running up your service time charge or inappropriately using your designer’s time – either will come with a cost.
3. Pay your invoices on time. Designers bend over backwards for conscientious clients.
4. Be respectful of her time - just as you wish her to be of yours. (This includes phone & email.) 
5. If you expect service and time devoted to the sole support of you and your family’s project, expect a cost to be assigned to it. Pay it graciously – and you will be rewarded with excellent service, excellent results and probably some generosity in there, too. I always intend for clients to be surprised by excellence they didn’t even expect. It’s easy to over-deliver excellence to excellent clients who have my earned trust and good faith.
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How to Make Your Interiors Seem Larger

...OK, not that large...


Almost all of my interior design clients from Bucks County to Princeton will wish at one time or other that some room in their home was larger. Last year I helped a client in Princeton make her living room look larger; right now I'm showing a great couple how to the luxury master bath I'm designing for them feel larger - all without moving a single wall. Let me share with you some of my tried and true ideas to help you get more “square footage” out of a room or home. 


1. Reduce room function. I run into this problem a lot with clients here in the Bucks County suburbs as well as those in Metro Chic Philadelphia. The answer to create more space for small rooms? Reduce their function. Logically, if a room has to do less, it can hold less. Smaller spaces simply cannot accommodate as much diverse purpose as larger spaces can.
2. Use color and pattern wisely and strategically. Large patterns and deeper colors move toward the eye and eat up space. Still love dark dramatic walls? Experiment with them in a powder room or dining room – an area in which you don’t spend much time. But, for that family room, living room or kitchen that needs more space – let those intense patterns and deeper colors find their way into the secondary accent position, not the main tune. 
3. Lift the ceiling. Hang window treatments as high as you can and watch the ceiling seem to lift. Avoid horizontal window treatments, instead opting for tall, full panels. It’s like building marvelously tall fabric column in the room – the vertical lines are marvelous. I also work with those ceilings in smaller rooms with color. Rather than painting the ceiling white, I will select a lighter version of the wall color and the ceiling will lift higher still.

4. Watch accessories. Edit and distill. Be brutal in a small space when it comes to accessories. Less is more and too much is deadly.

5. Increase the light. In smaller spaces, I add mirrors to increase the luminosity in the room and perception of space. I find that most of my design clients need more table lamps (3 per room is ideal) and by adding a few of these simple items, I get rooms to brighten and open.
6. Get the protruding accessories off the wall. This is my pet peeve I admit, but respectfully:  Ditch the cute little shelving units that spring off the wall - the corbels, brackets and little units that hold tea cups or heaven knows what. In small spaces, artwork and accessories should be flush to the wall.
Enjoy your new found space!
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