Creating a sacred space in your Master Bedroom is a change that can bring serenity all year long.  Usually I create at least two options or scenes where the winter and summer bedding both work with the paint, art, rugs, and drapery treatments. 

It makes a huge psychological difference to change your bedding seasonally.  Just creating a different dynamic with color can make a difference in the way your body temperature responds.  Warm browns and plums create a sense of hibernation.  Summer blues feel cool like water, greens cool like the dewy morning grass.

The quality of the fabrics against your skin creates a sense of heightened luxury.  Thread count and fabric content can go a long way to making you feel like you are at a spa getaway all year round.  Good bedding, seasonally weighted duvets and supportive pillows make sleeping serene. 

My Master Bedroom has two large windows that look out to the backyard.  While I change the seasons with my bedding, I can watch the leaves fall and flowers bloom.  It’s a great way to keep in tune with Mother Nature.

2009 Hot and Not List

HOT: Green Luxury-we see this cropping up in all elements from rugs to fabrics.  Environmental Lux is Hot!

NOT: Cheap from China- anything that screams landfill is NOT!

HOT: Mix it up.  In patterns and colors mixing tableware to dining chairs creates a WOW factor.

NOT: Traditional sets.  Of almost anything.

HOT: Grey-Silver-Plum-Periwinkle add Shimmer, it’s HOT!

NOT: Chocolate Brown and Aqua Blue mix…ho hum…so last year.

HOT: Ambient Lighting.  Creating the warm glow to incduce atmosphere, very HOT!

NOT: Track lighting.  Period.

HOT: Nesting.  Creating sacred space in the house you own.  Using elements that delight the senses.

NOT: Keeping your space static.

HOT: Eclectic Mixes.  Using elements from many different genres to create your own style.  Very HOT!

NOT: Traditional Single style, in the box designs.

Be yourself.  Be fabulous.  Have wonderful design in all parts of your life and style. 

Sara Arndt Interior Desgin, Inc.

Although it may not be the time for a complete remodel, it is a great time for changing soft goods.  Consider a room with hardwood floors and mini blinds.  Take that same room and add a handmade area rug and cusotm soft drapery treatments and your holiday guests will be amazed!

Many times Holiday accessories can get overwhelming.  A designer can help weed out the accessories and place them in creative vignettes.  Take the view that professional clothing stylists to the stars have.  They take the last accessory off the star that was put on….less is more.  You actually CAN have too much of a good thing!

Custom draperies can be installed in one-two weeks in time for the holiday party!  Rugs can be approved of on site and left that day.  Accessorizing is a quick on site process.  It’s a simple way to have your family and friends do a double take when they enter your new updated space!

The question is, what is having your own customized space to retreat from the rest of the world worth to you? 

I know in my own home, I find quiet after the storm.  Graciousness of living specifically tailored exactly to my family’s needs.  The leather chair with down cushions and a fantastic reading lamp that calls out for a good book and a few hours time.  The dining room with it’s openness and inviting flavor that draws friends and family to it just by being rich with color and textures.  Don’t forget the media room where deep relaxation, movie nights, and wii competitions are staples.

Of coruse, there was an input to make these spaces feel the way they do, to make them draw a crowd or reveal a place for solitary time.  It took money and time to create the feeling that there is no other place I would rather be when I’m not working.  And it was worth it!

Consider the end result when determining if it’s the right time to start your project.  With products and goods escalating in price, the best time is now.  The sooner you begin, the sooner you will have your very own customized retreat.

We all have different ideas about what is sacred to us.  Sometimes just finding the space for a good book and a cup of tea makes all the difference in the world.

As an Interior Designer, I ask my clients a lot of questions to discern what is sacred to them.  We create spaces that enhance the value of the time they spend alone and with friends and family. 

One example is a project that began in the kitchen.  My clients realized that this was the integral part of their home.  The heart where everyone wanted to gather.  It was incredibly dated and worn when we started- had not been touched in 20 years.  The new facelift created sacred space with its simple beauty.   My clients increased the number of parties they give, and the new space encouraged more people to be involved in the cooking process.   From the kitchen, we stretched out into the gathering spaces, the dining and living rooms came to life and are now used frequently.  The energy of the house shifted and moved.  From one sacred space came a number of sacred spaces.  Each one rhythmically sounding the value of friendship. 

We all have places in our lives that could use enhancement.  We all need to feel the connection with others, friends and family.  What a joy to have that ability to connect in our homes in ways we never expected.

A designer is able to integrate innovative design solutions with informed selections from the vast universe of product resources and services.

Why hire a Professional Interior Designer?
Interior Designers know the right questions to ask to prevent you from making costly mistakes.

Interior Design is a process that considers both the human environment and your personal life experience, within the framework of a given space.

It results in a setting that combines creativity and good taste with comfort and function in the context of the home. The designer delivers an environment that can lift your spirits.

I don’t have a large budget, should I still hire an Interior Designer?
Professional interior designers can work with any size budget to help you create the space you desire.

Sometimes, a consultation with an interior designer can get you on the path to complete the project. Work with your interior designer to create a budget that works for you.

What do I do if I have a specific time frame?
Talk to your designer. Designers can work within your time frame and your budget-to your satisfaction.

What Benefits does the Interior Designer offer me?
Project Management that addresses your specific needs. Designers operate with schematic design, space planning, final design with specifications and working drawings, and project monitoring to complete a project with a post-occupancy review.

They also offer the ability to create home environments that reflect your personal taste and preferences while allowing for changing individual and family needs.

Designers have knowledge to select suitable, attractive and durable furnishings the meet fire codes and flammability ratings. Your safety, health and welfare are a top priority.

What is my role in the process?
Before contacting an interior designer, take some time to think about what you want and what you need.

• What feeling do you wish the completed project to communicate?
• For whom is the space to be designed?
• What activities will take place here?
• What is your time frame?
• What is your budget?

The more information you can provide, the more successfully your designer will be able to meet your expectations.

Why should I have an interview with the Interior Designer?
The interview is your opportunity to acquaint the designer with the nature of your project, based on your outline. It is a good time to share the designer’s observations and insights, to assess your mutual compatibility, and to review the designer’s portfolio.

Remember, Professional Interior Designers can do the following for you:
• Create solutions for your unique needs.
• Control end results and monitor process.
• Improve home environment.
• Avoid costly mistakes.

Full service design begins with a commitment you and your project. We’ll work closely together to provide creativity, space planning, specialty finishes, custom furnishings, and full scale design implementation.

Turnkey design takes your project from start to finish with more limited participation from you. I take your ideas and inspirations and work more independently to transform your home. The turnkey experience offers an easier way for local and national clients, who often have multiple residences,  to update their homes.

Visualization is important when planning. The vision of the final product is shown through detailed floor plans, elevations and 3-D computer generated images.

This is one example of a floor plan and elevation combination. (Click for bigger picture).

Shopping trips to exclusive design centers are an exciting part of your remodeling. I specify and purchase all interior finishes and furnishings for you after proposal approvals have been met.

If your time is limited, finishes, furniture, and fabrics will be brought to you with complete details for your approval.

Custom trompe l’oile and glass pieces are made to order by amazing artists to make your project truly unique. See the portfolio for examples of these works of art.

When construction is part of the process, I will work with you and your contractor to define finishes that will be a fantastic backdrop to soft goods such as furniture, drapes and rugs. Project design review is available to ensure a quality installation and create time lines for the project details.

You’ll wake up in one house and go to bed in a new home! The installation of soft goods happens all in one day. Furniture, accessories, draperies and rugs will all come to your home like presents, and then I install everything to your total satisfaction.

Lighting can change an outlook or a room. It is important to use ambient lighting in the form of table and floor lamps, not just recessed ceiling lights. Ambient lighting creates a sense of intimacy in any space.

Remember, a new design does not mean throwing everything out and starting from scratch. A good designer will be able to help you with reupholstering, refinishing and restoring your quality pieces and mixing them with new pieces to create a cohesive look.

Drapery frames a room the way the right picture frame enhances artwork. The right drapery combinations are important. Take into consideration the room style, fabric color and textures, type of drapery design, and quality of work.

Flooring is 40% of what the eye takes in as you enter a room. It is important to make this area special, unique and eye catching. Hard surfaces with area rugs add an additional texture your eye will pick up. The rugs define the room and furnishings.

Change the look of a tired kitchen with paint. Even old, yellowing oak doors can be revived with a coat of the right color paint. Finding the right color is key. Take the time to explore your options.

Use rugs to define a room. It is a great investment to purchase a good, handmade rug. I love to select the rug first and pull my fabrics and paint finish colors from the rug. The hand woven styles have so much diversity, they can be used in almost any application.

After all, we work hard and want the best things for our family and our world.  We care about the environment and what sustainability means to our life on this planet.  We understand the fundamentals of how we all need to work together for the greater good.

Good News!  We can have everything we want.  And the sustainability to go along with it.  Balancing fair trade with cost effectiveness my design company caters to our client’s needs.

We effectively address all of the ideas and ideals that make your home base the place you always want to stay.  I use local sources for much of my custom work.  Anything can be made to exactly the piece that will fit your needs and desires.

Addressing aesthetics and function simultaneously and in harmony with our wonderful mother earth, we utilize the types of products that will last a lifetime.  My local craftsmen take my designs and create for you a lasting vision of beauty and usefulness.

The products are made in the USA, in California- not trucked thousands of miles to your door from across the globe.  They are made with the care and treatment that you will appreciate for generations to come.

Gorgeous ironwork, beautiful custom cabinetry, sculptural furniture that fits you like a glove, draperies tailor made and lined with perfection, and customized and antique rugs that find a new life in your home.

These are the pieces of the global view puzzle that make the designs we create for you so special and so very custom.

Enjoying your life is your job, making the beautiful space for it is ours.

It is imperative to have a space to retreat to after the day is done. A place where you feel truly at peace and fully alive. It can be a shared space that encourages harmony with the other inhabitants, or even a place to call your very own.

My very own space is the master bath. To soak away the day is magic in the gorgeous remodeled bathroom I created for my own house. It calls to me from far away and lets me know it’s time to take a breath, take a break. My house is my sanctuary, my cacoon. I share it with my partner and my wonderful dog, Hank.

Together we have created a place that is fabulous enough to entertain, with cozy away nooks to nap and relax. The outdoors is a continuation of the feeling created inside the house. The garden and flowers are magical relaxants akin to a nice bottle of wine which also goes well with the after freeway hours.

My outdoor room encourages spontaneous napping and bird watching for the adults and squirrel chasing for Hank. The amazing feeling that is evoked by the surroundings and the care taken to put it all together is often discussed during parties.

As I design spaces for my clients, I ask hundreds of questions to fully understand what they want and what they need. These can then be addressed in my designs with the goal of using both needs and desires to create the perfect space.

I create unique spaces for my clients that are fully customized to their personalities, requirements, and aesthetic desires. No idea is too extreme…as long as it makes the clients and their guests feel truly at peace, fulfilled and creative for the after freeway hours.

If you can’t wait to get home after work, I’ve done my job. I have clients who can’t believe the way my designs have changed their lives and transformed their spaces. This is truly what brings me joy in my life and bliss in my business.

Changes that I have seen: Changing an unused living room into a reading room created new bonds with a mother and child who now read together in the cozy chair and a half.

Bringing soft finishes to walls and ceilings in a home with jagged edges and too-high ceilings smoothed the entire flavor of the house and created a sense of cozy that had not been experienced there since the house was purchased.

In my own life, a gorgeous new kitchen actually inspired me to become a cook (note, not a chef yet…J) These examples are just the beginning of what design can do to transform your space, transform your “After Freeway Hours”, and change the way you live.

If you are going it alone, make sure to get at least three bids from contractors to compare costs. Be certain that the costs include all aspects of the project and you are comparing apples to apples. I usually encourage my clients to select the contractor that they feel they can trust, midrange in price. If you get a bid underpriced to the extreme, be wary. As my father always says, “you get what you pay for.”

Hiring an Interior Designer first can be helpful as Interior Designers have good sources that they can recommend to you. As a Designer, I normally research bids from contractors I have utilized in the past for my clients making sure all the information they need to complete the project is included or budgeted elsewhere. There are no good suprises when it comes to money.

Make sure you discuss the timeline and if possible, get it in writing. Remember to be flexible and add 10-20% to your budget and timeline as a cushion.

Remodeling can be a very stressful prospect if you don’t have proper design planning. Be certain to set your goals first, outline a solid plan second, and find the appropriate Designer to work with to find the right Contractor and achieve your remodeling dreams.

During a consultation session, an Interior Designer will typically listen to the project plan, review the space and offer suggestions to make the project visually exciting.  An Interior Designer will have a portfolio to show past projects and have a client list for the new potential client to contact for references.

Check to see if the Designer is affiliated with ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers, to get the most out of your investment.  ASID Designers bring a host of knowledge, education, and experiences that will help you create your dream home.

It is important to make sure that you feel you can work with the Interior Designer for the long term.  Some clients end up thinking of thier designer  as a friend who is helping them get through the challenging parts of remodeling or building.

During the initial interview-consultatation, ask the Designer enough questions about how they work, how they will communicate with you, and how they visualize the project coming to completion.  These determining factors will enable you to understand what the future will hold for you in this business relationship.

Look over the Designer’s contract carefully.  It should have more information about fees, presentation styles, and numbers of reselects available by flat fee.  The contract should be very complete and contain all the legal information you will need to understand about your relationship.

Remember that the Interior Designer is there to guide you and make your experience of remodeling, building or furnishing fun and exciting.  The Designer should provide interesting ideas that you might never have imagined.

Ask questions, communicate, and relate to the Designer as you would any professional who is assiting you with a professional skill set.  They are there to help you achieve your goals and make your house your dream home!

In the design of my own home, I incorporated hand woven wool rugs with intricate patterns in that special shade of Chocolate Brown to match my Chocolate Labrador, Hank.

My floors are hardwood- read, easy clean for all the summer shedding, semi gloss paint on the floorboards where pooches can rub up or dribble leftover water from the ever present hole in thier chins!

In my family, Hank does not get to roost on the furniture (he’s a solid 105 lbs), but in some of my clients homes, the rules are more fluid and the dogs smaller.  In those cases, selecting the right fabrics for wearand no tear is crucial.

I recommend indoor-outdoor fabric for dog beds and some cusions.  The new prints in these durable, hoseable fabrics are gorgeous and can help you keep a tight looking ship.

In one client’s home, I gave an older pup a leg up to the bed with a custom two step doggie ladder with reproduction antique dogs carved on both sides.  The look is fantastic, and the function….well…..ask the cozy pooch.

Small dogs have smaller bladders, ect. and need to be provided for if housebreaking has not fully taken.  I always provide a cleaning pamphlet with rugs and fabrics.  It’s good to know what to do with those unpleasent surprises.  With some planning, “Fido, No!” can be removed from your vocabulary.

Dog beds are a hot item in the market and they come in all shapes and colors.  It is important to get the best quality bed for our best friends in support and comfort.  The new Coolaroo dog beds are great for outdoor hammock style doggie living.

Indoors, a plush bed in a fantastic outdoor fabric print can compliment a decor in a way the old brown round beds never could.  They even come in memory foam so our friends can sleep in comfort.

Remember, memory foam has a tendancy to run warm so use in the hot summer months should be limited.

If your small dogs like a home of thier own, many great options are available.  Pooch can be perching like a princess on a bed of look-a-like silken pillows in no time.  And everything can be monogrammed.

Why shouldn’t our loyal companions live in the style and luxury we require for ourselves?  Doggie Design is here.  Call your favorite Interior Designer to incorporate your dog’s needs, wants and desires into your home without compromising quality or style.

One of the largest challenges that homeowners find with remodeling projects is the actual management of the projects.  There are so many elements to contend with that someone who is “going it alone” can end up with huge headaches!

As a Professional Interior Designer, I work continuously with project management.  It is up to my office to schedule all the appropriate sub-contractors AND (this is the hardest part for most homeowners) make sure they come on time and finish before the next sub contractor is scheduled.

With all the parts of the project, there can be as many as 10-15 different contractors to contend with.  Interior Designers can streamline this process and make the headaches go away.  I have utilized my contractors during many projects and know the quality of the work.  Trying to meet with, find the lowest bids, and cross your fingers that the job will be done correctly is a challenge that my clients do not need to overcome.

The Los Angeles Times had an article on August 6th about contractors who have taken thier clients for a ride. Not finishing projects, doing half the work for the entire deposit, and generally doing a sloppy job are some of the complaints.

The contractors that I use have all been screened for workmanship and utilized on many projects prior to yours.  Don’t get caught with problems that can haunt you for years.

Project management takes time and effort, but it is well worth working out the kinks in the plan ahead of time.  A Professional Interior Designer can help make the remodel smooth and easy.

Remember you want to see the “bones” of the house, not the sellers “stuff”

Make notes of any area that feels tight because of extra furniture that seems superfluous.  Make a focus on items to delete before you look to add.

If furniture feels like it is in a non-traditional place and the eye goes to it to figure out why it is there, suggest it be placed in a traditional way.  Example, a desk in the dining room.  Move to bedroom to use as a side-table.

Recognize that some clients will be anxious about you creating a report in their home while they are present.  It takes less time and you make clearer suggestions if you have the space to yourself to see it with the eyes of a potential buyer.

Remind the seller that you are doing this exercise to recommend things that could help the home sell faster/for more money.  Very important!

If your eye travels to a very unsightly piece of furniture, it is better to remove the furniture and leave space than have it there.

Slipcovers can obscure furniture that appears worn.

Adding new, clean faux wood blinds in white or honey tones makes a huge difference for a small investment in a less expensive home.  Buyers will read “wood shutters” when they are actually a fraction of the price.

Cover up any obvious visual problems.  Fix holes in the walls.  Easy fix with putty and touch up paint.

Less is more in the kitchen and bath.  A clean kitchen and bathroom can go a long way in a buyer’s market.

Understand that the seller still needs to live in the space.  Create a plan for daily items to be put away when the home is being shown.

Vanilla scented candles make a good impression on most people.  Get good quality candles for your clients.  Beeswax is also a scent that works with most of the population.

Add shades to shabby chandeliers if it makes a visual impact.  These can be purchased inexpensively on line or locally at Lamps Plus.

Encourage your client to purchase a wool rug to cover a worn wood floor.

Lighting is key.  If the home is shown in the evening, turn on all the lamps.  Ambient lighting makes rooms feel warm and inviting.

Provide boxes for your clients to put the clutter in.  Boxes can be put in pod storage or in an inconspicuous area.  Having a few boxes around can make the buyer feel that the house is being let go of and is ready for them to make a home.

Have professionals clean the carpets and rugs.  I have a wonderful carpet cleaner and maid service if you need one.  Remind your clients that they need to put a little into the house to get a lot out.

Invest in good silk flowers and trees that you can loan your clients and move from home to home.  Many times the seller will want to purchase them from you at an additional cost.

Invest in neutral colored floor pillows.  They feel homey in a bedroom or a family room on the floor and can cover up some issues with flooring.  These do not have to be expensive and you can move them from home to home.

Encourage the clients to get new bedding and a big fluffy duvet.  This will encourage the buyers to see themselves in the bedroom and feel luxurious to the eye.

Paint the rooms.  Nothing says home like a fresh coat of paint.  Make sure that you select a neutral color that works with the seller’s furniture and will work with many buyer’s furniture.  Please call me for assistance if you need it.

Flowers on the exterior.  Make sure the yard is mowed and cleaned up.  Rule of thumb, it should look better than when the seller lived there.

Rule of thumb, the property and the interior should look better than when the seller lived there.  If you say these words, it can help to ease the shock at moving, storing, things.

Let your clients know this is STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE to sell the house for MORE MONEY.  They will respond in kind.

American Telvision viewing statistics are a fundamentally interesting part of this debate:

Watch my video about how I can use Feng Shui in your design project.

Function is how we use our spaces: What tasks are accomplished in the space is answered by good design with the element of Function.   Form is more subtle.  When I ask my clients what colors, textures, styles, and shapes they are attracted to, I am asking about Form.

For example, when I create a palate that answers the Form question for a client, I am taking into consideration the finishes color, texture, style and finish.  In essence, how the room will look and feel involves form.

The last element level is the Energetic.  This takes design to its most subtle level.  On this level, the question becomes how does the room “feel” to my clients.  How are they relating to the space?

Think about the last time you walked into your favorite spa.  What feelings and emotions did the design evoke?  My favorite spa takes me to a place of constant relaxation and I can evoke that same energy after I leave the spa by visualizing the space and the treatments I received.

It is about the function of the space, the form of the furnishings and colors, but mainly the “feeling” of relaxation comes from the energetics of the space. There are many different ways to utilize Feng Shui and create your life as you would like it to be.

One book that I love for its fun and playful information is “Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life” by Karen Rauch Carter.  It shows you how to put the Bagua over your floor plan and get started.  The energetics of space planning and moving the stagnant energy to obtain a flow in your home as well as your life is amazing.  I have used it first hand with much success creating harmony and prosperity in life and design.

The current Eco-design or sustainable design takes the concept further using renewable resources, products that do not off gas, and minimally impact the environment in the creation, production, and movement of goods to market.

Green Design does not have to be expensive design.  I love using local artisans and craftsmen to create custom furnishings that will be what I deem “Generational” pieces.  The pieces I create with my clients will be passed down to the next generation. 

Perhaps a new fabric to cover the piece will be necessary, but the essential bones of the piece will withstand years of hard wear.  Designing with hardwood, kiln dried frames and 8-way hand tied springs ensures that the pieces will stand the test of time. 

Creating pieces locally boosts local economy as well as offsetting the environmental cost of importing furnishings from other states or countries.  We save monetary costs by taking out the cost of freight.

Utilizing companies who work with sustainable goods is a must.  My favorite fabric company is moving all of their operations into the eco-design phase.  This includes how they do their billing and correspondence as well as the fibers that the fabrics are made from and the production of the fabrics. 

Renewable bamboo flooring and furnishings are finding their way into the design marketplace.  The texture creates a wonderful balance to certain designs.

Another company I work with uses found objects and recycled materials to create works of art.  The local artists are always coming up with new and unusual ways to be prolific and conscious.

Companies I tend to stay away from include inexpensive Chinese imports that will find their way to the dump in 2-5 years.  Cheap when it means replaced often does not mean inexpensive. 

Consider spending money on a piece of furniture that breaks and needs to be replaced two times in 5 years or spending 1.75X as much on a quality piece that never needs to be replaced.  Where is the cost value in purchasing the cheaply made piece?  Where is the environmental value in placing more things in the landfill? 

We need to become conscious consumers and begin to see our footprint on the earth.  Good design, sustainable design will see us through many generations forward.

When I walk into a home of a new client, I am assessing the space and considering the vision.  My initial hits on what I see or visualize the room to look like can translate into the ultimate design of the space.  

Essentially, the vision of the space becomes the reality of the space.  I co-create with my clients to ask the questions of how they envision using the space, what their preferences are, style, color, texture, and how they see themselves in the home.

This is a re-visioning of an existing space:  On many occasions, the entry gives way to a room that is most often neglected, the Living Room. 

As a culture, we have become less and less formal and as we move away from formality, we look to our Media rooms to kick back and enjoy the time with family and friends.  I love re-appropriating the Living Room to include comfortable chairs and good reading lamps. 

Ambient lighting creates a warm feeling in this space and adding bookshelves can take unused square footage and create a get-away reading room for mom or dad.  A space to be without TV.  If this is a good solution for you, try it.  You will be surprised at how much larger your house feels when you use all of it.

I also vision existing spaces and how they might be if we moved them around a bit- adding to one area, taking from another.  In my own home, I had a full walk in pantry adjacent to the kitchen. 

To create a larger feeling kitchen without gaining any square footage, I took out the wall to the pantry and opened up the space.  This enabled the kitchen to gain light, storage, and even a banco with cushions and a kitchen table that was not in the original kitchen. 

Taking my vision of how I saw the kitchen and turning it into a reality has been hard work, but very rewarding.  I utilize the same process when helping my clients take their existing homes and create their dream homes.

My computer programs take visioning and make it easy for those clients who may not be able to “see” the plan the way I can.  Color floor plans and elevations as well as perspectives enable the client to “walk” through the space before we make the first change.  It enables everyone to visualize the end results. 

Color boards with textures and fabrics along with power point presentations of each room and its elements help the clients to see the design direction as it is happening.

I encourage my clients to take a pile of design magazines I leave for them on our first visit and rip out and note all the pictures that appeal to them.  It is the first step in the vision process.  The notes include what they like (color, texture, style) and what they don’t like (color, texture, style).  This helps us hone our vision to resonate with the client’s preferences and desired use of the space.  Once the client can “see” themselves living in the new space, we are on our way.

Watch my video about the design process with an interior designer.

The process is simple:

1. Find the right person to work with.  You need to feel at ease with your designer.  To have the ability to ask any questions that might come up. This includes money questions.  If your designer is not paying attention to whom you are and what you need, this is not the right person to help you with the process. 

As a designer, I listen with my ears and with my eyes.  This helps me pull together the vision we need to make your house your Dream Home.

2.  Start with the space plan.  For projects with construction or without, I always begin with the space plan.  I have an incredible computer program that can show the exact layouts, furniture styles, flooring finishes, ect. 

The client can literally see how the space will look!  Once we have the space planning approved, we can begin looking at the elements we need to complete the vision.

3. Perspective planning and Virtual Tours.  Depending on how much vision assistance the client needs, we move to this step.  Here you can literally see how the room will look.  It has been called “amazing” by many of my clients.

3.  The elements.  This is the stage where I bring out finishes to the project site.  We select color, texture, and style for the finish elements (flooring, paint, faux finish, tile, ect.)

4.  Next is the field trip- Shopping!   I’ve had clients who really thought this would be painful, but end up loving the process.  I will take you to design centers that are not open to the general public and show you pieces and ideas you have never seen before.  It is always so amazing to see the clients enjoy this process. 

In the getting to know you process, I will see body language that indicates your preferences.  For example, I have had clients who stay silent when they don’t like something and others that cross their arms. 

I just took a client out and she was very close to jumping up and down when she saw the dining chairs of her dreams.  Another client had me take a picture of her doing a 1/2 cartwheel in front of her granite slab.  This is the fun part of design!

5.  After we decide which elements work for the client, I put together a presentation of all of the elements including fabric, trims, furnishings, lighting and accessories. 

The elements have a corresponding proposal so the clients always know exactly how much the project will cost by element.  I share part of my Interior Design discounts with my clients to help them pay less than retail on everything.

6.  Ordering.  All orders get placed with receipt of the client’s deposit.  Then we set timelines and wait for the magic day we install.

7.  Installation day.  Imagine the happiest day on earth~you will get to experience all of our hard work in one day.  The amazing finish, the vision being realized.

8.  Continuous support.   I am always available to my past clients to help continue them on their design journey.  Many of my clients stay in touch monthly to give me updates on how much they are enjoying their wonderful spaces.

Interior Design can be a fantastic experience for everyone involved.  I know the greatest professional joy I have is seeing the vision realized.  My clients continuously say “It’s more amazing than I could have ever imagined!”