Part II - What does your Home say about You? Accessories can tell your Story

Bookcases, tabletops, walls, and what to do with them...

Photo courtesy of Albert Hadley/House Beautiful.com

How will you fill those spaces and places in your home,

so it reflects the real you?

 

Here are some suggestions from an interior designer who deals with this challenge daily:

 

1. Work on one area at a time. What is crying for attention? Is it the empty walls, the bare tables or maybe a bookcase that needs help. This week I am working on re-doing a family room bookcase. Next week, a foyer table will be the area to tackle.
2. Make a list of the things in your life that give you joy. For instance, my list includes family, our dogs, sailing, gardening and painting. Use accessories that reflect your passions.
3. Gather the accessories you have and look for varying shapes, colors and textures. Shop online or hit your favorite gift stores for filler pieces that reflect only what you love.
4. Notice Albert Hadley's bookcase arrangement above - it's interesting for its contrasts of shapes, sizes of items, or textures. Albert used items in a way that gently steers your eye from one element to the next.

Stay 'tuned' for my next BestDesignCoach blog post to find out about the second item on my website list - budget or space planning.

Most important... if you or someone you know is renovating, redecorating or involved with a new construction project - send them to this page to see how we can help them, or you!

Call Mary Alice Smith:  732 690-2030/masmith729@comcast.net

M. A. Smith, Ltd.
Interior Design
Allied Member ASID
Serving New Jersey and metropolitan New York with exceptional Interior Design

Part I: How An Interior Designer Helps You

What are some of the ways interior designers help Clients?

So often I'm asked how I work with clients or, what specifically do I do to help them. Even with all the TV shows on home design, people are not sure how we actually do our job.

My first response of course is to make sure they understand that many of those TV shows are far from reality! Besides the general answer that 'we solve problems' or 're-invent the look of a home', there are a number of ways I work with clients as it appears on my website:

Accessorizing, tablescapes, bookcase arrangement

Budget or space planning

Conceptual and design development

Drapery and blinds/shades - planning and design

Fabric selection and design for windows and upholstery

Flooring Selection - tile, rugs, carpet and wood flooring

Floorplans - including furniture placement and lighting schematics

Furniture floorplan, selection and design

Fixture selection - for kitchen and baths

Hardware selection - for cabinetry, doors, including kitchens and baths 

Kitchen and Bath plans - floorplans, vanities, fixtures, flooring and tile 

Lighting design - including plans, fixture shopping and selection

Paint selection - walls,ceiling, trim (including faux finishing);interior/exterior

Project management - pre-construction through post-construction

Shopping assistance - visits to local retailers for furniture, flooring and tile selection

Upholstery - new or re-upholstery and trim selection

Virtual design - designs for clients at remote locations

Window treatment selection - including drapery, valances, cornices, shutters,and trim selections

Great - so stay 'tuned' for my next BestDesignCoach blog post to find out about the first item on the above list - Accessorizing.

Most important... if you or someone you know is renovating, redecorating or involved with a new construction project - send them to this page to see how we can help them, or you!

Then call me, Mary Alice at 732 690-2030 to get the project off to a great start.

M. A. Smith, Ltd.
Interior Design
Allied Member ASID
Serving New Jersey and metropolitan New York with exceptional interior design