Showing posts with label Designers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Designers. Show all posts
Inspired Designer: Amy Meier
via Better Homes and Gardens
This month Better Homes and Garden featured the home and office of talented designer Amy Meier. Don't those curtains look fabulous in her space! I love all the natural woods and the soft blue walls.
via Better Homes and Gardens
Look how beautiful her office is. That desk is so perfect for the space.
I enjoyed the article so much. I am a new fan of her work and I had such a great time browsing her portfolio. Check out these amazing rooms.
I have really enjoyed reading about Amy's story on her blog. It's inspiring to me to read about her journey of following her dream and doing what she loves. You must check her out!
Inspired Designer: Christina Murphy
You have probably already seen Christina's work in some of the major design magazines. But I found these pictures too "drool-worthy" not to share with you. I love her mix of textures and colors plus I am dying over all the shiny walls!
Confessions of a Designer: Bryn Dunn
Bryn + me in New York
Bryn continues to amaze me with her design skills. She is truly so talented and her blog is one of my very favorites. I look forward to reading it everyday. I have loved watching her business evolve and I get so excited every time she posts pictures of a new project.
Here are her confessions of a designer.
Working together to create a home is a very personal thing. My ideal client is someone I "click" with and can be candid with. Someone who trusts me to do my thing while I'm in their home, as if I'm just another friend or family member playing with their throw pillows.
Desgin by Bryn Alexandra Interiors
Again, pick someone that you "click" with. It's also important to choose someone who has a similar style to you but will also help you make those more bold decisions when it's right for you and your home. Also, a designer should always ask you how you LIVE in the space, not just how you want it to look.
Desgin by Bryn Alexandra Interiors
The biggest myth is that it is super expensive to work with a designer. Sure, some designers out there demand $5,000 upfront just to meet with them, but there is a designer or decorator out there for everyone and every budget. Ask for a flat fee if you are nervous about the cost of a designer; I always offer an hourly rate OR a flat fee per the client's preference. A flat fee is an easy way to budget for the cost of a designer.
Also, what a lot of people don't know is designers often pass on savings to their clients which greatly cuts costs in the long run. I give my clients a 25% discount on everything purchased to the trade (fabric, wallpaper, even lamps and accessories when I can).
Also, what a lot of people don't know is designers often pass on savings to their clients which greatly cuts costs in the long run. I give my clients a 25% discount on everything purchased to the trade (fabric, wallpaper, even lamps and accessories when I can).
Desgin by Bryn Alexandra Interiors
Communication! When working with clients, I will tell you if something isn't right for your space. But more importantly, you should always tell your designer if you don't LOVE something.
board done by Bryn Alexandra Interiors
Pictures are key. The more pictures of the space, the better. The better quality pictures, the better. Also, I always ask my clients to send me inspiration pictures. This always helps me determine their style and the feeling they want to get with the space I am designing.
Erika of Urban Grace Interiors. She's one of the first designers I ever started to follow and I ADORE her (even though I've never met her).
Thanks Bryn! Make sure you check out her blog here.
Confessions of a Designer: Amanda Hill
I have had the pleasure of spending time with Amanda on various occasions and she is always a sweetheart. I love her personality! Her blog, business and store are proof that she is living her dream.
Here are her confessions of a designer.
My “ideal client” would have to be someone who trusted me, I don’t want a client who always goes along with every detail...don’t get me wrong sometimes thats just refreshing and easy but if they were all that way the job wouldn't be challenging! I want them to have an opinion because in the end it’s their home and they need to love it. I want to fight for the things that I believe will make that design perfect. I think you can only do this if there is trust! If my client trust me, they can take that leap of faith and believe that our vision for the space is going to happen and thats why they hired me.
Design by Amanda Hill
Although as a designer I can be versatile, I believe a client should pick a designer because they like what that designer does and they like their style sense. I really hate when I get a client who wants me to design a space that I can’t love too, it kinda feels like it’s not my best work! As designers this this can be frustrating. I want to put my name on spaces that I love!
I think the biggest “myth” about designers is that we all push the most expensive items in decor on you. Most of us are real people with real budgets too and we can find a balance that works within your needs. I love the mix of high and low prices items. You should spend your money on staple items like your sofa, bed, dinning set, etc. Fill in the blanks with all prices ranges, just make sure you only bring in things you love! As a designer I love to shop at Target too!
Design by Amanda Hill
To make the relationship easier between you and your designer, take the time to communicate often. If you are both on the same page at all times, your project will run more smoothly and get finished on a better schedule. {Notice I said a “better schedule”...it never gets done on time, just a better one :)} So touch base often!
E-Design’s are one of my most favorite! Mostly because 80% of it I can do in my PJ’s {don’t tell my clients} To have a successful outcome you need to be very thorough on the details of the space. Most of the time I will never see the space in person so I need ALL the nitty gritty. You have to be very honest too. I need to know how you really use the space and how you want to use it. All the stuff I would see if I were really there! As a designer I can tell a lot by being in your home, so for e-design the more info I can get the better!
Design by Amanda Hill
I love this question! If I were to hire a designer to help with my space and budget was no issue, I would hire Genevieve Gorder! I am pretty sure I have never met a space she has put her hands on that I didn’t love! If I hired her, I would just say “go for it” and walk away! Having total trust in her work would be easy....not to mention that her taste in fashion is right up my alley too! Love that girl, xoxo!
Confessions of a Designer: Abbe Fenimore
I am sure you have seen the amazing designs of Abbe Fenimore all over the internet. Her rooms are stunning. Her design firm Studio ten 25 and her online store ShopTen 25 are just proof of her great taste and design style.
Here are her confessions of a designer.
I think the "ideal" client is the couple or person that you instantly click with on a design level. I have been fortunate to have many "ideal" clients over the past few years. Working together needs to be like a great friendship, there should be trust, honesty and laughter. Things are going to go wrong and if you can't work through that together and trust each other to make it right then the relationship will be a struggle as the project progresses.
When I have completed a project, I always like to ask my clients, "why did you pick me?" Most of them say it's because they had an immediate comfort level with me and knew that they could trust me to be in their home and to make it a place they would love.
I would tell you to always trust your gut. Ask questions, check references and be honest. Being upfront with your budget, expectations and desired end result during the interview process will create the type of conversations that tell you a lot about that designer.
I would tell you to always trust your gut. Ask questions, check references and be honest. Being upfront with your budget, expectations and desired end result during the interview process will create the type of conversations that tell you a lot about that designer.
I notice that most people think of designers on two levels.
#1 The HGTV type designer that will show up, have a plan ready within moments and turn their room around by the end of the weekend. Pulling together a plan based on a client's budget & lifestyle is the most important part of the design plan. Once that stage of the project is on track, the waiting game begins. Some furniture pieces can take 6-8 weeks for them to be delivered and if changes are made to the plan, it can set a project back even more.
#2 The designer with the astechetic they love but can not afford those steep fees. Someone once told me that hiring a designer was a luxury, not a necessity. I agree with that on some level, because not all of us can afford to spend our mortgage payment x2 or more on design fees. But, this is when you work within the price point that you can afford. Hiring a designer can save you money, time and lots of frustration. These days there are full service designers that provide great design on many levels so finding someone you click with that fits your budget is attainable.
My most successful client relationships have come from focusing on
communication. I don't want to tell a client that the rug they love is going to be on back order for 10 weeks. I try to prepare other options if they are not willing to wait, that way they don't feel like everything is going to fall apart. As a designer it is my job to work through backorders, broken parts and delays while finding a resolution and keeping things positive. As a client, it is your job to be patient and open to new options and changes when things don't go the way we planned.
It is important for me to understand the function of the room and who will be using it. Once I have that in mind I can build a complete design plan that works for the client and the family members that will be using the room. From there the budget becomes the focus, selecting fabrics, furniture, accessories and lighting that create the look desired are no good if they are not with in the client's budget. I also like to provide them with a few other options for each piece. They may want to spend more on a piece they really love and compromise on something else so that the
budget works. Now, it's up to the client to implement the design.
budget works. Now, it's up to the client to implement the design.
Are you kidding me...I have a list a mile long right now. I think Jamie Rummerfield would be at the top of my wish list. I see Jamie as the kind of girl that is always willing to roll up her sleeves, jump in and get things done all wearing a fabulous outfit. I would for sure pay her to show me more on how to work with my timelines, organize each detail of a project and pull it all together for the final look. Running my own business is always a challenge but always a blessing, it would be amazing to learn from Jamie's experiences in owning a successful company and rocking it out day to day.
Thanks Abbe! Make sure you check out her blog!
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