OUR BLOG
Big Things in the World of Design
Waldron Designs is so excited and honored to have been featured in Pacific Northwest Homes- a beautifiul coffee table book featuring the best deigners of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho! These books are available at The Country Store in Vashon (signed copies), for purchase on Amazon, or directly through Waldron Designs!
We will be at the Vashon Home Fair on March 10th and will have several of the books available for purchase at the show, but more importantly, we will be there to talk about your future projects or direct you to preferred professionals in the industry. We look forward to seeing you there!
Less is more... Quality is everything
I grew up calling myself a "girly tomboy". I was a fan of thrift shops, used items, and the better the deal, the better I'd done at shopping. I remember meeting my husband and being so proud of the $5 jeans I was wearing and the $20 red leather pants (you're jealous... admit it). But, he looked at all the piles of clothes I had with holes, loose threads and stains and said: "why don't you buy something nice and have it last?" I was appalled and dumbfounded simultaneously. My things weren't nice?!
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Fast forward 20 years... I'm sitting in a meeting with a client and contractor. The client lives in a gorgeous 1920's bungalow and the contractor suggests we put vinyl tiles in the bathroom. A few days earlier, another client suggested that they were okay keeping the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and mentions that they hadn't considered aesthetics. Then, it dawned on me. So many people hire me to help with the functionality of their home, to make their spaces work better for them, and it is not realized that the quality of materials absolutely affects the function of the space.
Home improvements for Resale
Those of you who read last month's newsletter may recall that I visited a home on the market and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, I was not in a place to move, so I had to watch someone else buy my dream home... ouch! This experience got Sean (our architect and my husband) talking about our improvements to our own home. The interesting thing is that he seems to be more motivated than ever to go big, where I'm more motivated than ever to keep the improvements minor and aesthetic.
The question is... do we stay or do we go? The length of time in your home should dictate how much time and money is put into it.
Big Picture Design
We all have our projects in our homes, and maybe we have two or three or maybe the whole house is a project, but regardless of how many or how big these projects are, it is important to always keep the big picture in mind. Do not lose sight of the grand idea when working on smaller tasks.
Linoleum is not Vinyl and Other Misconceptions
There's one finish that I adore, but when I suggest it, I see winces and looks of doubt. Linoleum. Linoleum is so often confused with vinyl sheet flooring, that no wonder people panic! But, did you know that linoleum is a natural product made of clay with a natural jute backing? Did you know that it is a healthy product, good for the environment, durable, and withstands spills and splashes? Did you know that because the color goes all the way through, when this product is scuffed and scratched, it is hard to notice.
Our Passion. Your Paradise.
Our tagline absolutely encompasses all of these things! OUR PASSION. So, I included the details of our passions on a newly updated "about" page on the site, and I thought I'd share a bit more with you about these passions and what makes me keep going even through the lows (and yes, there are plenty of lows in design).
SUSTAINABILITY. RELATIONSHIPS. QUALITY. LONGEVITY. ETHICS. PERSONALITY
Why White, Gray, and Bright is a Must in the PNW
Waldron Designs has been simply exploding! We have so much going on, particularly at the start of a new month, that we've decided to shift our monthly newsletter to go out mid-month instead of the start of each month, so that you can be prepared for all the excitement in advance.
First Friday
We hosted a fabulous First Friday for July with a great turnout and amazing artists. This is a wonderful event to attend if you are looking for that perfect piece for your home. I have to admit, I've found a few myself for my home! It's not too late to pop in and see the art currently in our space by Ken C. Judd and Michael Denslow. Ken's amazing sculptures and wall art are edgy, funky, and even a bit creepy sometimes, in the most wonderful way! Michael offers a unique approach to pottery and painting that I envision working in many types of spaces, but boy would I love to see his raw take in a super modern space!
Next month, we are thrilled to have Brian Fisher and Ilse Reimnitz featured in the space along with The Parlour Snakes as our musical entertainment! You won't want to miss this!!
PUBLISHED Design Firm!
That's right. Waldron Designs is soon to be featured in a coffee table book. Early ordering will be available soon, so if you'd like a copy, let us know and we can get one ordered for you. We have a 10-page spread in the book, featuring many of the projects seen on our website. Additional projects will be added to a digital version of the book which will be able to be embedded on our site. We will probably have a little book release soiree at our studio, and you will most definitely receive an invitation!
Street of Dreams
Would you ever want to live in a Street of Dreams home? Do you read design magazines? Ever notice that the homes in design magazines are not nearly as showy as the Street of Dreams homes? There is a reason for that. Street of Dreams homes are not designed for people, they are designed for product sales. I pride myself on designing homes for real people.
Terms to Understand Before Hiring a Home Designer
One of the first questions we ask is, "how involved would you like to be in your project?" Sometimes a direction is all that is needed to run with. Sometimes, measurements and plans are needed, then sourcing is done independently. Then, there's the "turnkey" project, meaning that we handle the design work from start to finish...
Why buy Designer Furnishings through the Trade?
Have you wondered why people would spend so much on designer furniture? Why not just buy retail?
<p>You should. No... I mean that. If you think that retail will serve your needs, by all means, shop retail! If you'd like design services for those retail products, I highly recommend using the in-house designers. They often offer services at no additional charge and they know their product. I can provide retail shopping suggestions, but this is not my specialty, and I think your money can be best spent elsewhere.
<p>Blown away by my response? I try to be as honest and transparent in how I work as I can be.
<p>So, now I'll tell you why you should shop "to-the-trade" merchandise....
To-may-to, To-mah-to
While many share the title, "Interior Designer", the profession varies extremely depending on who you talk to. Much like a podiatrist will help you with your feet, and an obstetrician will help you with.... not your feet, designers have many different areas of expertise. Be sure to do research and determine first, what you are looking for in a designer, then whether your local designer provides/specializes in the service you are seeking.