Furnishing and decorating a space is such a different ball of wax than construction projects that it requires a different approach to the design process. In fact, for the first ten years of designing, I designed with furnishings for about 3 months of that time. The rest of my time was focused on the interior architecture.

Our process differs with each client, but we have developed some great 'checkpoints' to make sure we've hit all the key points.

This beautiful farmhouse was screaming for an update. The 1920's kitchen had never been touched and the family had only one restroom on their main level in a home that frequently houses guests. I was so proud that they chose me to bring this beautiful home up to date, while preserving its original charm!

This Spokane kitchen design was the first project that was "mine", in my first design job! To this day, I am thrilled and proud of the extraordinary creative space we created!

Imagine this. A website invites you to sign in to share pictures of your child with family. 

Years later, this company starts using your child's information to sign up for something you are morally opposed to... but the terms are airtight. They've covered all their bases, and all the families who signed up in a frenzy to join this super cool site are throwing in their towels out of frustration. What can you do? Just give up?

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!

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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!