What is sustainable? Bamboo? Reclaimed wood? Did you know that it’s more than just the wood that is selected, but also the way that it is cut? Read on to find out more!

Waldron Designs is a small firm. Not only are we small, we are young in the realm of design firms. For a while I felt a bit down about this, as though I was not providing my clients with the kind of service they could get from a larger firm. I was right… but I was not looking at the perks my clients get that they do not receive from a large firm. For some, a large firm is ideal where in other situations, small is best. Read on to hear the pros and cons of each in full disclosure and honesty:

Tiny homes are all the rage right now, and I am going to come out with an unpopular opinion. I am not a fan, except in very rare circumstances. I hear people say that they will solve affordable housing crises, but this is not how they are being used. I hear people say that they help people to live responsibly with less waste. This may be so, but they work for a select few, which takes flexibility out of living and produces more waste in the end. These are not affordable, they cost a lot to build! The reason we hear of all the inexpensive tiny homes? They are not including all the costs.

Sometimes it is hard to know whether an interior designer or a contractor is the best fit for your project. The advice I am going to give in the following post is specific to Washington State, so please check regulations for licensing, testing, etc. in your own state before following this as a guideline.

Yes, I just made a Game of Thrones reference… and I am talking about winter just a few days after the first day of fall. But, that’s what fall means to me. It means that winter is coming. It means that it is time for me to refocus on my strategies for beating the winter blues, and help my clients push through the darkness as well.

The short of it? If you need a rough starting number, check out Homewyse and slide everything to the highest possible quality, cost, etc. That will be your STARTING number.

"Affordable design" is all over the internet these days and while designers want to help people with all budgets, sometimes it just isn't realistic or a good idea to work with a designer.

I came into my business with strong values and morals, but as a new business owner, I did not have the authority yet to be adamant about the way I worked. It was more important that the client be happy, regardless of how that was done. Of course, it is still the most important thing that our clients are happy, but today we understand that education is a huge part of what we do, and allowing people to unknowingly enter dangerous territory is simply disregarding a part of our job.

I often get texts and emails from clients asking if I have any clients who could use a piece of furniture they are selling. The truth is, that pretty much never ever happens. My clients are typically looking for extremely high quality, new products. On the rare occasion they are looking for a used item, they'll hit up our local thrift stores or estate sales. It is not a part of the search that I am typically involved in. 

However, because it means so much to me that we reduce waste, and there is a right place for everything... well, let's talk about what the options are for that old side table or beat up sofa.

Early on in the design process, particularly in projects where space planning is required, we start wtih something that we call conceptual or programming diagrams. It's so fun to think that designers look at a space, then sit down and sketch exactly what we want it to look like when it's finished. That is very rarely the case.

Many designers are under the impression that formal training, education, and certification is either unnecessary or should not be necessary. In reality, there are huge risks an owner takes when employing a designer who hasn't taken these paths

I remember submitting projects for an award, but well... I generally do this thinking winning isn't really an option. Let's face it, there are hundreds of designers who enter the Seattle competitions. This submission was national, and it wasn't just interior designers. It was all of those in the building design industry- architects, engineers, interior designers, etc. How could I possibly be selected?