OUR BLOG
Interior Design Using Local Craftspeople
The biggest trend I have seen lately is the desire to create unique, custom spaces using local (island) artisans on a shoestring budget. It sounds so dreamy, so down to earth and homey, doesn’t it? And, I’m sure we have heard several stories where people did this.
As with most of my blog posts, I am here to deliver a dose of reality.
Design-Build: What it is and What it ISN'T
I’ve been noticing a lot of contractors with the title “design-build” in their company name. When I saw how many there were initially, I was excited and motivated. What a wonderful solution for building owners- to be able to hire one company who can completely manage their project from start to finish, have a keen eye on the costs as they design, and an equally keen eye on design as they build. I reached out to a few of these firms, and was astonished to find that most of them do not have a designer on staff!
Pacific Northwest Modern Island Design
I think about Pacific Northwest Design a lot. I am influenced by this style every day. After all, this is where we live and the style is a direct response to regionalism. It is entirely appropriate that a designer in the PNW think about and be influenced by the style originated by our region. However, I am also strongly influenced by modern design (see my post about Les Corbusier). Then, there’s the fact that… well, I live on an island as do the vast majority of my clients.
Hiring an Interior Designer for Furnishings
I have teetered back and forth on whether we want to do the furniture thing for a while now. Because we do not get a lot of furniture requests, it is the area we are least practiced in. Then, we get to the selection and it starts to feel like glorified personal shopping, which is not how designers are trained (at least in today’s college programs). Today’s training focuses on DESIGNING the furniture specifically for the space it was to be a part of. Trying to select retail or even designer showroom pieces that already exist feel a bit like trying to find a needle in a haystack and that needle may or may not exist!
Interior Design and Home Safety
Why do we need to understand these items down to this level of detail? Well, a great example is something I saw recently where someone suggested using glass tiles on a floor. The tiles suggested would have not only broke because they weren’t meant to be stood on.. they were also huge slip hazards! Safety in the home is absolutely affected by the finishes and fixtures we choose.
Waldron Designs New Studio!
I’ve been waiting to write this post forever because… well, it’s not quite done. We have a few finishing touches and when those are finished, we will do a professional shoot of the new space. In the meantime, here are a couple quick cell phone shots to share what I’ve been dreaming of- a design studio designed by me, for me. Who knew I would EVER be able to design my own space?!
Aging in Place- 5 Easy Ways to Incorporate Universal Design
Aging in place is the big thing in interior design right now, and why wouldn’t it be? Homes should be designed to last, so of course they need to continue working for us as we age within them. However, aging in place should not simply mean “getting old”. In fact, it doesn’t even need to have a focus on aging at all. Design should be universal, meaning that spaces should work for a 5’-0” pregnant mother with a toddler. The spaces should work for the toddler. They should work well for grandma when she comes to visit. Spaces should work for the mother’s blind brother who lives in the basement. They should be comfortable for her uncle who has chemical sensitivities. What about her husband who is 6’-7”?
Sustainable Interior Design
Greenwashing. We all hear about how ‘green’ products are and shop and confidently purchase because we’ve been told, read, and truly believe we are doing something good. Oh, if only greenwashing was against the law. I see it as false advertising.
Products frequently advertised as “green” that are in no way sustainable products include (and there are wayyyy more): LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles), Mattresses, honestly most Ikea items, natural stone, anti-microbials, concrete, and some bamboo.
How Travel Impacts Interior Design
When I come home, I am not looking to replicate a Japanese bathroom or a Belizean shower. I am, however, considering these approaches when I hear my clients’ needs and frustrations. I am remembering solutions that I may not find in a local showroom.
More than anything, travel changes perspective. And, what better way to create and be creative than to have the ability to change perspective?
Floor Finish Plans: What they Communicate
Floor plans are commonly used drawings and we hear a lot about them. Interior elevations aren't too far behind- but a floor finish plan??
Quirky Interior Design
Take a minute to look around the space you are in. Maybe it’s an office, your home, or maybe you are outside right now. Does the space reflect its purpose? It’s user? If you are at a park, what is the personality of the park? Is it a Japanese garden? If so, is it authentic, or is it a random garden with a pond and a bonsai just to use the name? If at home, do you look around and see a space that represents who you are? Does it capture all your fun quirks? One of the biggest challenges of an interior designer is to capture our client’s personalities. We work to get to know you, and your personality, but we do this on a limited amount of time. So, how does your home develop its own special quirk?
Is Interior Design Expensive?
“Affordable Interior Design”. We see this everywhere today- retail stores offer free design services, designers do free consultations, and e-design is available for very low rates. On the other hand, we look at Architectural Digest and see homes designed for the elite. There is a definite range and it ultimately comes down to the designer you choose, your expectations, and a good old fashioned reality check.
I spoke with someone recently, letting them know that a good rule of thumb for budgeting their design fee was to set aside 15-20% of their overall budget. The response, “other designers told me 10%” was not seen as a lie or an attempt to get me to drop my rates at all. Instead, it is simply the reaity of variation in pricing based on professional training, experience, and demand.