OUR BLOG
Top 4 WhitePaint Colors
First things first!! Every space is unique and will have specific needs. Every person has specific tastes. I may tell you that Oxford White looks great in an east-facing building with a lot of windows (ahem, it looks great in my office!), but a completely different space with different adjacent colors, surroundings, and furnishings may call for something else.
Now that I’ve been diligent in ensuring that we understand that a designer’s love for certain whites does not mean they are the right whites for YOUR space… here we go!
Making a Sustainability Stand
I stand up for what I believe in, and while I hear out the circumstances, I stand strong and firm for what I believe in. What does this mean for our clients? It means we are always striving to provide the best possible situation with our firm ethics holding us to refuse to bend when it comes to the quality of your project. This also means that we don’t get some jobs, and while we are bummed that not everyone out there holds as strong convictions when it comes to our health and the health of future generations, we are okay letting those jobs go because we are doing what we believe to be right and good.
When Do I Need a Permit?
We are just dipping our toes in the permitting waters, and have begun handling the permitting process when needed with the assistance of a consultant while we learn the ropes. The first thing we did when beginning to take this new part of the process on, is to visit the permitting office and discuss challenges, concerns, and frequently asked questions.
Sustainable Outdoor Textiles
I do not have a perfect solution. Maybe recycling is the best we have. But, as I understood the 3 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Recycling was a last resort. The first was to reduce. So, if we are reducing our plastic use, should we really be mass consuming recycled plastics? Or, should we be focusing on those fantastic organisms found to eat and digest plastics, taking care of the plastic problem built up and completely eliminate the production of new plastics (yes please!).
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.