Not too long ago, I wrote about The Home Office during the pandemic, and why it doesn’t really matter to be perfect right now, but instead how we should enjoy our comforts.

With no clear end in sight, it’s time to regroup, look at your workspace, and create a comfortable space that will not cause carpal tunnel, back distress, fatigue, and more. As wonderful and cozy as my leather chair is that overlooks the water. That comfort lasts a few weeks, at most before the aches and pains start to kick in. It’s time for an ergonomic solution.

Today, our kitchen and bath design process is about developing a space for you that functions in the way that you live and is not limited to the parts and pieces that were per-conceived by others in an order book for mass-production.

We started this new project type with a friend, and were energized by the level of change we could give a home and how much we could learn in the process. Home additions open up a whole new world with permit drawings and requirements and there are some things to know as a home owner that you will need to do your homework on before engaging a designer!

Every designer works differently. In fact, I highly recommend my previous post, To-may-to, To-mah-to, to see just how differently the term “interior designer” may be viewed by interior designers!

Before locking down a designer, it is so important to determine whether their method and expertise is a good fit for your needs.

We are all cooped up at home and while it was fantastic to be around our families at first (and still is, really), we’re starting to snap at each other, we are losing patience, energy, and motivation.

So, how do we keep going, keep the energy and enthusiasm up, and feel less restless in our homes? I’ve been doing a little research on this exact topic for my own sanity and thought I would share what I’ve found!

At Waldron Designs, we want to assure you that this is not the end-all to your home renovation projects! Waldron Designs launched in 2013, but we had already been through a couple of revisions. In 2011-2012, we were “Open Box Interiors”, a virtual design firm.

We designed a kitchen in Canada and did color consultations in Los Angeles and North Carolina, among other furnishing and decor projects across the country! Most people think furniture and decor when they think of “online design”, but we don’t stop at decorating, we develop complete designs that go beyond quick product selections to be ordered online.

We are all feeling a little cramped, a little nervous, unsure, and confined. I know you’re getting the emails too- the ones about what you should buy to get you through this time from retailers. Stock up on tea to soothe the nerves. Shop for a bidet right now before all the toilet paper is gone. Getting bored? Buy some books.

We may also be starting to see the little things that feel so special. This is all certainly giving me new insight into the world of interior design.

I know exactly what you’re all doing right now- stocking up on the most intensive disinfectants/bleaches on the market.

Insert record scratch sound here

Stop.

We hear about VOC’s all the time these days, particularly pertaining to harmful products that we bring into our homes. Many products will tout that they do not emit VOC’s and are therefore sustainable products. While it does help, there are so many more variables that make a product truly sustainable, and if possible we prefer a cradle-to-cradle product.

Let’s back up a minute though. What are VOC’s?

Some projects are smaller- a color consultation, a one-time meeting to discuss ideas and next steps, a quick sketch with suggestions. We have so many of these projects each year, and while each does not result in professional photos and big, front-page images, we take just as much pride in these smaller projects as we do a complete renovation.

My family recently moved (in October) to a new home that is 98% our dream home! We feel so fortunate to have this amazing home that suits our family perfectly. The only way we were able to make this happen financially was to have a vacation rental as a part of the purchase.

We are so excited to share that after a bit of DIY-ing (there is a time and a place, right?!), we have the cabin up and ready to go and are expecting our first guests shortly. But, we want our Waldron Designs friends to know that we are here and ready to provide a respite from your renovation, and a cozy vacation retreat! Take a peek at our listing and please, come visit us!