So for many years now the trend has been open concept. This is the floor plan where there are very few walls though the interior main rooms of a home. There aren’t any walls blocking the kitchen from the great room and the main areas used by the occupants. In this floor plan the living room went goodbye. The living room became the unused room. So it became the room that was no needed and then eliminated in many of the new home designs.
Well, when we eliminated the living room we got rid of the technology free room. The room that was used for actually talking to the people in the home. The room where you sat and visited with your company instead of sitting on a sofa with a TV going. When we went to the great room design, rooms began to be designed around TV viewing not the occupants of the home. But guess what, the living room is coming back. People are realizing that it is nice to have a quiet room. It is nice to have a room where the TV is not the dominant force in the design. So how about a view of some great living rooms that don’t have a TV.
A great conversational area created with pops of bright colors.
A transitional living room, warm and cozy inviting the occupants to converse.
Traditional with light earth tones all about conversation.
Beach living made to invite conversation.
Traditional design from top to bottom reminiscent of the colonial styled home.
Traditional mixed with a touch of mid century design, bringing back conversation.
Modern and contemporary but still all about the conversational space.
So how fantastic are these rooms that hold no technology and are inviting. These rooms are all about the users and remind us that we need to have quiet time. These living rooms allow for conversation, quiet time and simplicity.
It always amazes me when I hear comments like “you don’t need a designer, just google it”. Or how about “I’m just as good as a designer”. Or one of my favorites “oh it won’t take you long, like what 10 minutes to just draw it out”. When I hear these kinds of comments I always think what other profession would you say those kinds of things to? Do people not realize that we go to school for between 4 – 6 years to be able to do what we do? Do they not realize that I can’t just scratch out a drawing because I do have a degree and I need the drawing that I do to be correct in all ways. The drawing that I do needs to be able to be given to a contractor or installer or workroom and made into what I have drawn. Designing isn’t just throwing pretty things together. Designing is creating a functioning work of art. It is creating a living space that people will live in, work in, raise children in, get married in, create a living in. And you want me to just throw it together? Do you ask your Doctor to just give you their best guess without running lab tests? Do you ask your CPA to just fudge the numbers to look good? No, you would never. So here is a look into what we as designers actually do all day.
We meet with reps to learn about the newest products available. These will be products from fabrics, to furniture, to tile, to flooring, to wall treatments, to window coverings, to cabinetry, plumbing fixtures and lighting. We have to know all the latest designs trends, the latest changes to each of these many industries, and we have to know what issues each of these industries are facing at any given time. This could mean an issue with fabrics mills, to shipping disruptions to changes to construction and new laws about components. This alone is a full time job and yet we can allot maybe two hours a week to this section of our jobs.
We meet with clients. We learn their loves and hates, their fears, their needs, their wants and their obsessions. We learn everything we can about that client so that we can make decisions for them when there is a need for a quick decision. We learn their budgets. We learn what is important to them and what isn’t. And most of all we learn how to work in that clients style.
We meet with contractions, architects, electricians, cabinet makers, tilers, floorers, workrooms, HVAC specialists, and plumbers. And at each new meeting we have to go to we jump through hoops to prove to everyone we really do know what we are talking about. Ok, that may be a little harsh, but the reality is that many in these positions still don’t want to believe that we are a valuable part of the process. So when we get a contractor, architect, electrician, installer and such that is happy to be working with a designer, we don’t let that person go. Because it is so much easier to work with those that value what we do and understand that we make their jobs easier.
We design and then redesign. I would love to say that with each project the design just flows and everything we suggest is accepted and created. But that is not reality. First, we probably design a specific space two to three times before we present the best option to the client. We spend hours drawing and redrawing. It doesn’t matter if we do it by hand or on the computer it doesn’t just magically appear on a piece of paper. And even the fastest designer still takes double the time that people think it takes to get it right. We spend hours looking through fabrics, wallpapers, lighting, furniture and flooring. We create multiple options in case one of the suggestions is not what the client loves and we need a back up. We price, reprice and negotiate to get our clients the best price. And then when it is all put together we present the vision to the client.
At the end of the day we have created a piece of art. We created a space where anything can happen. We created the home that will raise children, or fur babies, or dreams. We created the working environment that will make greatness possible, that will welcome clients, or patients, or customers. We created the environment that will entice people to try that new food, or that outfit. We created the space that will inspire people to dream. So when you ask “what does a designer actually do” I have the answer. We create the space where dreams are possible!
So when it comes to decorating for the holidays I am really big on décor being versatile. It needs to speak of you and it also needs to have a purpose after the event. in these busy time who what to completely redo everything with the change of every holiday or event. So I thought I would share with you some of my go to items at the holiday times that are also fabulous for everyday.
Mercury glass vases are perfect for soft touches that can be perfect for holidays and everyday.
Who doesn’t love candles and these mercury glass votive candle holders are just the right touch any time of year.
How much fun is this beach inspired candle holder. Change up the candle and other elements and you can go from everyday to holiday.
Who says holiday is traditional colors. The right elements added to these great vases will make any home feel festive.
Who says Hurricanes are just for storms? The right glass hurricane candle holders are perfect for all occasions.
Mercury glass, mercury glass, mercury glass. What can I say it is classic and these bud vases go anywhere and at the same time sing holidays.
Silver anything can be made into a holiday décor item and this peanut is no different.
You can never have too many pillows and these have just the right amount of shimmer.
What can I say, it’s all about the right pillows.
Taller hurricanes that are just super elegant and speak to any décor.
You can’t have a finished décor without some greenery. I love calla lilies for their elegance and versatility.
Take the great neutral vase and add your own touches of color for the season.
Orchids are always the perfect go to all year round.
Candle sticks are another great go to for all year round and all you need to change are the pillars.
There isn’t a vanity or buffet that doesn’t look great with this mercury glass decanter/perfume bottle.
Are you getting the idea? Go for great classic items and then adapt to you. Want to see some ways these items can be used around the holidays?
So are you excited? Go classic, be you and have fun. Don’t know where to find an item you see here give us a call or send an email. We have many of these items in the showroom and can ship anywhere!
+ Daytime TV Show, decorating, design tourist, furniture, home decor, Interior design, Interior Design Trends, NBC, personal style, Redesign, style, wallpaper, window treatments
Behind the scenes of Taping the Design Tourist Spot for NBC
I have recently had the pleasure to be filmed for national TV for NBC’s Daytime TV Show. It was quite and experience. It always seems like it is such an easy simple thing but the reality is there is a Greta deal that goes into filming a spot for TV. First to achieve what looks natural on camera actually takes hours and a Tom more makeup and styling than you ever do for everyday. So I thought I would share some of the process for you to see the hours of prep and filming that goes into a three minute spot.
First here are some great shot that Sweet Rose Photography took of the hair and makeup prep before filming.
The team from Tangle Me Knot did a great job. The process started at 8am to be ready for taping to start at 10am.
There was the outfit checks and getting all mic’d up for the taping.
Then there was making sure that everything was perfect in the showroom for filming.
We then needed to walk through the showroom and go over the angles and areas to be filmed along with what we were going to talk about.
Then comes the actual filming and having fun!
So after a day of it all the tape goes to editing. Intros and exited are filmed and it turns into a three minute segment. Want to see the final version? Check it out on the website www.artfulconceptions.net
It is that time of year. Kids are heading off to college, whether for the first time or the fourth time it is an emotional experience. So let’s talk about great ways to customize that plain white dorm room and make it a personal space.
Go for great seating. Dorm rooms and college apartments are small but they still need to be comfortable. You can have fun with small scale seating and pops of color.
Make sure you have ways to organize paper and display photos.
If you can provide your own bed go for something with storage.
Don’t forget desks and lighting.
And lastly go for great bedding.
This will be a home away from home. Make sure to make it your own and have fun. How are you going to customize that college dorm?
One of the biggest trends right now is the globally inspired space. This has come about with the letting go of traditional ideas that interior design must stay within styles and periods. Personally I have been preaching against this strict idea of what good design is for years. Good design is about the client who lives in or works in the space not what rules say needs to go in the space. So I love the fact that the design community is coming around this idea. So I thought I would give you pictures of some of my favorite products that can be added to just about and space to give a globally inspired look.
Are you inspired? Just one of these items adds such a fun feeling and changes the room completely. So have fun, add unexpected pieces and be inspired!
In recent years we have had a huge amount of buzz about staging. Staging is a fantastic tool for selling a home. Unfortunately there have been many times in which staging is confused with interior design. So I thought I would clear up some of the very important differences between staging and designing.
Staging is all about how to sell a product. It is about how to best market an display a product. It is a sales tool. It is usually about how to sell a home but it can be about how to sell a product or service. When we apply staging to a residential home it is used to sell a home faster and for more money. This means that the house must be put together to attract the most people and offend almost no one. This means that whomever owns the house is not important. Whomever is using the house is not important. What is important is the mind set of the potential purchasers. This means that it is about depersonalizing the home so as to allow potential buyers to be able to see themselves in the home. The best way to say it is that staging is nothing about the owner and everything about the buyer.
Designing on the other hand is all about the home owner. Jessica Mann Amato defines design as “Design is the expression of the envelope that surrounds you at work, at home, at play, everywhere. It’s creating an experience, an emotion, or a story of your surroundings; helping life’s functions to be pleasing to the senses while organizing you.” NCIDQ defines design as “Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project.” As you can see both definitions talk about function and how that relates to the end user. Designing is about getting to know the client and creating the perfect space for them.
Staging is more about trends than function. When staging a home it is important to make sure it is relevant and evokes the current trends in design and fashion. Again it is about appealing to a buyer not about how it actually functions. When staging a home the furniture and treatments are solely for the look. They are not made to last, they are not made to function for someone to actually use them.
Designing is just as much about function if not more than, it is trends and fashion. The space has to function for the user. If it doesn’t it is simply bad design. So that means that even if there are certain trends that are popular or in fashion they simply may not work for the design. A good designer would advise their client of this and work to incorporate as much of the trend as is functional. This may mean that a better option and not the current trend is elected for the design to function properly. A stager never has to take this into consideration.
So when you think about staging know it is about the buyer not the home owner. When you think about design it is about the home owner not about anyone else and that includes the designer. So when you are looking for the right designer for you, remember to ask them how they work and how they feel about staging. It will be very enlightening about how they will treat your project. Staging has a wonderful purpose and it is a great real estate tool, however it is not designing.
There are many times that I am asked what piece must every room have. And yes there was a time in which it was true in design that there were specific layouts and pieces that were required in rooms to complete a style or design. Today, I don’t feel that this is really true. There are some guidelines that I tend to go by when designing a space. These include adding a touch of black to every space, mixing elements such as fabric, leather, wood, metals and glass, and having a natural element in each space. So I thought that I would post some pictures of items that I love to use. They are not all meant to be used together and they are meant for many different styles. I have found that over the years I have learned to appreciate and love many different styles so that I can truly create the space of my client’s dreams.
Here are some great light fixtures that bring drama and sophistication to just about any space. The right light, chandelier, pendant or ceiling mount will define the space and add an insight into the owner.
Here are some of my favorite furniture elements at add to a space. Furnishings with the right curves and angles will add interest to a space while helping to define the use of the room.
Accessories can make the room. Here are some accessories designed to create the perfect image and feel for a space. Use them and remember it Si better to have one big awesome piece than a bunch of small ones.
Creating the perfectly designed space is about creating around the people that will be using it. The right piece can change everything just as a wasted piece can ruin it. I don’t use a piece just to use it. There has to be a reason to add an element to the room, and it is ok for the reason to be that you love the piece. Not sure how to make it work for you? Call us or check out the website to shop from our favorite things.
One of my favorite things to do is to use a modern sofa mixed with an antique oriental rug. Or use some really modern pieces in a Victorian home. Great interior design had some playfulness to it. You should have a smile on your face when you walk into the room. It should make you happy to see it. So here are a few looks that really pulled off the right combination of modern and traditional.
Have you seen a great combination of modern and traditional? Do you want more ideas how to combine these two? Tweet us or comment.
Interior Design and décor is a constant living breathing thing. And as I was attending a current trend lecture and line unveiling yesterday I was happily patted on the back to see the leaders in this industry say exactly what I have been saying for years. Interior design is about adding personal elements to the home, it is not about the designer. Now to take it even further the white, on white, on white, stark, hotel inspired look is done, over, finished. It is not about creating looks that could be in a home, but also an office, and a hotel. It is about creating personal spaces. Allowing the client to see themselves in the space. Adding those fun touches that make the space truly about those using and living in it. Whether you call it bohemian chic, post traditionalist, modern eclectic the bottom line is that it is personal. So here are some great images to see how the release of control is planning out in current design trends.
So be yourself, don’t let anyone tell you to be something else, and have fun. For me I am so excited to be creating these kinds of looks for my clients making sure to include my clients in their homes.
There are many times that as a designer I am called a decorator. And although my husband knows that can annoy me most people do not know there is even a difference. So I thought I would talk a bit about the difference between to two and here are my top six differences.
The first big difference is that a designer went to school for their trade. One of the comments that I can be heard saying to a friend when they make the mistake of calling me a decorator is “hey don’t take my degree away from me” with a big smile and a small cringe inside. A decorator needs no formal training.
The second difference between a designer and a decorator is the scope of the projects. A designer, since they have formal training is able to read and draw blueprints. This matters especially if you are looking at a construction project.
The third difference is in how the project is managed. A designer will do scale renderings and floor plans while a decorator does not. The renderings and floor plans take away the possibility of items of the wrong size or scale being ordered or purchased for a space.
The fourth difference is knowing about current codes for the area. There are many constantly changing building codes and fire codes that effect how a project can be done. Without the full knowledge of those codes the client is at a major disadvantage to have the project properly managed. For instance did you know that there are restrictions on the types of fabrics allowed to be in a commercial space? There are weight requirements for furniture in a commercial space. A decorator most likely has no idea about these things and could cause a very costly mistake for a client, especially a commercial client.
The fifth difference is the knowledge that a designer has about construction, furniture, fabric and color. A designer who has studied knows why certain fabrics are made a certain way, why furniture is constructed in a certain way, why a sink has to be a certain distance from the toilet, and why certain colors make you feel different things. This knowledge allows us as designers to help our clients make the best choices for them. It is not just about what looks pretty.
The sixth difference is the buying process. A designer has the ability to purchase directly from manufacturers. This means that you as the client can get the best product at the best prices. A decorator does not usually have those trade relationships. Designers do not purchase of websites like Wayfair and Joss and Main. We work with the companies that sell to those websites. We cut out the middleman which is why you save money working with a designer.
So when you are looking for someone to help you through the design process remember you get what you pay for. Look for the right background and education, talk to past and current clients, and know that the right designer will guild you in the best direction for you, not just to what they like.
So we are now just days away from Furniture Fashion week so it is the time where we are planning on what vendors we will be seeing. Ok really most of the companies we have already booked our appointments with, so how about I give you a preview on a couple of the companies that we will be seeing at market. How about a great upholstery company that does beautiful bench made furniture right here in the USA?. Wesley Hall is one of my favorite companies they are a true American company that knows what true craftsmanship is. They still make everything by hand, no overseas product here. They have hundreds of items to choose from, thousands of fabrics and if there isn’t something that you absolutely love they will work with us to custom design the absolutely perfect piece.
Classic with a modern twist
Stately and refined with a little fun
Outdoor furniture is always an evolving is style and design. One of my favorites is Season Living, they not only offer furniture but great design and all the accent pieces that every space needs. So for outdoor furniture to outdoor lighting to outdoor accessories Seasonal Living gets my vote and my time at market.
From brightly colored ceramic tables to comfy modern seating it is all about Season Living.
Modern and functional
Area rugs add the perfect place for that added touch. Whether it is a traditional hand knotted oriental rug, an over-dyed oushka, or modern geometric Surya has all the options. They have now also branched out to lighting, accessories and small furniture made with their beautiful rugs. They are always aware of the trends and are happy to be the trend setter. They always get my time at market.
Bohemian style with a modern twist.
All about the marsalas!
So are you as excited as I am? It will be fantastic to see how these amazing companies outdo what they did last year. All of the showrooms have a bit more fun at Spring market so it should be a colorful time.
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