What do Interior Designers Know Anyway?

Recently, a hair stylist said to me, "I don't get why you would go to school for interior design. You either have an eye for it or you don't." Hmmm...to a point, I agree. Some people just have a refined eye and limitless creativity. Most people who have that refined eye, though, have had training, whether formal or informal.

The same could be said for styling hair. Some people have the touch and others don't ( I certainly DON'T). And, I think most people know, from experience, that just because someone has a license to do hair, doesn't mean they have the touch or the eye for it.

A lot more goes into designing a home than choosing just pretty fabric or the right paint colors. Architecture & Design go hand in hand, and a good designer is well-educated to know how they work together. Just like a good stylist knows that the hair cut should work with the shape of a client's face and her hair color needs to compliment her skin tone.

Actually, interior designers have a ton to learn, but everything a person needs to learn about being a good designer, doesn't necessarily come from a set number of college courses.

I feel the classes I have taken were truly helpful and inspiring, and I can't really imagine launching a career in interior design without having had some formal training. Although, there are many great designers who probably never sat in a "design class."

But what DO interior designers learn in school? Designers learn about furniture - to recognize Rococo from Regency styles; they learn about fabric - what double rub and warp and weft mean; they learn about color - the difference between a tint, tone, and shade. They learn to draft floor plans and create renderings (like the one above). They learn to always remember the fundamentals of design - scale, proportion, and balance. They learn the steps to renovation - like before you can start a bathroom makeover, you need to know the dimensions of the toilet and how far from the wall it should be placed. Seriously. But most importantly, future designers learn from other designers who have been there and done that.

I feel my training has been a combination of informal and formal - kind of the "semi-formal" type. My "informal" education has come from the School of Home-Renovation and from design magazines, visits to museums, and studying art, film, and fashion. And from just paying attention when my husband (who isn't a contractor but could be one) speaks about following code and what size a 2x4 board really is these days. I am Certified in interior design, which is pretty much the equivalent of having an AA or trade degree - my "formal" training. But, both parts of my education in design prove to be equally valid and significant.

However, the MOST important thing I have learned in studying design is that you must KEEP LEARNING. I consider myself a life-long learner, and continue to take classes, read books, participate in webinars, etc. I think that anyone who wants to be successful as a designer, entrepreneur, or successful at whatever job you have, must devote themselves to the business of learning.

So, to that hair stylist who questioned learning to be an interior designer, I say, keep taking those cut and color classes and going to hair shows. You still have a lot to learn. We all do.

Best of the Best: March & April Favorites

The months of March & April offer so much eye candy that it is hard to take it all in. Between the new Spring lines in home and fashion, outdoor furniture, and garden gear, I could spend every hour shopping! But, without fail, there are 3 things I always gravitate toward when I shop or meet an interior: Fabulous Lighting, Intriguing Tables, and Fine Fabrics.  I have posted some examples that I have drooled over this spring.

Charles Edwards Pagoda Lanterns via charlesedwards.com

Barry Entner Aquas chandelier

To me, a great light fixture makes the room it illuminates. Lighting must be scaled correctly for the room, support the mood and, above all, be interesting. Nothing ruins a space more than an outdated or boring ceiling mount!

Restoration Hardware 17c. Monastery Table in Grey Acacia

A great table is an essential in every home. I'm not talking about the shiny, for-when-guests-are-here dining room table. I mean the family table - the one where your family sits down to dinner every night, the one where the kids do their homework, and where you pay the bills or do laundry. That table should be solid, smooth, and able to take a beating and look better for the ware and tear. A great farmhouse-style table, like this one from Restoration Hardware, which is very reasonably priced.

Brunschwig & Fils Lhasa Green

And, nothing makes a house a home like fabrics that speak volumes about who lives there. Whether fabric is used sparingly on accent pillows or hung floor to ceiling, framing huge windows, we are drawn in to a room by the pattern or texture that fabric adds to a space. And, I just can't get enough of the joyful, vivid prints from Manuel Canovas' New Collection; they just say "come look at and touch me and be happy."

Manuel Canovas - part of the New Collection

This time it's PERSONAL

Our home in Gloucester, MA

This is our home - built in 1900. Nothing fancy, in need of much TLC, and right on the corner of a busy street. But, we just loved the character of this 5 bedroom, 1 (yes, just 1!) bathroom home and had to have it. We bought it 6 years ago, moving across country with 2 children under the age of 4, and with the knowledge that it needed major renovations - inside and out. We should have a sign on the door that reads: INSANITY LIVES HERE.

6 years later, after doing much structural work on the inside and building a patio, moving a garage, building a concrete wall, moving the garage back, spending a lot of money, time, and DIY sweat/slave labor - not to mention slammed doors and many arguments - we have only ONE ROOM completely remodeled. Two bedrooms are in transition (one currently serving as a workshop) and my office is almost complete - but is currently being used as our children's bedroom while they wait for their's to be finished.

So, when I tell people that I am an interior designer, it is with the hope that they do NOT yet visit my home! Seriously, if you saw the laminate floors in my kitchen and dining room you would die....But, if you could read my mind and see the design plans I have for this albatross....

My point? If you are thinking of doing a DIY renovation project but do not have every-tool-known-to-man, a great imagination, extreme patience, and 5+ years and thousands of dollars to invest, call a professional or move on to the next house!

I will, for kicks and giggles, share some "before" photos. Hopefully, another year will not go by before I get to share some beautiful AFTER shots. Right now, I am most excited about my daughter's room design - an icy blue wonderland fit for a family of polar bears (or an 8 year old girl who loves them).

My son's future room aka my husband's wood-working shop

The Most Dysfunctional Kitchen Ever!

Ugliest hallway leading to a wallpaper covered window 

Bye bye 2012! Hello 2013

I love the color palette in the room on the left and the creative wall treatment in the room on the right - we will definitely see more incredible selections of wall treatments in 2013

With pleasure I say good bye and good riddance to the doom and gloom of 2012. It was not my favorite year - too much tragedy occurred around the world, and I had few personal triumphs. The world did not end, but for too many, life will never be the same.

However, in the world of interior design, I can say it was a fabulous year! Creating a space reflective of the person (whatever their style may be) who inhabits it has become the goal, rather than patterning design after some fleeting trend. I love the infinite possibilities that exist in current design, and I am amazed by the selection of products that are available now.

Of course there are some trends that I would like to see gone along with 2012. Neon colors - too harsh. Sequins covering entire outfits - they are much better used sparingly. The word "chic" to describe everything! Vary your vocabulary people, please!

But some timeless and important styles emerged (or re-emerged) in 2012, and I hope they stay strong throughout 2013. I love the return of gold and the use of all metallics, birds, chinoiserie, organic elements, reclaimed wood, recycled glass...that we are seeing used in some of the best designs.

Even functional rooms got glamorous!

My favorite bedroom design from 2012

Pewter with red accents - a color combo for 2013

To a fabulous 2013. Hope it is full of hope, inspiration, and beauty!

Nature's Beauty...On the Inside

There is something about fall that awakens in me a deeper appreciation for nature than during the other seasons. Perhaps that is because winter is coming soon, and we don't have much time left to comfortably spend with it. Or, maybe it's the captivating colors and seasonal traditions like apple picking and pumpkin carving. Whatever the reason, I enjoy being surrounded by the earthiness of autumn and like to bring some inside with me. 

I have always had an obsession with organic elements - wood and stone, things that grow and are green - especially when brought indoors and paired with less than rustic elements. Furniture, accessories, lighting...they are all more interesting when fashioned after elements in nature. When you look through a  magazine, you will find that each photo of a home or room have something in common - something organic that draws you into the room - a vase of flowers, a bowl of fruit, or a great wooden table. Below are amazing examples of organic-inspired designs that I find go a bit farther.

Ironies Tallinn Buffet

Adriana Shumaris Organic Teak Bench

Aqua Lighting Creation
aquagallery.com

In this living room, it is the organic elements that make it a welcoming space.

Orange Crush

One of my favorite things about fall is seeing ORANGE everywhere - from fun accessories to falling leaves and fat pumpkins. The fabulous hue goes amazingly well with soft, rich, and bold colors, and orange is such an invigorating and exciting color that you can't wear it and stay in a bad mood!

Melanie Elston designed this kid-friendly room using orange with
other bold colors like raspberry and plum.

Personally, I love the combination that Traditional Home magazine featured in this month's issue: Hermes orange paired with Tiffany blue, similar to this room design (below) by Tobi Fairley, so fresh!

And orange isn't just for fall...I would strut this Carolina Herrera dress

(from the 2013 Spring Collection) in any season!

A little Red, lots of White, and Blue too

It's July! And in the USA, the beginning of the month is met with stars and stripes and explosions of our patriotic colors. While Americans celebrate independence and freedom and watch our hometown parades, we also pay homage to 3 essential colors which can be seen on everything from cupcakes, clothes, faces, floats, politicians, pinwheels, sofas, and the now famous, SOLO Cup. 


Together, red, white, and blue ignite visions of summer - pools and grills - and the flag and all it stands for. But used separately in design, these colors create their own dynamic. 



RED - I love red! But when designing a space, I like to use it like sugar in my coffee - just enough to enhance the flavor. Red is a fabulous color because it makes everything around it more beautiful and interesting. A red accent piece does for a room what the perfect shade of red lipstick does for a woman.

My Favorite Red Paint: Benjamin Moore's Flamenco




My Favorite color combo with red: Pale pink and bright orange

WHITE - the more the better! Nothing creates a cleaner, fresher look than a good coat of glossy white paint. It is the best backdrop for bringing out any color. 

Variations of white illuminate this room, designed by Jan Showers, giving more oomph to the rich chocolate used on the chairs.

BLUE - Classic, clean, comfortable blue. No other color is as accepted or as accessible. Navy is neutral, so it goes with everything! From your favorite Jimmy Choos to a fabulous vintage desk, you just can't go wrong with navy.

And these days, nothing says forever like a sparkling Sapphire! 

Then, when you combine red, white, and blue in one room like Robert Couturier did in the space below....fireworks!

Happy 4th!

Bring on the shine and shimmer!

Few spaces emit the opulence of Versailles. I took this picture in 2008 while on a trip to Paris and London with my husband. I remember feeling completely enchanted by this hall.   The gold, the light, the reflection of the mirrors - all made me want to put on a voluminous ball gown and dance! Of course, the 100 plus other visitors there inhibited my fantasy just a bit. 


The ornate decor of Versailles is quite overwhelming, but I do love to see the recent return to old world glamour, influenced by modern functionality, in the design world. 

These chairs by Jan Showers are an exquisite example.

Personally, I am always drawn to a space with a spectacular chandelier. Nothing says "look at me" like a great lighting fixture. And, nothing brightens a room or brings it more depth like a large mirror. So, I say, "Go bold and decorate with gold!" Just make sure to balance your shimmer with a grounding, organic element like fabulous reclaimed wood floors.