Interior Designers are one of the most valued people on a project and probably the least understood. Many times, customers are intimidated by designers, thinking that they will create an environment that reflects their taste, not the owners or are afraid that the cost will be exorbitant with nothing to show for the money.

While that may happen if there isn’t a strong communication between the designer and the client, it is not the normal result.  What designers offer is professional talent that brings cohesion and organization to interior spaces.  There talent is best shown in the way that they use four items in their process.  

A good designer knows how to use color to create a mood or to make an environment either calming or energetic. In commercial applications, we are accustomed to seeing this done. Children’s Hospitals use murals and bright colors to reduce tension and allow a patient to feel at home. Offices will use color (and other things) to suggest power, stability or confidence.  In homes, the use of color allows the owner to express themselves and to make the home an extension of their personality.  Different rooms with different uses, call for different colors, but in a home it is important that the colors used blend together rather than fight each other.  A great design uses color, but the color does not overwhelm the feeling of unity in the space

The second thing a designer will use is texture. This provides depth to the room and comes from using various textures in the materials used. Minimilist contemporary will call for metallic and leather surfaces. To some people, this is cold and hard. To others it says organization and an ordered life. Silks can spell mystery because of the sheen and translucence, while knobby fabrics and distressed woods say aged comfort to people. 

The third issue for the designer is scale. The size of the furniture and how it relates to the art on the walls and how that relates to the size of the windows and doors is all important. Should the windows have dividers that stop a persons eye or should they be totally clear so you get the impression of the outside combining with the inside. If you put oversized furniture in a small room, you will accent the smallness. However, an oversized chair in a corner can also give the owner a comfortable place to read. How all of this comes together is important.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the use of light both natural and artificial. Light is what brings a room to life.  In the daytime, a light room can feel warm and comfortable, while a darker room can be a retreat. Light is handled by not only the windows, but the window coverings, giving us the ability to make light fit our mood.  Since we are in our homes mostly at night, the use of lighting to create moods is critical. There are three basic fundamental lighting scenarios. Task lighting, which is bright enough to perform the task at hand.  Mood lighting, which allows the adjustment of light to create interesting and dramatic lighting and accent lighting which is used to bring attention to various aspects of the home such as art or interesting architectural details.

Your interior designer will work with you to create an overall environment that is comfortable, inviting and long lasting. The best memories we have of spaces that we have been too, were created by designers that used these four elements to create interesting spaces. And if you enjoy the space, the cost will be worth it.

Our designers are standing by to help you.  Call us and see how easy this is.