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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Why are some people hesitant to hire an interior designer?

Many people who come to me seem skeptical at first about hiring a designer. What usually brings them to me is absolute frustration. They have attempted to do it themselves, have listened to friends and neighbors, watched many episodes of HGTVand still are not satisfied with the results. This can be a real challenge at this point because mistakes have usually been made, and I am being asked to "wave my wand" and make it all better. At this point money has already been wasted.
Does this sound familiar?

20 comments:

  1. YES!!! That sounds so familiar!!!! Let the professionals help... even though you might have an "eye" for great pieces, a designer has the "know how" to pull it all together!!!

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  2. I look forward to following your blog! I am always interested in anything and everything design-related!

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  3. So TRUE! And in my tiny NYC space, getting it wrong means not being able to turn around! Ha! I look forward to your ideas and advice as I transition into a hopefully SLIGHTLY larger space this fall . . . .

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  4. This blog is so well needed. I can look at something already put together and tell if I like it or not but as far as putting the details together from scratch I am terrible. There is something to be said for interiror designers and their knowledge for color, texture and maximizing space. I say do it right the first time...with help from a designer.

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  5. I'm not much of a blogger, but I do know a good designer when I encounter one. You did a beautiful job with the window treatments in my place in G'boro, and I look forward to your ideas up here in NYC. I'm not happy with my current window coverings (just enough to live with for now) and my kitchen needs a total overhaul. As money permits, of course! I think you need to come up and check it out!!!

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  6. Hello Roxanne!!! I like to mix antiques with more contempory pieces in my home. Are there any particular rules or to follow when mixing design elements in a space?

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  7. You want to come to NYC to help out with your window treatments? I am THERE!

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  8. I like to blend styles in my home for that "eclectic" feeling. My philosophy about mixing design elements is simple: Keep it as clean and uncluttered as possible, and pay attention to scale and balance.
    In other words, do the pieces in the room hold their own? Does the room feel balanced, or one-sided? Accessories can be the key to making it all work. For example, use a contemporary work of art over an antique chest, or modern plates and vases in a hutch or secretary. Take that antique chair and reupholster it in a fun, trendy fabric. A bordered sisal area rug that provides a neutral base will allow the different styles of furniture to stand out.
    Most importantly, if you love a piece and enjoy it, well how can it be wrong?

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  9. More about mixing styles in the same room. Scroll down to the photos below to see how we mixed the old with the new.

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  10. I wish we had used you before wasted $8,000 on the wrong paint colors and a sofa that we don't really love. The saleswoman assured us that it would look perfect. Now we have a real problem ! Can you please get in touch when you have a chance? We'd like you to come over and take a look at what we have. Please help us make this house become the home that we will feel comfortable living in for many years.
    Bu the way, do you know anyone who wants to buy an ugly sofa? Thank you !!

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  11. Sorry to hear you are not happy with your colors. It can be a difficult task looking at a fan deck and trying to imagine that tiny block of color all over the room. Designers usually have access to larger samples of paint colors, or can order them. Sometimes I will just paint a piece of drywall, or cardboard with a couple of coats to get a larger sampling of the color. Rule of thumb, it is probably going to look brighter, darker, or stronger on the walls than it did on the chip. Also, color is all about the light. Look at the color at different times of day, in natural vs artificial lighting. If it still looks good to you, then it will be a winner!
    Ok, about the sofa. The problem here is usually the size. Without knowing the size of the room, the relationship and scale of the rest of the furniture in your room, it is easy to make a mistake. If you are going to do it yourself, or let a salesperson make the decision, measure...measure...measure! Bring photos so they can see what is going on in the room. It is helpful to have samples of other fabrics from the room (you can use pillows, cushions, arm covers), and a sample of the paint color. This last part is essential, because the wall color is going to provide the background for the fabric on the sofa. We are layering here.
    See you soon, and hope this helps.

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  12. I think that's an all too common scenario! But then at least in that case, the client is more willing to let you do your thing, right? Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

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  13. Roxanne, what would it take to get you to Cary. I have a twenty year disaster in my LR. Never had real window treatments and I am so fed up with trying to make it look right!

    Love the blog!!

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  14. Hi Kim,
    I actually fly out of Raleigh and go right by Cary. It would be great to see you again. I would say after twenty years, you deserve a redesign! Look through magazines and start a file. Anything that appeals to you, save it. I also have some great books.
    Thanks for visiting,
    Roxanne

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  15. Thanks for stopping by our blog Live In Full Color and leaving your comment. Welcome to blogging. I enjoyed your post.

    Kiki and I are going to be in Charlotte at the end of the month teaching our CEU Color Certification for Interior Designers. Need any CEUs? I'd love to have you in our class. You can see more at www.colorforyourhome.com.

    Nice meeting you via the blogsphere. ~Kate

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  16. This looks great, Roxanne. We LOVE what you are doing for our home! Thank you! Rhonda Wakefield

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  17. It is working with clients like you that remind me why I do this.

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  18. Hi Roxanne!
    I have a kitchen eating area/family room that has an 80's border. This border is very wide and at the ceiling level. I need to remove it before I paint. What do you suggest I use that would work without a lot of mess? The previous owner put it everywhere and now there seems to be miles of it to be removed. This is not something I look forward to and have been putting it off for years.
    Vicki from California

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  19. Roxanne!
    Thank you so much for the great advice on our new guest room. You saved us a LOT of work and $$. Now, on to the next design emergency! We are turning a bedroom with bright blue carpet into a sitting room. Thanks to a new design, it now opens off of our sage green and gold master bedroom. How do we make this clash of colors flow as if we designed it that way?
    Thanks!
    Sherry (Easton, MD)

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  20. i love the breakfast nook....the colors and simplicity of it all....i guess i mean the "clean, uncluttered look". look forward to keeping up with you thru this fabulous medium!
    kathryn

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