You’re all wondering the same thing.

Is it worth having someone come in and tell you what to do?

Do you really need someone to put stuff on your bookshelves?

…You know the answer is yes, right?

So… What do I actually do?

An designer’s eye: I am first and foremost a trained eye. Sometimes when you spend lots of time in a space, you may have a hard time envisioning what needs to change. Or maybe you always struggled with visualization. That’s where I come in. I know what needs to go where an why. I understand floor planning, rug sizing, color theory, how to layer textures, room organization, apartment flow, short-term-rental optimization, etc.. What does this mean? It means within a few moments, I understand what the room needs in order to work with you and not against you. I can’t say enough about how having a designer by your side supports and protects you. I keep the big-picture in my mind while we make all of those little decisions. Side note, I am an expert at matching personality with design style. I understand how to infuse your spaces with “you”. I once said to a friend, “I feel like you should have a cigar box on your dresser” and he responded “I do".
Quality control (construction): I am a brat. At least, that’s what I tell the people I work with. You know why? I know what I want and I make sure it happens. This means good communication and understanding between all sorts of people. You (the client), me, the designer, contractor(s), suppliers, installers, painters, and the list goes on. I’m showing up with donuts on the crappy day to keep workers happy. I make sure there’s a project contact list on-site. Renders and design concept photos are printed and hung up for the installers to see. I’m calling to check-in. I meet with the tiler to make sure we are all on the same page. And lastly, I make sure nobody leaves before they are finished. That last 5% sometimes takes the most work, but I make sure it gets done.
Quality control (furnishings): Again, the brat thing. When furnishings arrive, I check them for defects, take photos, follow up with suppliers on refunds or replacements. I make sure the art is hung at exactly the right height. If the curtains aren’t quite the right color, I find right ones. I’m checking the sizing is correct, the chair is turned “just so”, and that each and everything in your space is just… perfect. So you don’t have to.
Shopaholic: Well, not exactly. But I know stores and products inside and out. I know where to spend money and where to save. I know the thrift shops. If the perfect thing exists, I can find it. Whether that’s the perfect paint color, dresser, vintage rug, etc.. I once found a pair of matching hand-made vintage twin bed frames exactly as I had envisioned for my client. Did I climb over a pile of furniture in the thrift shop to get them? Yes I did. And I loaded those puppies into my car and even put them together myself. I want you to live with things that make you happy. My sourcing skills will make you angry you bought anything without me. One client said, “it’s like you were an extreme coupon person in your past life”. (Also see “Dupes” blog post.)
Returns/Refunds/Issues: As mentioned above, I am quality control, which means I’m in charge of contacting suppliers and dealing with returns and refunds for items that didn’t work out. I once had a large floor vase arrive broken three times over the course of many months until finally we decided to find a replacement (and you bet your bottom my client didn’t pay for any of the broken ones, no return fees either).
A leader: Sometimes a client knows their style but they are afraid to go through with it. That’s where I come in. I am beside you to pull you in the right direction in spite of your fears. And if you have hired me, you know I give my honest feedback and opinion. Basically, I’m here for your space and I won’t let you (or anyone else) screw it up. I have tools to help, including rendering programs, mood boards, paint decks, swatches… all to help you see where we are going so you can feel at-ease. It’s not so hard to agree to a full design when you can look at a photo of your finished space before we’ve even begun.
I’m fun: Have you ever seen me jump up and down, giggling with excitement at how great things look? If you’ve hired me, you have. Also, if you know me you probably have, too.