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Interior Design Questions & Answers?

How do I know I need an interior designer?

• You realize that you do not know what your style is. Remember, "Pottery Barn" is a store not a style!
• When you look at fabrics and paint, are there so many choices that you just don't know where to start?
• Did you start to redecorate your room and buy a few nice pieces, but just don't know what to do with them and then add more and still feel that the room isn't coming together?
• Have you seen pictures of wonderful rooms in magazines of the look you want but don't know how to make it happen in your home?
• Are you and your spouse having trouble agreeing on what to do?
• Have you bought pieces over time but don't know how to make them work together?
• Do you own a house with a definite historical period but you don't know how to decorate the home to retain its history?
• Are you about to coordinate the colors and style of your whole home but realize that now when you see your choices they look boring together?
• Do you want to do some major renovation involving moving walls or lighting fixtures?
• Do you have more resources at this point in life and want to have your home reflect your step up in life and be able to add greater enjoyment to life?
• Has your life changed such as the moving away of the kids and now you want to change your home to reflect the style and elements you've wanted for years but were afraid to implement until the kids were gone?
• When you're ready to pay someone else to get you what you really want?

What I Can Do For You As Your Interior Designer?

Most of the time people bring me into a project at the beginning. If you are thinking of building a home or vacation home, this means either before home blueprints are drawn or soon after. If you do not have plans I can assist you in obtaining them and if you already have architectural drawings I can review them with the advantage of one more set of eyes. My review may help you with small but important details such as sightlines and design for good furniture placement.

A building or renovation project can be overwhelming given all the choices that you are faced with. From the design of spaces to floor coverings to millwork, plumbing, lighting, tile, appliances, cabinetry, countertops and then there's color! All of these selections build on one another and for most people this process is confusing and sometimes no fun at all. So if you want to turn a dreaded project into a journey that's fun, I can help. First, I assist you in defining your design style so that the decisions we make are effective in reaching your vision for the design you are dreaming of. When we know you're design style the selections we make build on that style direction. This design system removes the confusion and provides a process that makes sense.

Once I've listened to your goals and dreams and helped you identify your design style I create a written plan that puts on paper your goals and my design plans to achieve those goals. Dependent on the size and scope of the project this written plan may be two or three pages or fifteen to twenty. Then I include your written plan in a 3-ring binder that has sections for all the components of building and remodeling. There's a section for millwork and cabinetry, a section for lighting, a section defining colors for every room, a section for drapery and so on. This binder serves as our organizational tool so that as selections are made they can be included in the binder. This is really helpful in that, as questions arise during the project you can have ready answers. If you involve a general contractor, I can provide a planning binder for them as well.

As needed, I can meet with you and your contractors to review plans and answer questions about details that frequently arise during the project. My clients have found this personal attention in helping them make decisions to be a frustration remover and confidence builder. Knowing that you have a professional interior designer to help you along the way can give you peace of mind and makes the process more enjoyable.

Also included in the planning binder is a timeline for making selection appointments so that selections can be made ahead of the time when those materials will be needed. This helps keep the project moving smoothly especially when multiple contractors such as floor layers, plumbers, electricians and painters are involved.

Next, you can be comfortable in knowing that when you need help with selections, I would be available to personally assist with those selections. This includes; flooring selections such as hardwood and carpet, tile selection and design of backsplashes, kitchen and bath design, cabinetry and millwork design and selection, plumbing fixtures, lighting design and selection, granite, marble or laminate selections, hardware and paint colors.

Finishing touches such as custom blinds and drapery are also a specialty of mine. A huge selection of materials and fabrics are available through Decors by Daniel that you will find to be beautiful and creative finishes to your home.

When the space is finished I can also help you furnish and accessorize it. Decors by Daniel has relationships with many furniture resources that offer quality furniture. By working through Decors by Daniel you have the added benefit of having a personal designer assist you in obtaining the right furniture and fabrics that will complete your overall design and make it a wonderful place to be. These are resources only available to designers and with me, they are available to you.

I can help you furnish your entire home or simply help you complete a room with a couple , if you just need a couple pieces of furniture, some art or drapery.

On a few occasions, I've had clients who had just moved into a new home or were having an event like a wedding shower or holiday and engaged me to do a one or two week makeover. In these cases we made significant changes by simply repainting, rearranging furniture or adding some accent pillows, accessories and art.

Often the question comes up - "Do I have to be prepared to complete the whole project at one time?" The answer is "No". In fact, one of the real advantages of having the written plan that I provide is that if you begin with your highest priority portion of the design and then wait a few months to complete the next stage you will have a plan to help us all remember what our goals are for the completed project and the steps we have already planned and agreed on to get to a successful finish.

So, wherever I come into the picture my goal is to help you achieve the home or office of your dreams. My design philosophy is that every room should have its own personality and all spaces should be in harmony to create a place you truly want to be.
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Finding Your Design Style

Getting rid of confusion is the first step toward achieving a great design that really works. Most of the people I work with know what they like, but do not know what they're style is or what style they want to have when they are finished. Hint - Pottery Barn or Ethan Allen are not styles. Its "OK" not to know your style now but it can be disastrous, and expensive to begin a building or renovation project without knowing your design style because your design style should provide direction to your decisions so that we achieve a beautiful result.

So, before you get started we should answer the question of design style so that you avoid costly mistakes and purchases that result in a disappointing project. By defining your design style we then have a guide for all of the decisions that need to be made when designing a space.

Now it's time to get started on designing the home of your dreams. Let's give your spaces great creative personality and have fun along the way.

The most important thing that you can do in getting started is to identify your design style.

Are you;

• Traditional?
• Victorian?
• Old World?
• Art Deco?
• Country? (American, English, French)
• Contemporary?
• Eclectic?

No, Eclectic isn't Latin for "anything goes". Eclectic is actually the hardest style to do right. Good eclectic happens when we achieve a design that has a common focus that is accomplished with stylistically different pieces that work in harmony. It is not simply a combination of stuff we picked up at garage and estate sales.

So, here's a formula I follow to assure successful design:

• First, we identify your personal style.
• Next, we deign rooms to be functional.
• Then, we pay attention to details that will make the room feel right.
• Last, a successful designed room exhibits a sense of harmony both in the elements found in it and with the spaces around it.

This simple Four-Step Method is the secret of every interior I have ever designed.

If you are unsure what your "design style" is, here are some tips:
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An Easy Way to Find Your Design Style

Next, take a look at the collage of pictures you have and look for clues of a trend that should be developing. If you begin to see a trend but can't put a definition to it, now may be the time to meet with an interior designer. Of course, I would like that to be me, if that is possible. Once we have a clear style definition to the style direction you want to go such as Tuscan or French Country than you are ready to move forward.

The question to ask at this point is; "Can I put all of the elements and colors together to achieve the kind of room I've seen in magazines or in my dreams?" For most people this is a tough proposition and for many, interior design can be overwhelming. Never fear, this is a good time to call a good interior designer.

So let's take a look at what that process looks like.

My first step with a client is to listen. I listen to your goals, how you want to feel in the space, how you plan to use the space, what will be most important about the space and how they would like to prioritize the project. Then, we take some time to study the pictures you have gathered from magazines that will lead us to discover your décor style.

Knowing your design style is critical to a great outcome because it allows us to work together with an understood goal and with the parameters of a defined style that will keep us on the road to a great new interior.
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Design Style & Trends

I'm often asked, "How can you tell what may be the coming trends in interior design"? Here are some hints:

• Take a look at haute couture in serious fashion magazines. What do you see?
• Next, notice what is being advertised as themes in major furniture lines.
• Last, consider societal thinking

So, what do we see in fashion?

• Fashion- jeweled colors, more sequins lines going back to the 1940's and 50's in evening wear and shoes
• Furniture - have you seen ads from manufacturers using terminology such as "The Bogart Collection", these harken back also to the 1940's and 50's when furniture and architecture was heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement.
• Societal thinking - Autos are a societal reflection of Americans, so what are we seeing? From Ford, Chevrolet Chrysler and Dodge we're seeing new interpretations of iconic cars of the 1960's and 70's such as the Mustang, Camaro or Challenger. This does not mean that going back to the 60's and 70's is the trend for interior design, but it does mean that many people are looking for a feeling of returning to some of the best of the past. Maybe this is the case because the largest segment of our population is the "Baby Boomers" who were born between 1945 and 1963. For many of them their childhood and teen years were lived during the 60's and 70's and perhaps they would like to relive those more carefree days.
• Speaking of carefree, it seems that overall our society has moved from a less formal attitude to a more casual attitude about dress and furniture. For a while the popular term for very casual furnishing with a small amount of style was "Shabby Sheik". Perhaps, we've moved beyond that to a point in design where the common description has moved up to what I refer to as "Casual Elegance". This descriptor defines an interior design where there is still the attention to detail and the inclusion of high quality materials but a style that can be lived with instead of just admired from afar. With the hints shown in details that were part of the 1940's and 50's at this time many see style including elements that give a feeling of a more opulent, "Old-Hollywood glamour".
• In recent years earth tones have been a popular choice and I think that because we feel so comfortable with them, earth tones will stay in vogue for some time to come. These warm tones give us a sense of belonging and by adding the glamour of gold or silver we gain a beautiful feel that speaks of comfortable luxury.

The Two Schools of Design

The key of traditional furniture is its historical influences. Among the most popular traditional styles today are:

• Eighteenth-century English
• Nineteenth-century Neoclassic
• Country - French Country, Italian Country, Early American
• Art Deco

Because traditional styles span a broader range of cultures than contemporary styles, and are more detailed, selecting a traditional style seems a complex task. But don't give up on having a wonderful traditionally designed home or office. If you identify your primary design style as the focus of your design then elements from other traditional disciplines can be added to the mix.

In mixing different traditional styles, you can achieve a certain harmony by choosing one element as a focus. For instance, you might select as sofa in a deco, transitional style and then build on that with coordinating pieces either leaning in a traditional direction or pieces that lean toward a contemporary direction.

The family of contemporary encompasses;

• Art Deco from the '20s, (Crossover to Traditional)
• Mid-century modern from the '50s, (Often Transitional)
• Scandinavian from the '60s,
• Modular from the '70s, and
• Minimalism from the '90s

The hallmark of contemporary furniture is simplicity, clean lines with either bold statements of color or soft monochromatic themes.
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What about Furniture Layout?

So to break down the problem into manageable parts, here are five questions that need to be answered before we strike out on a furniture buying mission.

We start by asking five questions:

1. First, What is the focal point of this room?
2. What furniture should go into the room to accomplish the use intended?
3. How can we arrange pieces so that we achieve balance in the room?
4. What are the traffic patterns of the room?
5. How do you want the room to make you feel?

Let's walk through this together. As I look around a room, I first try to identify the focal point in the room. For instance, in a great room it may be a fireplace, in a dining room it may be the wall perfect for a buffet. Whatever the focal point is, that will help us to place furniture so that the room feels right.

Next, as we think about the pieces that we wish to place in the room, we need to envision how we plan to use the room. If it's a great room, how will we use it on a daily basis; a place to read, a place to play with the children, how will it be used? Again, thinking about the great room, how will we use it for entertaining? Do you tend to host small diner parties of four to six people or do we want to be able to accommodate larger gatherings? The answers to these questions will help us make decisions about the pieces of furniture that should come into the space.

Now that we've thought about the pieces of furniture that we want in a room we need to think about balance. One of the most common mistakes is what I call the "Convict Lineup". This is the room where most of the furniture, usually the big pieces like sofas and chairs, are all lined up on one wall with something relatively small across the room, like the TV.

When a room is out of balance it feels much like being on the deck of a ship where all the deck chairs have slid to one side because the deck is leaning in that direction. To solve this problem stand in the middle of the space facing the focal point we've identified. Now think of drawing imaginary intersecting lines that divide the room into four equal sections. Next, begin with the largest pieces of furniture and place them with a focus on the focal point and so placed that they balance the weight of the room. Then add the next "weighty" pieces keeping balance in mind so that when we are done, the four imaginary sections of the room feel relatively equal in the amount or weight of furnishings found in each section.

Now, we need to look around and decide how people will enter and pass through this space. If we've considered the focal point and achieved good balance, usually the traffic pattern will only require minor adjustments to furniture placement.

Lastly, how does the room make you feel? You see good design results in spaces that look good. But great designed spaces not only look good, they make us feel good. This takes place when we've - focused on the focal point of the room, achieved good balance with the placement of furnishings, made it easy and inviting to come into the room and, when we've used color and materials that give the room personality and make us feel good.
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Going crazy over accessories?

The first thing to consider is the same as in placing furniture - focus. What is the focal point of the room? We want to strengthen the focal point so that accessories don't create competing focal points. With that in mind, I suggest removing all accessories from the immediate space we are working on so that we have a clean palette. Then take inventory of the accessories you have and think about whether they should come back into the room. In most cases, not everything we had in the room should come back into the room. Perhaps some pieces will just cause the same cluttered or confusing look that we're trying to get rid of. Some pieces may have sentimental value, such as photos, but need to be reframed to be invited back into the room.

One of the reasons to clear the room of accessories is so that we can determine the appropriateness of each accessory as we determine if it belongs. If we try to just "remove a few things" we can become too easily confused because we naturally compare the way it was with the way it looks without pieces that "really don't look that bad". This can create a circular thinking that quickly causes confusion and paralysis - we simply give up and just re-arrange the stuff we know inside doesn't work.

When we bring pieces back into the room to provide the finished feel that accessories bring, the goal is to achieve interest not clutter. With that in mind, think of each piece interviewing for a position in your room. This is especially true when designing in a contemporary, deco or transitional style where a more minimal feel is the goal. Achieving interest, not clutter, is especially difficult when decorating in a very traditional style such as Victorian where the temptation is to always add "just one more thing". A good rule of thumb with Victorian is; when you think there are just enough accessories - remove one.

Once we've identified what should come back into the room, the next question is; "Do any of those existing pieces have the ability to add to the importance of the focal point of the room?" Generally, this ability to add weight or importance is based on color, size or interest. For instance, an example of color would be a vibrant floral arrangement or glass sculpture. An example of size would be found in large candlesticks, vases or metal sculptures. Interest might be found in a unique antique such as an ornate tea service. This ability to add to the focal point of the room will naturally mean that these accessories should be placed on or near the focal point of a room. For example, if we're dealing with a great room with a fireplace, the accessories to be placed on the mantel or on the cocktail table immediately in front of the fireplace, should be pieces that really strengthen the identity of the room.

Accessories That Have Good Color Interaction

What about Color?

Choosing colors is among the most important decisions we make and one of the most difficult for most homeowners.

• Greens - are grounding and perhaps the easiest of all colors. Highly versatile, they bring the outside inside.
• Reds - are passionate. Think the warm terracotta of Santa Fe or a crimson found in Venetian and Tuscan pallets.
• Yellows - are joyous, displayed best in the color of the Mediterranean countryside.
• Blues - are calming or icy, both vibrant and inspiring. They are the essence of the sea and sky.
• Neutrals - borrow from nature an air of quiet comfort, hushed serenity, or soaring sophistication.

How to choose a color:

Here are some tips based on my method of designing great spaces:

• First, find a sample of a color that you like in one of those photos that you've cut out. Maybe it's a fabric, a carpet swatch, or any item at all. Trust your attraction. This will help you in your decision process.
• Although most people think of "paint" as the place to start, I usually begin with the flooring when that is being installed. The reason for this is that flooring, whether it is carpet, hardwood or tile is the "basis" or "platform" of any space and on which everything else will rest. I also make the flooring decision before paint because, generally, flooring colors are more limited than the thousands found on my paint wheel and second, flooring material is a much more expensive investment than paint. If flooring is not being installed we still want to coordinate the paint we select with the existing flooring material.
• If we are bringing substantial pieces of existing furniture into the space such as a sofa that we love, then we should take a queue from colors found in that piece of furniture. That doesn't always mean that the paint we choose needs to be limited to a specific color found in our furnishings but it does mean that the paint needs to "play nice" or coordinate with the furnishings.
• Remember that most colors will look more intense and darker in an entire room than on that little paint sample you see in the store. So, for most colors, err on the light side, perhaps one tone lighter than the color on the paint sample card. However, if you feel like the room needs to make a bold statement, don't be afraid of bold or rich colors.
• Most paint stores have both color cards with one color and cards with multiple colors that flow from light to dark within a color family. When selecting a color I suggest starting with the card that includes several colors from the same family. Why? Because in many cases the color we thought was "perfect" in the paint store seems too dark or too light when we get it back home. By taking cards with several tones in the same color family we can make confident adjustments in the space to be painted by simply going a shade darker or a shade lighter in the same family of colors.
• Also, know that light will affect everything. I suggest holding off on buying gallons of paint until your choice is tried and you like it. So test your color from a quart of paint in different locations in a room. Let the paint dry and see how the color develops then look at it in the morning, midday and evening. If you still like the color, go ahead and buy the amount needed to complete the space. If it's not quite right, select a color either one shade darker or one shade lighter from your color card.
• Keep in mind what time of day you use the room when selecting the shade. By night, color will reflect differently than by daylight.
• Be careful to think about how the sheen of the paint will affect the color. Most paints are available in flat, eggshell, satin and gloss. What we should keep in mind is that the sample card you see at the paint store is generally printed in a "flat" sheen. So you ask, "What does this have to do with color?" Well, as you move up in "sheen" the added shine refracts more light and with that added light will come a tendency for the color to become stronger so that, the same color in a glossy sheen will appear very different from the flat sheen of the sample card to the shine of a gloss. So to achieve the color I've selected from a paint sample card, I usually stick to either a flat or eggshell sheen that will result in a tone much more true to the sample card. Sometimes a reason for a higher gloss is when the paint will be in a room where scrub-ability is a concern. Although most modern paints are fairly equal in their ability to be scrubbed, if that is a real concern, rather than going to a higher gloss you may want to consider a paint that is made to accept some measure of scrubbing.

Tips on color other than paint

• Creative ways of experiencing color go beyond paint. Paint is only one of the players which include flooring, furniture and accessories.
• The flooring acts as an anchor to the room so don't overlook the tones of flooring whether it is wood, carpet our tile. Think about how the floor is influencing the feel of the room. For instance a dark stained wood floor will cause a warm feeling while a light tile helps brighten the space.
• Beyond the walls and floor is a world of opportunity to bring in color. This includes fabrics in the room that form draperies, lamp shades, pillows, upholstery, art, floral arrangements and other accessories.

How do I select, position and hang art?

Well, here are some things NOT to do:

• Don't hang art just because you have pieces that currently have "no home". If a piece does not fit the style of your newly designed room resist the temptation of just hanging it until you see the perfect thing. If you go down that track, chances are that - less than good piece will be hanging on the wall when you sell the home.
• Don't select art that has no purpose. By this I mean that art should, in some way, enhance or build on the personality of a room. For instance, if a room has been furnished in a heavy, old-world feel we would want to stay away from cute "Holly-Hobby" pictures. Don't let a room's personality become schizophrenic by the addition of art that has a whole different personality.
• Don't position art in spaces without thinking about scale. All too often, we see a large wall space with pieces that are undersized.
• Don't hang art too high.

Ok, now that we know what not to do what are some tips on what TO DO with art:

• Art is important to the personality of a room so select art with purpose.
• As you did with accessories, have art "interview" for a position in the room. If the piece has the ability to reinforce the personality of the rest of the design - great! Than you are ready to find a happy home for it. But where?
• Now is the time to think about scale that is - placing a piece or pieces of art, on a wall space on which the art will feel at home. For instance, if I have an available wall space that is six feet long I would select a piece or collection that, when centered, will fill at least one half of the space. In cases where a piece really does make sense in a room but the available wall space is too large for the size of the single piece, this is an opportunity to include other pieces of art that coordinate with the main picture or painting that we wish to use.
• Hanging art at the right height is often a conundrum but it can be relatively simple. Rather than becoming bogged down with technical methods of calculating the perfect height from a scientific basis, here's a simple tip you can follow without even using a measuring tape. The average height of an adult man is a little over 5'9". So, for that height male, a piece of art should be hung so that 2/3rds of the piece is below his "eye-level" height and 1/3rd of the piece is above eye-level. In the case of ladies, the average height of an adult female is about 5'5". So, for a woman of that approximate height a piece of art should be hung so that 1/2 of the piece is below her "eye-level" height and 1/2 of the piece is above eye-level. If you don't have a man who is around 5'9-10" or a woman that's 5'5"-6" go find one for an art hanging party. It might be fun.

What about that second home? - The lake home

The lake home of today needs to be a special place that evokes pleasant memories of times long past and helps build invaluable memories for the future.

Now, don't get me wrong, fishing and waterskiing are great fun and certainly part of any lake experience but when you come in from the lake the experience of the lake home should be filled with memories and meaning. Do you remember the first fish you caught with the help of your dad or grandfather? The fresh warm pancakes set on your plate by a smiling grandmother? These and hundreds memories of young days in the country or on a northern lake can be brought back by good design that intentionally uses elements that bring a sense of memory and charm that helps you live life well.

Too often, with the distance between a primary home and a vacation home the numerous decisions that go into good, meaningful lake home design are made in a hurried manner that doesn't do your investment in the property real justice. Bear and moose pillows may be cute but if the whole décor is bears and moose or, for the sake of an easy decision, the furniture is "matchy-matchy" the lake home will take on a very basic, uninspired feel that says "Everybody does this so I guess I will too." Why travel to such a boring place?

With the value of lakeshore where it is today why not make your lake home a very special place with a character that matches your memories of the past and your vision of memories yet to be. A place that functions well for the activities you look forward to and envelopes you in the warmth of belonging.

Distance is truly a challenge in creating a great lake home design. Not only distance for you, but distance for a designer is a challenge. The simple fact is that most interior designers do not live in rural areas. But, perhaps I can help. Because I love designing lake homes with real personality, I travel up to 150 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul to design wonderful lake and country homes.

Regarding charge for my services, to be equitable, to my clients, I do not "up-charge" because of distance. I charge my standard hourly fee and ½ that fee for my travel time. In this way, you can get professional interior design based on the best trends and materials for lake homes at a fair price. To add to the convenience of this service, I can help you make many of the design, decorating and selection decisions at or near your primary residence in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.

Some of the design specifics I can help you with to complete your dream lake home include:

• Exterior details like material and color
• Entry door styles and hardware
• Exterior lighting
• Interior design including vision planning and style definition
• Color selection - paint makes a difference
• Flooring design and selection - wood flooring, tile and carpet
• Millwork and interior door selection
• Fireplace and custom mantel design
• Lighting design and selection
• Kitchen design including cabinetry, countertops, appliances and hardware
• Bath design including tile design, plumbing and lighting fixtures
• Hardware selection
• Furniture that is comfortable, inviting and creative
• Area rugs
• Drapery and blinds that add style, warmth and privacy
• Accessories such as art, lamps and floral arrangements that finish the space
• Custom bedding & pillows
• Maybe a few bear and moose just for fun

How does Decors By Daniel charge for interior design services?

So how does Decors by Daniel charge? I try to make working with me easy so for most projects I waive the "Up-front" fee and charge just a flat hourly fee. For project further than 15 miles from my location, I charge ˝ my standard hourly fee for travel time.

I believe that people should see what they are paying for so each month I send an itemized statement that shows exactly how I spent my time on your design project. So, a typical statement will show such charges as two hours for a meeting, 4 hours in plan preparation, one hour meeting with a contractor, etc.

Because I act as a retailer for furniture, window blinds and custom draperies, I often reduce my hourly fee for time spent on assisting with furniture, blinds and draperies purchased through Decors by Daniel. This gives you the benefit of professional interior design ability and resources at a savings.
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Summary for creating your great design

• A great design is knowing and focusing on your personal design style
• A great design is functional.
• A great design exudes a good feeling.
• A great design exhibits a sense of harmony.

This simple Four-Step Method is the secret of every interior I've ever designed.

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