Just A Little Help
I’ve had several calls from prospective clients who want help with a small design job. They have all been hesitant and almost apologetic for wanting “just a little help.”
My response to those who feel this way is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting “just a little help.” A little assistance with an interior designer can go a long way. In a few hours a designer can help you in a variety of ways including – but not limited to – picking colors, identifying your style, creating a more functional yet beautiful space, or helping you edit your space (adding or subtracting items) to make it feel more complete.
Many people watch design shows on television in which people tear into their spaces ripping out and discarding everything, and come away feeling as though this is the only way to redesign a room or home. While the end result is dramatic and new, it is often a very costly and potentially wasteful process. And more importantly – a beautiful space can often be obtained much more simply and quickly.
Here are some benefits of using an interior designer:
Making the perfect color selection:
Paint is one way to bring color into your space and it can give you the biggest bang for your buck. However, choosing the right color or colors can be daunting. There are so many shades options to pick from, and you want to choose something that sets the right tone for your room, in addition to one that complements the furniture, fabrics, artwork, etc. already in place. A few other things to take into consideration are whether your paint choice flows nicely with other colors in the house as you move from room to room, how the light in a space will impact how the color looks on the walls, whether you want to have an accent wall, what color will look good on the trim, and whether that little swatch you saw in the store will really look good all over your walls. The considerations are many, so get some help up front and paint just once! Color also comes into play in several other areas when it comes to design.
Maybe you love your paint, but you need help picking out the right coordinating colors for furniture, fabrics and accessories. Whatever your color dilemma, a designer can help! In the picture below you can see how using the right color, a luscious clay, on the walls, along with a new rug that pulls all the colors in the room together created a dramatic change in a formerly bland living room.
Finding your style:
A designer can help you identify your style, and guide you when choosing furniture, fabrics and accessories for your space. In the living room pictured below the clients were going for a modern style – we worked together to create this style by using a black and white palette with pops of red to pull everything together with the desired modern feel.
Creating a Layout:
Placing your furniture can be quite challenging. We’ve all seen those quirky older rooms where the furniture just doesn’t seem to work! Starting out with a new empty space can be just as hard once you put furniture in the room. All sorts of things you didn’t notice before can begin to seem problematic – like when you suddenly realize that the 5 doors leading into the room are a horrible traffic flow issue! A designer can help you arrange your furniture so that your space is both functional and beautiful. With 3D design software you can even see your room virtually and try out several arrangements before you break your back moving everything around. Designers can also help you configure built-in cabinetry for your kitchen, bathroom and other rooms in your space. They can provide you with floor plans and drawings that will help you or your installer place everything correctly.
In the pictures below you can see the original floor plan of a kitchen/laundry area on the left, with the proposed floor plan in the middle, and on the right a 3D perspective of the proposed floor plan. These plans and perspectives can be very useful in the decision making process.
Pulling your room together:
A designer can help you decide what works in your room and what doesn’t. You can then focus on buying only those pieces or items that you need and rid your rooms of the pieces that just don’t fit. It may be that all you need are some new accessories, or paint, or some new upholstery to update and freshen up your space and give you the room you love. The ottoman pictured below was reupholstered to bring it back to life, and became a little touch that made a big difference in tying the whole space together.
Going Green:
An added benefit of working with a sustainably focused designer like Delano Designs is that you can feel good about being green. We can work with you to create a beautiful new space that you’ll love, all while cutting down on waste, reusing what you have, and purchasing new items wisely
These are just a few of the ways an interior designer can benefit you and your project. Getting “just a little help” up front can save you a whole lot of drama, work and money in the long run!
Delano Designs 