Help! I've Never Worked with a Designer Before...

The thought of looking for an Interior Designer can be intimidating for numerous reasons.

Most of those reasons, however boil down to the fact that you are putting the design of your space into someone else's hands. Do they know what they’re doing? Do they understand what you want? Are they going to break the bank? All super valid concerns. The answer is simple. If you’re prepared for your own project and armed with the appropriate questions, it puts you in control. 

Let me explain. First, of all there are things that you need to be sure of before starting to look for an interior designer. Next, you have to know the right questions to ask to be certain   that the designer you choose is qualified for the project and a good fit for you to work with. And finally, you have to be willing to do a little homework.

OK, first things first....do you understand what you want to accomplish? If you don’t get it, nobody else will either. Have examples of things that are similar to what you are looking for ready to present to your designer when you find them. How much is it going to cost? DO NOT start a project without establishing a budget first. When planning your budget remember that you need to not only include expenses for materials and labor, but also for the unexpected. During the demolition process sometimes things are discovered that are more costly than originally estimated. It also often adds to the timeline. When something unforeseeable happens, be willing to compromise to keep the project moving  along and on budget.  At Symmetry Designs, we are happy to assist you with coming up with this initial budget as putting costs to paper can be overwhelming when you haven't done any design work before.

When looking for an interior designer there are a few things you need to know in order to make a good decision. You want to be sure that they are qualified to take on your project and see it through to the end. First, ask them if they’re a “Certified Interior Designer”. This is the only title recognized under California state law. You will also want to know what interior design education they have and which related examinations they have passed. Also find out how long they have been practicing interior design.

Lastly, do your homework. For larger scale projects (ie Kitchen or whole house remodels) ask for references and look at projects they have worked on.  When calling references ask how long their project took to complete and if they stayed on budget.

Once you have done all the work to find the perfect designer for your project don’t forget that you still  need to get a proper agreement or contract before starting. Ask your designer to prepare a letter of agreement or an interior design contract. Be sure that the agreement describes the scope in which the interior designer is to be involved.  It is also important that the agreement contains a dispute resolution clause between you and the designer. And it should clearly state the fees that will be owed to the designer, as well as, how and when they are to  be paid.  Now you and your new designer are set to begin your project. You’ve done the work to be sure that you hired to right person. Let them do the job they have been hired for and let them lead the way for you!

Caitlin Campbell of Symmetry Designs takes great pride in being very approachable and easy to work with.  I can work on any size budget so don't be intimidated by the imagined cost of hiring a designer. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about working with me. 

Angel Water Bottle

As Party Mom of my daughter's Kindergarten class, I had a lot of fun preparing for their Christmas Party this year.  I love getting into all the details involved in party planning.  I came up with this fun and incredibly easy water bottle decoration for the party.  What a great and festive way to dress up those mini bottles of water.  

Supplies:
White Coffee Filters
White Feathers
Wooden Craft Stars
Yellow paint
Sharpie
Glue Squares or Elmer's Glue
Gold Pipe Cleaners
8 oz water bottle

20 Minute Decor Update

Do you have 20 minutes to spare?  Then you have time to update the look of your room.  All you need is some existing frames, some mat board and some new art ready to hang.  You can find new art anywhere.  Maybe you have some postcards or greeting cards someone sent to you that you love.  Or do you have some photos that you have been meaning to frame?  I have even found some gorgeous art worthy wrapping paper that I have thought about framing.  Just start looking around and you'd be surprised what you might find.  

I have had these art prints that I got at a local budget retailer over 10 years ago.  I bought them when I had my very first apartment and was going with a bit of an Asian theme.  I loved them...at the time....but they just don't go with my current decor.  But I didn't have much of a budget or need to buy new artwork. 

I am one lucky lady that I have a very talented mother, who just happens to also be an artist.  She gave me these fabulous aviary pieces years ago (okay, now I'm embarrassed it took me so long - sorry Mom).  I have always loved them but just didn't end up doing anything with them.  I guess that is what happens when you have two young and demanding little girls.  

Then one day I thought, hmmm, you know, those frames hanging up in my bedroom are pretty attractive.  What if I just swapped out the artwork? 

My bedding set has a bird theme to it so the bird paintings from my Mom were just perfect!  

So I headed on down to Aaron Brothers (local framing shop) to get the existing mat boards cut down, because I am cheap and didn't want to pay for new mat board.  Much to my disappointment, one of the employees told me that it really wouldn't work well to use the existing mat board because it would bow and crinkle when they tried to cut it down.   I didn't have any mat cutting tools so I needed them to do it for me.  The price they would charge me to try cutting down the mats would be the same as having them cut new mats for me.  Okay, sold.  So then I experimented with various mat colors that would accent the art but also give the room the serene, relaxing look I was going for.  So, I settled for a simple white mat. Sometimes simple is better.  

A few minutes later and voila, new original art for my bedroom!  I am so happy with the new look and even happier that I am reminded of my mom every time I see these beauties.  Because, after all, having art on your walls that you don't like is FOR THE BIRDS :)

Interior Design Meets Social Media

In the "social" world of Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Pinterest, it was only a matter of time before the design world jumped on board.  I can often be found looking for inspiration on Houzz and now am very excited about Project Decor.  I get very excited about making design boards for my clients and now I may have a place to display and share these ideas virtually.  I could create my dream client project without even having to leave my home office.

Project Decor allows established designers to "tear" furniture items from different internationally known vendors like Bernhardt, Kravet, etc to create a virtual room.  People who sign up for a free account on Project Decor can then share these boards and even, get this, buy the items they see right there!  How many times have you seen a beautiful room layout in a magazine and would love to get that look but you didn't know the sources for the furniture, art & accessories.  Project Decor allows you to converse with designers, ask questions, and even get access to items that typically are to the trade only.

You can read more about the launch of this new design centered website in the NY Times article

I am very excited about this new website and hope you will check it out!  Hopefully you will see some Symmetry Designs boards that inspire you.
 

What's Black & White and Red All Over

What better way to spice up your bedroom or guest room than with these fabulous red accents from Acacia! Imagine this beautiful poppy duvet cover delicately laid on top of your plush luxury mattress. Who wouldn't be cheered up at the end of a long day when diving into this vibrant bed. The red accents will pop even more against a black headboard like this gorgeous Louis Louis panel bed from Stanley furniture. I love the idea of using a folding tray as a nightstand like this one. It is unexpected and adds character to the room. And finally for another little pop of our fabulous accent color, throw one or two of these stools at the end of the bed for putting your shoes on or at a vanity table.

Designer Blues

As a designer I am lucky to be able to be surrounded by color all day every day. And I just can't get enough. I love putting together different color combinations that are unexpected. There are no rules in design, you just have to like the outcome. But there are some basic standards that help create an aesthetically pleasing design. One tip is to work off of an inspiration color. My inspiration in this virtual room is turquoise blue. That doesn't mean that everything in the room should be turquoise. In fact, quite the opposite. When using such a strong color as your main focus you don't want to over do it. You want to create a surrounding palette that will allow the turquoise to stand out. Notice that the bedding in the room is a nice neutral off white. This allows you to add a little punch of color in the pillows or sheets you use. Another way to add color is to have one or two furniture pieces in the room have the inspiration color as well. Here I have selected a turquoise media center and coordinating corkboard. These pieces should not be used near each other but across the room from each other so that they create their own balance. I always suggest trying to think outside the box. Anyone can just buy a matching bedding set from your local linen shop and it will look nice. But adding some unexpected pieces is when the fun starts! Be creative and have fun!

Going Green & Loving It!

I have fallen in love with a new "green" product. Vetrazzo countertops made from recycled glass. I pride myself on being a fairly sophisticated designer but have always had a little bit of hippie in me as well. Come on I was born in the 70s and my parents went to Woodstock, how can you blame me! So this new product is the perfect fit for me. I just love the use of recycled glass to create such an upscale and chic surface material. Nowadays, with being "green" at the top of everyone's agenda, there are so many new materials on the market. It used to be that going green mean reusing styrofoam cups to create a chandelier or creating furniture from corrogated cardboard but it's a whole different ballgame these days. There are more and more companies realizing that being environmentally conscience doesn't mean having to forgo style and sophistication.

I specified Vetrazzo in a custom built home in Saratoga for the kitchen. My first thought was to use the material in one of the bathrooms but I knew it would have more impact and interest in the kitchen, the focal point of the home. The client wanted something unique, no more granite, and eye catching without being too distracting. I had been dying to find a project where I could specify Vetrazzo for at least a year so I was thrilled when my client saw the sample and shared my enthusiasm. In the photo, which doesn't do the product justice, we have it paired with a slate & aluminum mosaic backsplash.

Vetrazzo comes in slab form but some suppliers will offer it in half or even quarter slabs, you just have to ask. You can fabricate it with any edge detail you want but I always think that a straight edge fits the modern, sleek style of the material best.

And this is one of the coolest things about Vetrazzo. Most of the glass comes from your everyday curbside recycling programs. Other glass comes from windows, stemware, windshields, stained glass, reclaimed glass from building demolition, traffic lights and other unusual sources. Every Vetrazzo surface has its own history. After you purchase a slab, you can request a Certificate of Transformation that tells you where the glass in your Vetrazzo came from. Now that would make for some great cocktail party conversation!

Check it out at www.vetrazzo.com. But be forewarned, once you see this product, you are going to want it in your house as well. Contact me if you are interested in specifying this product in your next project.