You have been looking for a house for months, and you have discovered that finding a home suitable for six people and at an affordable price is not an easy task.  But suddenly, one day, an ad catches your eye.  It is a five bedroom, four bathrooms, fireplace, big yard, and huge basement house at a great neighborhood and at an incredible price, however, the last line of the ad reads: “fixer upper”.

So, it’s ok. It’s too good a deal pass up. You know you can convince your family that this is the best option and you can all make some sacrifices to give the place a facelift and to imprint your family’s personality in it.

Many people have gotten into amazingly successful fixer upper projects and you can surely be one of them, however, you have to consider several things:

1.    Is the property worth it?
In order to clearly assess this, you will need a professional.  You can immediately see and feel when a property has potential, and if it does, go see it again with a good engineer, a quality contractor, and a top interior designer.  Why? Because some problems will be obvious, like an outdated kitchen or peeling paint, but the biggest issues, like rotted wood or old plumbing may not be, and only a professional with experience can tell you where to look to find the dangerous weaknesses.

2.    How much will you have to invest in fixing the place up?
If you are really into buying the place, get the professionals to give you estimates of how much the remodeling project will cost.  Add these costs to the house’s price and compare the total with the prices of other similar and better houses in the area.  For example, if the house is listed at, let’s say, $150,000, and others around the neighborhood are being sold for around $210,000, and the remodeling estimates you receive oscillate around $50,000, you definitely have a winner!

3.    Can you finance the fix up?
If you are buying the property with a mortgage, most probably the bank will assess the place based on its current condition, not its potential value once remodeling is done, so you may not receive enough money to pay for the fix up work.  You could research the renovation loan opportunities available in your city, but you will certainly have to work the numbers to make sure you can pay both loans without sacrificing your family.

You will certainly feel it. You will know if the place is ‘home’ even if it is a wreck.  If this is the case and this house is destined to be yours, don’t worry, it will be, energies will align and the right people will find you so as to make your dream a reality.

And if your precious future home is around the Seattle area, here’s your first sign.  Talk to a professional Seattle interior designer; there’s no one better to guide you in the right direction. With her help, you will experience what serendipity is all about.

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Any remodeling project causes interference in a household’s daily routine, but a major one can result in total chaos and even threaten your sanity.  Once cabinets are ripped out, walls come down, and wiring is exposed, suddenly you are wondering why you decided to go through such hell, since you cannot even imagine how the place will look in the end.  You basically trust your interior designer and her experience to get you through the project without going nuts and in one piece.

There is no question about it, a home remodeling project can be stressful; however, the right guidance and the following advice can make the process easier on you and your whole family:

-    Design a plan to keep your daily routine working
Even though you are living in a chaotic environment, you still have to cook, wash clothes, and take a shower.  If staying at a hotel or with a relative is not an option, you have to design a practical plan to live at home while the work is being done, and you have to do this before the interior designer and her crew start tearing down walls.  You could adapt a new temporary kitchen in another room while remodeling is taking place there, or ask a friend or neighbor to allow you to shower at their house if water has to be turned off for several days.  Knowing what you will do when your home is not livable will give you peace of mind.

-    Keep an eye on the clutter
Of course there will be a mess while the project is underway; however, the loads of trash and dust that come out daily should be taken care of immediately.  Before remodeling begins, talk to your interior designer about this, and make sure you have clarity, and that everyone knows, how trash should be handled.

-    Protect your valuables
Even if your interior designer is the best and most careful one out there, dust will surely spread all over your house.  Ensure all your furniture and electronics are well protected against dust, or remove them if necessary.  You can choose a room away from the chaos to put everything for the duration of the project, lock it up and make sure everyone understands that that area is out of bounds.  In this way, you will feel comfort in knowing that your things are safe.

-    Keep an eye on things
Whether you are living elsewhere or at home during the remodeling project, you have to talk to your interior designer every day, and even several times a day, to make sure everything is going smoothly.  This will help you feel in control of what is happening right now and know what’s coming next.

If you live in the Seattle area, contact experienced interior designers in Seattle. You can rest assured you will remain sane no matter how huge your remodeling project is.

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Renovating an attic means you can add lots of useful space to your home.  Normally, attics are full of junk from ages ago; there is no better time than now to think of a better way to use such valuable space within your home.

Attics are not meant to be dirty, dark, and moldy. Very much the contrary, they should be modern, cozy, bright and beautifully designed spaces that bring value to your home and life.

One of the challenging situations attics present is the low ceiling that limits its use.  However, a professional interior designer knows the clever design principles and the best remodeling strategies to take 100% advantage of these difficult areas in a practical and beautiful way.

Here are 9 great ways to take full advantage of your attic space and to enjoy it as much as you enjoy the rest of your home:

1.    Storage area
Use the space along the attic’s walls as storage area, using shelves, drawers, niches, or cupboards.  In this way you add value to your home, you keep the place organized and free of clutter, keep people away from low ceiling areas, don’t need standing dressers and bookcases, and maximize the use of dead zone areas.

2.    Change the stairs
Very often, the stairs to the attic are built to use a lot of the attic’s floor space that you could put to better use.  In order to solve this, you can locate the stairs on the low roof side by breaking the stairs up with two half flights and a landing, by working with the roof line’s slope by having stairs that go down to a landing before changing direction, or by adding a skylight to the stairwell.

3.    Place furniture
You can put furniture under low ceiling areas to maximize their use.  Locate the head of the bed there, a couch or chair, a dresser, desk, bookcase, or entertainment unit.

4.    Skylights
These add lots of light to dark attics and are easy to install.  Skylights on sloped roofs give the sensation of more vertical space in the room.  They go great in bathrooms above sinks, in built-in bathroom shower stalls, above built-in bed or desk niches, in kitchens, main living areas, and stairwells.

5.    Reflect light
Walls, ceiling, floor, and objects in the room can absorb or reflect light.  Light colors on walls and ceiling next to the windows help natural light flow throughout the space.  Paint ceilings and walls white, use hardwood floors or light carpets, and use mirrors and other reflective surfaces to produce the feeling of a larger space.

6.    Add enough lighting
If your attic is a little dark, think about the kind of lighting that will light it up, perhaps, overhead lighting, lamps, wall lighting, or task lighting.

7.    Dormers
These add natural light and usable space, add height to bathrooms, kitchens, seating areas, and niches for desks.  Dormers will help you gain more space in the middle of the attic to improve movement and circulation.

8.    Windows
Add natural light and open up the space.  Choose wide or tall windows, or both, to allow light to penetrate deep into the attic.

9.    Build a bathroom
A small bathroom in the attic is a great way to use low spaces.  Use the low roof side to put the toilet, the sink, or the shower.  You can add a skylight over the sink for more light, a bench along the shower wall, or a skylight over the shower to add more headroom.

Contact a local Seattle interior design firm to find out your attic’s potential.  They can give you a good idea of what kind of work your space needs and how to make it fit your budget.

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The day finally arrived!  Your child has gone to college and, now, the house is all yours.  As soon as this happens, the first thing many couples do is remodel the house to fit their new life.  Maybe you’ve been dreaming about building a gym at home, or a home office, or a meditation spot, or a quilting room, and now is the perfect time.  You have a spare room where you can design the personal space of your dreams without having to think about the kids’ safety, their primary activities, or even the colors that will show the dirt less.

However, as soon as everything is ready and you are happily enjoying your new space, you get a phone call.  Your ‘little one’ is returning home and your newly acquired liberty is at stake.

For many reasons, one of them being the economic crisis, many kids who left home to study or to live other experiences are returning to the nest.  When adult children or elderly parents move in, the space, privacy, and lifestyle differences can be a huge problem.  In this case, homeowners have to find a way to create two homes in one, and in many cases the answer may be the basement.

Now more than ever basements are being remodeled to become a full living space, an apartment within a house.  This is a perfect way to welcome family members into your home while keeping your privacy, and personal space intact.

There have been many advances in finishing techniques, materials, and trends that help transform basements into amazing spaces, making them cozy, practical, modern, private, and independent.  It doesn’t matter if it is a small or big basement; the project will be successful if you do it right:

1.    You have to know exactly what kind of space you need.  Young and elderly people have very different needs and thus, you have to know for who this space will have to work for, so that it is functional and attractive to them.

2.    Research the local interior designers to find the right professional to guide you.  Yes, you need a professional.  Basement remodeling is a huge project that requires a lot of knowledge in regards to proper insulation, ventilation, lighting, colors, storage solutions, furniture and fixtures that will work by not making the space look crowded, and the practical design of limited spaces.  These are only a few of the aspects that make basement remodeling a task of high level difficulty.

If you want to do it right, if you want the basement remodeling project to add great value to your home, and besides being home to your loved ones, become a source of return on investment if you ever decide to sell, you need to get quality help.  If you hire the help of a Seattle interior designer or someone in your area, you can ensure faster communication and action in case of emergencies with the project, and it will mean great savings in time and effort for you.

Once your project is ready, and for many years to come, the interior designer’s expertise will prove vital for the comfort and economic return it will provide.

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Every parent dreams about seeing his or her child study with pleasure.  In the hopes of making this happen, many try to think of a way to create a pleasant and inspiring study space in their child’s bedroom, only to fail hopelessly most of the times.  It is just too hard to fit a bed, sports equipment, clothes, toys, and in addition, a desk and shelves, in an organized and attractive way that will make a kid excited about getting home to study.

Luckily, there are ways to achieve just that; professional interior designers will help you find the solution.  Through the cautious and experienced study of the space and your child, and the thorough knowledge of available materials and furniture options, a designer can create a practical and gorgeous study space that will inspire any kid.

The trick is in dividing the room in defined areas.  There should be a well designed and established area for sleeping, another one for playing, and yet another one for studying, in this way, as soon as your child goes into any of these areas he or she will feel and recognize its function.  What do we mean “feel”?  Well, in the sleeping area, the child will feel relaxed and it will be easier to fall asleep and rest; in the play area the kid will activate his or her imagination and energy; and in the study area, he or she will find it easier to concentrate and study more effectively.  There shouldn’t be distractions like TV, posters, and music in the study area, unless any of these relates specifically to the work being done.

The wellbeing of your child is imperative to help him or her enjoy studying.  For a child to be comfortable while studying, the furniture has to be the appropriate size.  The interior designer will only recommend furniture that fits your child’s size and with the right posture support, without sacrificing, of course, the “cool” side of the deal.

The study space should have good lighting to stimulate attention and protect your child’s vision.  Dull lighting will make your child daydream, and believe us, the last thing you want is for your kid to develop a connection between schoolbooks and daydreaming.

The interior designer’s job is to understand human behavior in order to create a space that works for the individual, thus, she needs to know your child very well, and will work closely with him or her to find out how they think, what their interests are, and how they view school.  In this way, she can inspire them through images and designs based on their preferences, perhaps, the universe, nature, or even literature… your kid has the last word!  In the same way, she will know what colors to use to influence their focus and retention skills.

As for you, always keep an eye on your child while he or she is studying, and make sure you tell them to take regular breaks every hour or so, in this way, they will be able to rest their body and mind, enhancing their attention span and allowing them to feel relaxed the whole time.

It is all about making the study experience be fun and comfortable, so ask the professionals, because it is possible.  There is an interior designer in Seattle who can make your child love homework!

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People talk about an interior designer and a decorator as two professionals who do exactly the same thing, but nothing is furthest from the truth.  Although both may possess the same abilities and talents to create gorgeous spaces, there are important differences between the two.

So, what exactly are these differences that are so fundamental but still not recognized even by dictionaries?

As the American Society of Interior Designers states, an interior designer is a person who is “professionally trained to create a functional and quality interior environment.  Qualified through education, experience, and examination, a professional designer can identify, research and creatively resolve issues and lead to a healthy, safe and comfortable physical environment.”  Basically, interior design is the art and science of understanding human behavior so as to create living spaces.

Interior designers have lots of responsibilities; they organize a space to work for a certain activity; they ensure the designs comply with building and safety codes; they manage the whole process of construction and installation of a design; they design for the right acoustics and lighting; they are responsible for choosing the fixtures, furnishings, products, materials and colors.

In many states, interior designers require a license to work, and they have to take a test to earn it.  Only then, is the interior designer acknowledged as a professional with the right qualifications to make difficult decisions in regards to living spaces.

In contrast, interior decorators only worry about the surface decoration, this is, fabrics, paint, furnishings, lighting, and other materials.  Decoration is the act of adorning and furnishing a space with beautiful things.

Besides doing the above, interior designers also have to worry about many other things. While a decorator will just have to select the floor’s type, color, and texture, the designer will have to also consider the use it will be given, the acoustics it will produce, how flammable it is, its toxic properties, and the static electricity requirements, among others.

The interior designer’s main concern is the human interaction and behavior that will accompany a space; this is not so for the interior decorator.  The decorator centers on visual beauty, while the designer works to make beautiful work in terms of functionality, efficiency, and safety as well.

It is important to recognize each professional for what they do. Both do valuable and specific work that is worth acknowledging.  Contact a local interior designer in Seattle and confirm the value of true experience.

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Your home is your castle; you love arriving home at night, after work, to relax, and you also cherish entertaining your friends and family in a place you are proud of and makes you happy, and suddenly, one day, you make the decision: your home needs a makeover.

Of course, your first impulse is to DIY.  Who knows your style better than you?  So you decide to hit Home Depot with a long list of materials, certain that you’ll be able to do it in a flash!  Everything is fine until you face reality; hundreds of choices everywhere, and you end up disoriented amid an ocean of furniture and fixtures that suddenly look exactly the same.

Before you decide to venture into interior design, consider the following aspects and judge for yourself if going solo is the best way to go, for your wallet.  Contrary to what you may think, hiring a professional interior designer may save you lots of money when remodeling your home.

• Interior design requires a great deal of time; do you have the time?

• Have you bought beautiful furniture in the past only to arrive home and rack your brains as to where to put it to match the rest or stand out?

• Is it easy for you to decide between hundreds or thousands of colors or fabrics at a shop?  Have you made choices that ended up frustrating you?

• Have you got a picture of the perfect bathroom, or living room, or kitchen, and yet you don’t know how to make it fit your space?

• Does everyone at home like what you like?

• Are you planning on taking down walls, joining rooms or installing light fixtures?  Do you know someone who can do this for you and do it right?

• Do you need custom furniture or cabinets?

• Do you want your home to be different in its own special way but without spending too much?

• If your home is new, would you like to be sure that what you have in mind works for the space?

These are just some of the many considerations of why hiring an interior designer in Seattle may be the best way to go.  A professional has the knowledge and experience to guide you and stop you from making mistakes and bad choices that will cost you money. She will also save you lots of time, as she possesses the best resources readily available to work.  An interior designer will put a wide array of resources at your service, some of which are only available through them.  Think that you will have all the design selections researched and presented to you before the process begins, ensuring you get the home of your dreams, one that fits your lifestyle and taste to perfection.

Here are three reasons why hiring an interior designer is your best choice in terms of investment:

1.  Big makeover projects require compliance with building codes and federal and state laws; you must know these to avoid expensive mistakes or even lawsuits.

2.  An interior designer is knowledgeable on design theory and its technicalities.  They know everything about technical drawings, materials specifications, construction systems, installations, environmental considerations and safety issues.

3.  A professional, who will present a detailed cost projection that you can adjust as needed, will research your design project.

Interior design can be simple and successful.  Be wise and hire someone who knows, someone who can give you peace of mind by knowing you will get what you have dreamed of for so long.

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Why is it most of us can pull it together to look fabulous for a party? Okay we might have to shop for a while and try a bunch of stuff on, even bring a friend to talk us out of that spandex dress – but for most of us; we can pull it off. What happens to our creativity when we dress our homes? Where’s the good foundational fit, the dramatic accents, the integration from head to toe to give us that complete look? The fact of the matter is that it’s complicated, plain and simple. We are experts on ourselves – what makes us feel good. When it comes to our interiors we lose confidence. Interior designers are trained to read architecture, to study the elements and principles of design theory, and to reconcile form and function. Once we’ve solved the space planning and balance of the volumes, it’s time to “dress”.

We’ve found that pulling together palettes is a process of mixing and matching. Start with color: um, pick one. A color you like; a color that is given such as carpet or the color of a sofa you already really like. From the color think texture: if your color comes from your mohair sofa – contrast that plush with a shiny silk in the form of a pillow or drapery. In addition to color and texture think scale: scale of both accent pieces and potential prints. Like any fabulous outfit, there is drama in the layering.

Take this palette: Now sit back down and let’s discuss. This palette is modern and not shy. The main body fabrics are the zig zag and the smokey purple boucle. The accent pillows would be made from the cut velvet geometric print welted with the gold velvet and the cayenne red mohair. The tile was for an accent layer around an existing fireplace. You’ve got scale, pattern, color and texture.

Now look at this palette: Texture galore! The grass cloth introduces the striping element that is replicated in the print, the velvet, the glass and even in the drawer pulls. The stones and the wood contrast that geometry but softly, they are not in competition.

Here we are in blue and taupe. The fabrics are layered in texture, color and value. The soft blue velvet is luxurious and offers a nice point of view next to the silk dupione. The accent fabric pulls together all the other colors and creates a unifying element. The geometry of the pattern is relates to the rhythm of the tile options. Instead of “matching” we’ve coordinated, a much more interesting tale.

Not everyone is good at everything. The complexity of design is a studied discipline in the same way science and math are not casual endeavors. I would no more do my own accounting than I would do my own surgery. Be smart in what you know and do it well and be smarter in what you don’t know and consult with the professional.

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