Loft living has become the home of choice for all kinds of people from young business professionals to middle-aged empty nesters to older retired couples.  If you love the feel of open spaces and unique design, then loft living may be for you.  The one thing that all loft lovers do agree on, however, is that the interior design of a loft living space should be left in the hands of a professional, such a Seattle interior designer.  For the amateur home decorator, lofts present issues that can become quite frustrating and overwhelming.  Here are just a few of the design elements that call for a trained eye and creative hand:

• Lofts can sometimes be one open space where individual “rooms” have to be created using just the right elements of design.

• Some lofts have been built from refurbished industrial space leaving steel girders and exposed brick intact.  It can be tricky incorporating these elements into a finished design that works.

• That big open space will most likely mean very few walls.  Most of us are so used to plunking furniture against a wall, we wouldn’t have the first clue how to arrange our furniture any other way!  And how would we ever decide where or how to “hang” our favorite art pieces or gallery of family photos?

• Another thing that loft living doesn’t have is a closet around every corner.  Fewer closets mean less space to hide our “stuff.”  Open space loft living often means a lot more of the things we own have to be either creatively displayed or cleverly stored!

• All of that bare floor space is going to require area rugs to keep our toes nice and toasty.  In a loft, it’s not just a case of buying a 9×12 rug and plunking it down in the bedroom.  Several area rugs are likely going to be needed and much to the dismay of the “decorating challenged,” they will need to be coordinated!

• All of those gorgeous big windows that flood us with natural light during the day have to somehow be “dressed” for the night time hours too.

• Stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops make for a beautiful contemporary kitchen with lots of space for culinary adventure.  But what about the fact that the kitchen, bedroom and living room are actually all the same room?

• And then of course, there is the question of paint colors.  Does one open space necessarily mean everything needs to be all one color?  How do we choose different colors for different rooms when there are no “rooms?”

Most of us who have visited lofts have seen them as they are after interior designers have worked their magic.  These are the professionals who know how to turn that big open space into the exciting and unique style of living space that new loft owners dream about!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source).

The initial meeting with a Seattle interior designer can be both exciting and overwhelming. However, it is important to communicate as best you can and share your views, opinions and design expectations. To fully understand your personal style, an interior designer needs you to be prepared with both information as well as examples of your personal design preferences. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while meeting with a professional designer:

Share your failures:
It may seem embarrassing, but sharing your failed decorating attempts with a professional can be incredibly valuable. By showing examples of what you have tried in the past but found to not work for you and your family, a designer can move forward with design alternatives that will fix any existing problems with layout, room organization, furniture choices and even wall colors.

Share your lifestyle:
One of the most important pieces of information that you can offer your interior designer is an in-depth description of how, when and why you use your personal space. For example, are you seeking only family-friendly design ideas? Are you wishing to live a “greener” lifestyle with only sustainable, all natural materials? Or are you running a business from your home and need an office among your living space? All of these situations call for inventive and innovative interior design and by having this information ready prior to your consultation you can help your designer fully understand your needs.

Share your inspirations:
In addition to sharing your failed decorating attempts and lifestyle needs, it is also important to share the things, places and people that inspire you. An interior designer’s first responsibility is to make sure that your space reflects who you are. You can help with this step by supplying your designer with some visual examples of your own personal inspirations. Share with your designer anything that affects you creatively, emotionally or spiritually. These objects are not necessarily accessories or artifacts but can be anything from photos of your personal travels, articles from your favorite decorating magazines or even a few pages from your favorite coffee table book. The more examples you give the more “you” your space will be.

Share your budget:
All Seattle interior design firms will need an approximate budget when working through the initial details. It may not seem important to have a budget amount for the first few consultations but the truth is price point matters and is quite often the deciding factor when choosing anything from furniture and accessories to building materials and lighting fixtures.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.amelydesigns.com as the original source.

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