What About Exterior Paint?

Choosing an exterior paint color can be an extremely difficult & daunting task without us! That’s why we are here to help you every step of the way.

Paint is affected by the lighting and surrounding colors. Even the natural elements around your home and the neighbors’ houses can change the way a color looks. When we help pick out exterior paint, we consider the surrounding architecture and styles. This allows your home to be unique but complements the neighborhood.

Exterior paint colors always seems to appear lighter on an exterior wall than an interior wall. It is always a good idea to select a color two shades darker so it will appear more vibrant in the daylight. There are so many other design elements to consider and selections you have to think about on the exterior of a home. We take into consideration the color of the: exterior lighting, shutters, posts, roof shingles, window trim, front door (paint or stain?), etc. These design elements must all work together to find the perfect color.

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Front door paint selections for the house on the right.

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CHECK THIS OUT!

Exterior paint is one of the design elements that stands out the most. It is the first thing people notice when they arrive at your place. Trust your designer’s eye, because we know exterior paint can completely change the look of your home. We wanted to show you a few before and afters of projects we’ve done.

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Before…

AFTER…

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Before…

to see more of this house click HERE

AFTER…

“We look forward to helping you pick out the perfect exterior paint to bring your home to life. ”

— Paige W. Interior Design Team

Our Philosophy on Curtains

… and the price behind them. We’re breaking it down for you on why you need curtains, why they’re worth it and what a difference they make in your home.

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PHILOSOPHY

Personality:

Curtains are the perfect place to give color and texture to reflect what your design style says about you. There are a ton of options to play with, like different materials, rods, patterns, textures, and trim! Don’t be afraid to go BOLD!

INVESTMENT:

Having custom curtains in your home is like having a well-tailored suit. It’s going to fit you and only you. It enhances the height of the ceilings by bringing your eye upward all while hiding the edges of the window to make it seem bigger. It softens all the sharp angles in a room and tricks the eye to make the space feel more expansive. We like to highlight what we like and to hide what we don't.

FUNCTIONALITY:

A question you’ll hear time and time again from designers is, “how do you live in this space?” we want to know the little details from where you sit in the mornings, how the sun comes in, to how much privacy you need at night. Draperies can give you the flexibility you want in a space, by giving you the function you need for the time of day and occasion you’re faced with. Everyone is a bit different, some like a lot of light, and some like a lot of flexibility. Working with a designer gives you the practicality that works for you.

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WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR

PROFESSIONAL WORKMANSHIP:

The level of sewing detail is unmatched to buying curtains ready-made. Working with talented makers also helps when a material is out of stock because it allows us to be a bit more creative.

Lastly, the people we work with have been in business a very long time, it’s a family-run business and we hold value to that! We love supporting people who are hardworking, have attention to detail, and love what they do, it makes our job and everyone’s experience a brighter one!

PROFESSIONAL INSTALL:

We price out our curtains with the material, labor, and install all in one. We try to avoid the DIY process here. For those of us who have hung curtains ourselves (headache), then spent another full day steaming them to try and get them to sit just right… OH, and then they’re too long and puddle on the floor? We avoid this scenario because really, it’s not worth our time and it’s not worth yours. With a professional install you’re guaranteed perfection and efficiency. They’re steamed at the end of install, guaranteed to be the perfect length, and then you never have to touch them again. It’s a win, win.

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STILL HESITANT?

Curtains are one of the number one things that make your space feel custom, well-planned, and stunning. Trust your designer’s eye, because we know how a fabric can transform the depth of a room. We wanted to show you a few before and afters of projects we’ve done.

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Before…

AFTER…

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BEFORE…

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“We hope this blog showed you how much we love curtains and why we think they are such a statement! ”

— Paige W. Interior Design Team

What to Expect at your First Consultation

Meeting us of course! We will meet you at your space, where we will take pictures, observe and ask you questions. This is our first meeting and we’re trying to learn about you, your space, and to figure out what’s best for you and your project. Here are a few things you can expect during a first consultation.

Your style likes… and dislikes.

It is just as important to understand what you like as what you dislike. Designers are visual people, we notice what you currently have in your spaces, what colors and textures you’re already surrounding yourself with and even your own personal style. So, let us know what you like in your home and what you wish was different.

What you can do to help us…

Although we’re great at imagining and discussing a space through words, quick sketches and hand gestures. We love for you to give us a visual idea of what you’re imagining. This can be a magazine cut out, a picture you took yourself or a few you found online. This helps us so much! And lastly, never be afraid to tell us something you don’t like! It doesn’t hurt our feelings and it is the only way we will know what will work for you!

Your space, your way.

We like to start at how you currently use your space and what your daily routines are. We want to discuss what does or doesn’t work for you. The smallest of details could make a big difference design wise! How you make your coffee in the morning, to where you drop your keys after getting into the house. We want design to meet your expectation of beauty and functionality. So, when we ask to see the insides of a closet hidden away, we’re not being nosey, we’re just trying to understand every aspect of your space.

What you can do to help us…

The days before the presentation, make note as to what isn’t efficient in your home and what you wish was different. Sometimes making a list of concerns or questions help our clients feel like they got the most out of the time we spend together. Remember, you may not see us face to face until our next meeting, which is when we typically show you our ideas!

Priorities

It’s okay to dream big and we want you to! But we have a good understanding at the process behind those big dreams. With our years of construction management, we understand what needs to come first and what’s better to wait for. Saying this, all projects are different! The priority of a spaces remodel differ between people. Some feel the entrance of the home is a priority, because it’s the first impression. Other’s wish to prioritize more private spaces, like master bedrooms and bathrooms. Remember! There is no blanketed right answer, there is only the right answer for you.

What you can do to help us…

If your list feels big, think about what you want to prioritize first. Have a discussion with whoever is involved and what everyone’s expectations are. With this information we can optimize where to spend and where to save, and what timeline is most realistic for you.

Moving Forward

After our meeting, what we call the ‘first consultation’. You can expect a proposal—this will estimate our time and payment. After this is agreed upon, we will proceed to set up a date for us to meet, where we present you the designs we’ve come up with.

What you can do to help us…

After the proposal has been agreed upon, we will begin designing, this isn’t to say we haven’t already been brainstorming. However, the faster the proposal is agreed upon, the faster we can begin this process. The one thing you can help us moving forward from consultation to presentation is to make sure all has been said when we meet. After that, leave it up to us, and don’t worry, we will stay in touch!

Use this checklist to prepare and discuss with whoever is involved and wants to dream too!

“We hope this newsletter answered some ‘what-if’s’! If you have any other questions about the consultation, we would love to answer them! Feel free to reach out!
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— Paige Williams Design Team

For the Love of Lamps

Shedding Light on Lamps

Lamps seem simple enough. Plug them in, flip them on, and you're good to go! But they play a bigger role in pulling a room together than you may think. The wrong lamp (or lamps -- they work best in pairs!) can disrupt a design both in visual aesthetics and practicality. Here are a few things to consider when purchasing lamps:

How's the height? The taller the lamp, the better. Depending on their purpose, you typically want a lamp that is at least 30 inches tall. If you are using a lamp for reading light, the shade should come to just above your shoulder when you are sitting down in a chair. Also remember that if you are shopping for lamps online, carefully read through the dimensions before purchasing. Photos can often make lamps look larger than they are.

And the shade? The color and fabric of a lamp shade can drastically affect how light is diffused in a room. Think about the day-to-day use of the lamp before settling on a shade. Black shades are cool and edgy but won't provide as much light as a lighter color. Similarly, burlap shades are very popular right now, but the heavy fabric restricts the light.

What about the base?  Finally, consider what the body of the lamp is made of. Whether it is glass, marble, concrete or ceramic, the base can be an easy way to add color to a room and pull a space together. Glass lamps work best is smaller rooms because of their transparency but be sure they don't get lost in the background if working in a larger room.

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“All good designers know the power of a well-placed lamp! This summer, we’ve been hard at work renovating several apartments on Music Row and have had the pleasure of picking out fun, unique lamps for all of them. Have a lamp question that wasn’t answered here? Send it to us on Facebook or Instagram!

— Paige & Mia”

Debunking Designer Myths

3 Common Myths About Hiring Interior Designers

MYTH #1: "I would have to buy all new furniture! I can't afford that!"
As much as we would love to treat every home like a blank canvas, we understand that's not a realistic approach. Unless you want to achieve a completely new look, we are happy to work with what you have in a creative, fresh way. Plus, working with an interior designer can actually save you money by helping you avoid costly mistakes, hire reliable contractors and selecting products that will meet your long-term needs.

MYTH #2: "There's nothing they can do that I can't do on my own."
While we encourage all of our clients to stay up-to-date on the latest home design trends, there are some things that are only accessible to professional interior designers through showrooms and cultivated relationships with vendors.

MYTH #3: "If someone else designs my home, it won't feel like home to me." 
Our goal is to create spaces that suit you and your lifestyle, so we go to great lengths to ensure your home is not only beautiful but also functional and comfortable. We invite you to research inspirational photos to get a sense of your style and think about what colors you gravitate toward before an initial meeting with us and keep open communication throughout the design process. At the end of the day, we want to be sure your home feels like, well... home!

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“Hi everyone!

Spring is just around the corner, which means many people are starting new home projects so we wanted to take this month’s e-newsletter to debunk some common misconceptions about working with interior designers. Still have questions about how our process works? Reply to this email for more information!

— Paige & Mia”