AMH & Co., Home Interiors, Inc.

I have to admit, I’m still recovering from a very full day at the Decorative Design Center. In fact, I’ve spent the morning lounging in my courtyard, reading the latest design publications (which I cherish but rarely get to sit and study), drinking lots of coffee and trying to recoup! If you’re not familiar with the Decorative Center, then you are  in for a treat;  take a peek at the web (www.decorativecenterdallas.com) to learn about the multitude of high-end showrooms and manufacturers that call this beautiful business center, home.

Renaissance Tile & Bath

Melissa Patterson, showroom manager and my new friend, graciously hosted the IDS-DFW Chapter monthly meeting and luncheon. I have to say, I expected to see the same ole tile/bathroom showroom as before but was I ever surprised! The number of manufacturers they represent is impressive, both in tile of any material you can imagine, to bathroom fixtures from the ground up. Melissa and her design consultants can assist you in product selection for just about anything you can imagine, when it comes to unique, quality and functional rooms.

Here are just a few examples of what you can expect from Renaissance Tile & Bath (www.renaissancetileandbath.com):

I believe our favorite “things” are very telling of our personalities, like/dislikes and character. It’s how we, as professional interior designers, get to know our clients and it’s these “things” that give us direction in how to style one’s interiors. I enjoy reading the “my favorite things” articles about other designers and thought you may like to know what my favorite things are and to get to know me a bit better!

Color – Orange – I LOVE it (ever seen my logo?) and there are so many shades from which to choose, creating endless possibilities. It’s an amazingly versatile color that coordinates easily, often times acting as a neutral. Orange is warm, lively, soothing, earthy, vibrant and luscious. From corals to salmon to terra cotta, it works!

Sofa - Prerequisites….comfort, versatile and gorgeous! I love the clean lines of a single seat cushion and a low back, down-blend and natural fabric. These sofas blend all of those things and they can definitely be utilized in many different interiors from modern to traditional. Yummy! These happen to be from the Kravet showroom: http://www.kravet.com/furniture/upholstery.htm

Chair – Oh, this is one of my weaknesses…I adore a cool chair and one can never have too many! My philosophy is: if you love it, you can and will (trust me!) find a good home for it. #1 all time best chair is the Barcelona by Mies van der Rohe…enough said. #2 (if I had to choose) is the mid-century danish modern…too cool!

Fabric & Wall Coverings – Naturals all the way and the best can be found at Thibaut http://www.thibautdesign.com/, Osborne & Little http://www.osborneandlittle.com/ and Schumacher http://www.fschumacher.com/.

Shops & showrooms – 1stdibs  is an awesome website for unique pieces and I love the shops on Knox/Henderson in Dallas. Of course, I can’t forget all the wonderful showrooms like Allan Knight , Kerr Collection , Neff of Chicago de Giulio and Ann Sacks …just to name a few. And I mustn’t forget my favorite haunt in Chicago (Crystal Lake, in case you’re searching) Kd3 ; the owner can take any piece of furniture and put a whole new spin on it…talent beyond!

• http://www.1stdibs.com/
• http://www.allanknightasso.com/
• http://www.kerrcollection.com/
• http://www.neffofchicago.com/
• http://www.degiulio.org/
• http://www.annsacks.com/home.jsp
• http://kd3decorativearts.com/

Literature – Architectural Digest http://www.architecturaldigest.com/ ; haven’t missed an issue in 25 yrs and still have every one. It’s the “go to” source for serious interior design inspiration and education. As well, Veranda http://www.veranda.com/ consistently includes a nice mix of interior design styles and homes; I like their approachable, realistic designs. The quality of both publications are definitely worth a subscription.

Quote – “A true and lasting work of art will be as fresh and inspiring in its beauty one hundred years from now as it is today.” (Unknown). Now, that’s is what good interior design should be all about!

I find myself with serious writers block after researching topics for my blog. Okay, I’m a self-professed “over analyzer” but that’s what also makes me good at what I do…sometimes I wish I wasn’t as analytical and could just bypass the details but then again, my clients probably wouldn’t appreciate that particular characteristic in their interior designer.

The internet is so full of information on interior design topics that even I can become overwhelmed …and I’m a designer! I can’t imagine how the general population feels when researching for ideas. I have an office full of design books and years of Architectural Digest magazines to refer, yet to choose just one topic on which to write, seems difficult. Perhaps I’m concerned about over-simplifying the practice of design. I mean, it is so much more than choosing the right paint color or telling my readers what the up-and-coming trends are this season; it goes far beyond picking the right chair, accessory or art. I guess it’s also difficult for me to write about the typical, general topics of interior design because it’s my belief that we all – whether formally educated or not – know what we truly like or dislike. It is not -and don’t ever let anyone tell you different – and interior designers’ role to tell you how to decorate your home. The role of an interior designer is to guide you toward making the best decisions and to assist you in achieving the home of your dreams.

This being said, I’d like to hear from you, my readers, exactly what you’d like to read about and learn. What interest you and/or do you have any design projects lurking that you could use help with? Does color selection baffle you and send you spinning out of control? Do you have a great piece of artwork and need advice on how high or in what location to hang it? Perhaps your grandmother/aunt/best friend left you a piece of furniture that has sentimental value…and nothing much else?

I’d love to hear from you! This blog is written for your benefit…I welcome you to take advantage!

During turbulent economic times, consumers look to their home as a place of comfort and refuge. Americans need a place to escape, find familiarity and serenity. With decreasing entertainment budgets and the trend toward entertaining at home, consumers are spending more time focusing on making their interiors more comfortable and inviting. Today’s home is much more than for eating and sleeping…it is an escape from the outside world.

I am receiving more requests from clients to utilize their existing furnishing to give the home a new look…to re-design the living space. This is not only an economical way to give ones’ interiors a fresh appearance but is also a more “green” way to design. By incorporating much of one’s existing furnishings, while only investing in accessories and smaller purchases, one can achieve the goal of an entirely new interior. Today’s consumer is becoming much more conscious of a product’s impact on the environment and making purchases accordingly.

The goal for every project at AMH & Co Home Interiors is:

“Fun. Elegant. Unique interiors. An unexpected and creative combination of finishes, textiles and custom resources with a clean balance of glamour, antique and “green” elements is the goal for every assignment. Expressing lifestyle, experiences and personal aesthetic is the focus of our design approach. Decorating is only successful if it is personal. “

Another way in which I like to incorporates the principles of interior re-design and green design into their clients’ projects is to create multi-functional spaces. Adapting an ordinary space to accommodate multiple functions, transforming products to provide a greater purpose and overall flexibility in design is just one way in which to make the clients’ dollars go further.

“Our goal in all projects, whether it is a full, residential interior design and/or remodel, or a re-design for the client that desires a fresh, budget-friendly interior, is to be mindful of the impact on the environment. This is easily achieved by considering what furnishing exist that can be multi-purposed, utilizing estate sales and auctions for the goal of re-using and re-purposing existing furniture instead of buying new and being smarter about where and from whom to purchase. Many manufacturers are following the green design movement and using only sustainable, renewable resources to make their products.

Not only is re-design and green design a smarter, more efficient interior design philosophy, is creates much more personal, unique and eclectic interiors.”

As intuitive as one may be, it can often times be a challenge when trying to determine another’s taste and preferences. Interior designers may be half psychologist and half skilled professional but mind-readers, we are not. That’s why professional interior designers utilize specific tools at the beginning of a project with a new client, which support the communication and rapport-building process. Nonetheless, to get the most out of your experience with an interior designer, there are a few things that will make the process more successful and much more efficient.

Here’s a guide to help prepare yourself for the process of hiring an interior designer:

Where – Defining a space is a bit more difficult today than in years’ past. Open floor plans have created a dilemma with homeowners: where does one room end and another begin if there are no obvious boundaries?

• What areas are being considered for remodel/re-design?
• How are these areas used?
• Who uses the areas? When? How often?

When – What is your timeline for the project?

• If construction is necessary, how long can you manage the upheaval?
• Do you have an deadline in mind?
• How soon do you wish to begin?

What -

• What do you want to accomplish?
• How do you wish the new space to feel and function?
• What do you want the outcome to be?

Who – You must consider who will come into contact with the finished space. Everyone knows how pets and children can effect a rooms’ interior but you must also consider outside elements (natural sunlight), cooking smells, traffic patterns, etc.

Unless you can communicate with your designer exactly what your likes, dislikes and desires are, it’s unlikely they will be able assist you in accomplishing your goals. The best way to do this is with photos, whether from magazines or the internet. Don’t expect to find it all in one place or one photo; you may like the color in a window treatment and want to use it on your walls or love the lines of a couch but hate the fabric. The more cues you can give to your designer, the easier, less time-consuming and less costly the process will be.

To alleviate the potential of getting overwhelmed, here’s a tip that helps me in the process in gathering ideas. When glancing thought the internet, magazine or whatever source you choose, do just that… casually glance; don’t over-think the process….this is not a test! If something intrigues you, stop and decide what it is. You may not even know but regardless, if you spend more than 30 seconds looking at the page, tear it out. Apparently, something within the image caught your attention. Put the page aside and move on. Keep going until it no longer interest you to look at anything. Go back a few days later, or whenever you’re refreshed and review your findings. On many occasions, I’ve asked myself, “what was it I found interesting here?” and nothing about the image appeals to me anymore. Fine…ditch it!  Keep going.

Another method I often use when reviewing a magazine, is to view it backwards; from back to front. It’s amazing what a different viewpoint you’ll find. I actually like this method better than any other because without reading the title of the article, which you would do if reading front to back, one doesn’t have a preconceived notion of what to expect; you are unaware of the focus of the article and can therefore, look at the pages with a more open mind. It’s pretty cool…try it!

There will soon be a common thread with what you’ve found and this is where to begin the design process.