What inspires Ruthie Staalsen of DecRenew Interiors?

Here’s the latest from our DesignSherpa “What Inspires You?” contest entry countdown. If you’re visiting for the first time, we’re counting down the top 100 entries from our “What Inspires You?” contest, which will send one lucky person on an all-expenses-paid, 10-day trip to Paris, France to attend the annual ‘Maison & Objet’ trade show in January 2011.

Today’s entry highlight comes from Ruthie Staalsen of DecRenew Interiors and the Renewed Treasures blog.

This room inspires me because it’s so approachable. Most people are drawn to rooms that say “come in, put your feet up and stay a while.” What makes this room so stunning is the eclectic mix of styles. The monochromatic color scheme, mixed with modern clean line upholstered furniture, grouped with rustic elements all make for a restful, collected over time feel. The formal architecture & subtle gray wall texture is a great backdrop for the large scale accessories that are placed around the room. The chandelier in the center of the room adds that touch of whimsy that goes along with the fur pillows that are placed so perfectly in the chair by the fireplace. The best part of this room is that it’s functional, conversational, elegant and unpretentious. Light that grouping of wonderful “old world” candles on the mantel and this room would be ready for a formal or casual cocktail party. My design philosophy is to encourage people back to entertaining in their homes. It starts by making rooms comfortable like this one. Isn’t being with friends and family IN YOUR HOME what’s life is all about?

What inspires Kate Patterson?

Kate Patterson is today’s Top 100 DesignSherpa “What Inspires You?” entry highlight. She writes…

Infinite possibility. A blank slate. A fresh canvas. These are my inspirations. What could this room be? Who will visit? What memories will be created here? In the quiet moments of standing in a room-to-be, a million possibilities flash like a old movie reel though my mind. In a split second this room could conjure a French market cafe, a Moroccan riad, Notting Hill, a Soho loft. Will the room say mid-century Eames? Classic Dorothy Draper? Cool Vicente Wolf? Or maybe pop art campy kitsch? This is my room and this room allows me to dream.

DesignSherpa and Designing Profits on Social Media Leapfrogging

One really successful Interior Designer told me that attending David Shepherd’s Business of Design events helped her to organize her business for purposeful and charted financial growth.  Looking back, a major piece of her learning was centered around the deployment of of social media tools as a foundation for a powerful internet marketing strategy.  So, we were really pleased to get a reference and a call from David, inviting us to participate in his September event in New York City.

We launched our DigitalSherpa turnkey social media solutions last summer, and are now managing close to 1000 social media campaigns for local companies in home design and remodeling, as well as other sectors of the local home and real estate business communities.  The overarching goal of the program is helping companies achieve the results of an expertly executed social media internet marketing program, while saving them the 40-50 hours a month of their valuable time that would otherwise be invested in the usual business of running their businesses.

This is a particularly exciting time for DesignSherpa since the program and its participants are receiving lots of attention across the blogosphere spurred by our recently introduced “What Inspires You” Contest. The contest is open to everyone, DesignSherpa client or not, professional or consumer, with an inspired design sensibility and reasonably strong set of communication skills.  The winner will find him or her self in Paris for ten days, attending Maison & Objet, with a $10,000 cash prize just to make things a bit more luxurious.

The contest was launched to celebrate the amazing reception design professionals across the country have afforded us since the introduction of DesignSherpa, and it is our small payback to celebrate social media, design pros, and design enthusiasts.  We have been simply overwhelmed by the level of two way engagement and participation we have enjoyed with so many design professionals as we work steadily at establishing their social footprints.

Most importantly, we are really eager to share some of the secrets of social media marketing with the design industry in New York in September, and to take it a step further by making ourselves available to implement and execute the programs in turnkey fashion and at affordable monthly rates.

We hope to see you in New York in September!

Do You Think You Have the Qualities of an Interior Designer?

Interior designers wear many hats. I like to think that we are a breed of creative individuals that are a good balance between the left and right side of the brain. If you want to be a success, I think you have to be aware that you are actually many departments as one person. Here are a few examples of what to expect as a designer:

1. Creative Directors - This is probably the most obvious attribute, but without creativity in many forms, the success of an interior designer can suffer. Creativity can lie in any of the following hats I mention, including billing and client relations. Under this category you can also include code checking (verifying that you are meeting all building codes and ADA requirements), building compliance (columns, HVAC not affected, etc.) and lighting.
2. Client Relations – No matter if you focus on residential or commercial work as a designer, the ability to maintain positive client relations is by far one of the most important attributes of a successful designer. This is especially true if you own your own business because you are the president, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and creative individual on the job. Keeping tight and accurate paperwork is one of the attributes that highly creative people struggle with – so it’s also important to know who to hire.
3. Time Clock – You always have to stay on top of your hours. In my company I am responsible for noting every quarter hours of my day… 15 minute increments. This way we can track exactly how much time goes into each client’s project, and based on the billable rate (hourly design rate which they are charged), that determines our income. I think keeping this on track comes with time, and having a computer system set up that helps you track is really great too.
4. Specifying – Outside of the actual design and creative side, here comes the left side of the brain. When you specify a project, you have to be able to take  action and pick the right rugs, furniture, fabrics, etc, and put them in order format. And, you have to write specification in such a way that anyone (not just designers) can understand them.
5. Budgeting – This starts from the first client meeting – what is the budget? You need to be able to adjust your creative skills to a $5,000 budget or a $500,000. This is not easy when you let your creativity soar, so knowing how to keep things intact financially is key to your clients’ happiness, and the success of the space. This skill will develop over time too, as you learn how construction costs affect the budget. Also, choosing materials at the right price points will get easier with time. So don’t get too eager about one tile or upholstery until you know the sticker price and how it will impact rest of the decisions.

You can see there are many attributes and departments for an interior design business in one person. I am sure there are many more that could be added to the list as well. But, if you are looking into becoming an interior designer, more than anything, invest in a good education. This will lead you on how to enhance the skills which you think may need development.

Do you think you have what it takes? And if you are a designer, what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Key Elements of Green Space Planning

Space planning is the act of deciphering solutions for a space based on client criteria and needs. During space planning, a designer will determine needed spaces, arrange the spaces as necessary to address flow of the space and also verify building codes – all at the same time!

Space planning is one of the most important rolls a designer can play – it is the basic step and most time intensive (can be at least) in order to finish selection and furniture planning of the space. When a designer is addressing space planning, they sometimes get to start from scratch. Other times they have to begin from an existing space that has obstacles like existing walls. But what are the challenges and added criteria when trying to plan green??

1. Use your walls – One of the greatest elements of green design is to use what you have. So if there are dividing walls in a space then why not use them to their greatest potential. When thinking green, you want to avoid using new materials when not needed. By using rooms and walls that are in existance you are not using any more virgin materials. And that is the key – what you are NOT using from scratch to make new.
2. Think about daylighting – Natural daylight needs to travel throughout a positive green interior. The use of daylighting does not only reduce the dependence on artificial light, and therefore reduce energy consumption, but it also saves money, increases employee productivity and allows space inhabitants to have a connection with the outdoor environment. All this from something that is free. You just have to plan for it.
3. Plan the height – 42” is a general standard of measure that is used in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and at this measurement, the inhabitants of a space can have clear view (meaning a view to the outdoors). If you can plan for this height you can once again increase productivity and make the office a more friendly work environment. Keep in mind that for LEED purposes you can have a clear line of site, including through levels of glazing or interior glass partitions.
4. Plan away from the windows – Be sure to save the aisle for next to the exterior – if you can place the offices and conference rooms toward the interior and the individual work stations on the exterior, all the planning for the above elements will be easier!

So these are just a few ways to plan smart and plan green! How is your office set up? Does it fit in with green design?

So You Have Decided to Work with a Designer

You have finally decided to take the plunge and hire an interior designer to help you out with your home. Great decision – this will make your life a lot easier! Designers have connections and knowledge to stores and vendors that you may never have known about if you had decided to take this project on yourself. But you must remember: just because you have hired a designer to help you out, that doesn’t mean that they are a mind reader. You have to come to the consultation meeting with some information for them.

Preparation: My first recommendation would be to sit down and look at some of the popular interior design magazines out there today – Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Ikea’s catalog, Atlanta homes, Mountain Living, etc. Whenever you see something that you like, tear it out and file it away under a category. The best way for a designer to help you the most would be to get a small sense of your style from the start.

Comfort: Envision yourself sitting in the space every evening with you family watching television, eating, playing games, and sleeping. Can you relax and feel like yourself? Does your spouse agree with your taste? It is very important for you both to be comfortable. Remember, showing a designer what your taste is does not mean that they are going to design your space just like the photograph.

Budget: A majority of designers work on an hourly basis, so if you will not share with them what you are looking for, this could easily become a costly and frustrating process. Before they can begin designing your space, agree on an approximate range for your budget to work within. Once they get a sense of what you want, they can start a game plan on what stores and vendors they will need to visit.

Collecting: Finally, images, fabrics, and floorplans will start to be pulled together for your space and everyone can sit down together and make sure this is what you would still like. Doesn’t this sound like a fun start to a fabulous designed room?

Have you ever worked with an interior designer? What are some helpful tips you have when doing so?

What is Your Designer Doing to Give Back?

One rule many of us live by is “to give and you shall receive.” This applies to all areas of life – personal, work, talents, health, etc. So that brings me to my question: what is your designer doing to give back?

I suggest asking and finding out what they might be involved in throughout the community. Involved professionals can network you to all sorts of people whom may help further your own career or life. Since you will be spending the next couple of months getting to know each other, I suggest making sure you are spending your money on an investment.

Last evening I attended a wonderful event for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS), which is “one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk.” One of my industry representatives invited me to attend and I agreed, not knowing much about what I was getting myself into.

I’ve been involved in non-profit design work before through ASID (American Society for Interior Designers) and also helped start up IDCFC (Interior Designer’s Coalition for Change) in Michigan, but never have I experienced an event quite like this. DIFFA has held fundraisers in many major metropolitan areas, such as New York, Chicago, Dallas and Seattle. Now it is time for Detroit to embrace DIFFA!

Detroit Hour Media, Detroit Home and Rossetti Architects sponsored the event at a fabulous store called Leon and Lulu’s in Clawson, Michigan. Inspiration was all around the design professionals from many areas, including architecture, fashion design, interior design, and photography and consumer product design. This was an extraordinary event where I met many new designers and media professionals to expand my large network in the industry.

When working with a client there are many side conversations that may come up. Just imagine the people a designer works with through all areas of life. Now you may be looking for a great photographer and I may know just the person for you! Or you may be involved in a charity that just might be re-doing an interior space, and I may know a designer who will donate work to help the charity out. It’s amazing what a little bit of giving back and networking can do for everyone.

If you are not involved or your designer is not involved in your local community, I encourage you to find out what’s out there. You just never know what opportunities might come your way.

How do you give back to your community? Has your life been enriched because of networking contacts? Tell us your story or suggest a great organization to get involved with in your area.

Embodied Energy – What Is It and What Does It Represent In My Home?

Simply put, embodied energy is the amount of total energy a tangible article houses. Energy, in this terminology, represents physical exertion, production, environmental growth effort, shipping, crating, recycling, and anything else that requires a form of effort to produce an object. The smallest of objects to the largest of buildings all contain embodied energy.

Heck, even the sweater I am wearing right now has embodied. It’s wool, so the energy used to feed a sheep, sheer the sheep, box the raw wool, ship it, mill the wool, spin to production fiber, ship again, dye the yarns, weave the sweater, ship the sweater, stock the sweater, my gas to get to the store, the department stores energy necessary to sell the sweater, bag the sweater, drive the sweater home and finally remove the tags and wear the sweater. Phew! Please notice I stopped here and I could go into what energy is needed to dry clean the sweater!

So in short, embodied energy of the total of all types of energy. This is such an important attribute to be aware of as an interior designer because it provides clarification and weight to all the decisions being made for an interior. All of a sudden, deciding on the arm chairs shipping from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Detroit became a better choice over the chairs shipping from Spain – at least in regards to the embodied energy attributes.

Having awareness of embodied energy not only assists you in making wise purchasing choices; it can also help guide you in what to do with the sweater when you are ready to pass it on. I believe when you remove yourself from your own reality for a second and put yourself in the shoes of an object (I know, odd concept), you can have clarity and really start to think about your purchases differently. As Americans we are consumers, but what if we all just made the conscience decision to consume less. Think about the overall impact you could have on embodied energy.

One of the best examples I like to use for reduced embodied energy are vegetables. Think about the energy difference between a cucumber bought at the grocery store versus one grown in your backyard… its an interesting concept.

What easy steps can you take to reduce the embodied energy surrounding you?

What is an Interior Decorator?

Most people do not realize there is a difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer. The terms are not synonymous.

An interior designer has four years of education, has practiced and then sits for a test to be allowed to practice in that state.

An interior decorator may or may not have gone to school to be trained to decorate. There are programs for decorators where they can learn color theory, lighting, space planning, finishes and textiles (carpeting, window coverings, upholstery, accessories and hardware). Upon completion of their program, they may also sit for a test, which certifies them as an interior decorator. Interior decorators do just that – decorate interiors. They choose the colors and or wallcoverings for the walls. They choose the window treatments. They arrange the furniture so the room can look larger or more intimate. So the next question is, “Tell me again the difference between interior decorators and designers?”

Interior designers are qualified to “enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public.”

So if you just want to make interiors warm, welcoming and inviting spaces for people, and are not interested in having to spending 4 years of your life on an expensive education or worrying about building codes or passing a certification exam, then you could begin practicing interior decoration.

My neighbor spent a fortune on window treatments because nothing she bought was right for the look she wanted. She was frustrated and angry. Finally she called a local interior decorator who made a suggestion of draping a sheer material over the top with very decorative hardware and let it drape down the sides of the window ¾ to the floor. It was perfect and my neighbor was thrilled. Every time she wants a new look or purchases a new piece of furniture, she calls her friend to help her out. If you want that lime green wall but are afraid, call an interior decorator. They can help you make all the right choices so your space will be just the way you want it.

Interior Design on the Go: Making Work Portable

I remember my days on my college campus fondly. The smell of fall in the air as the first semester of the school year began. It was not long until I was assigned my first design projects of the term. Being over ambitious, of course I wanted to create the most impactful and awe-striking presentation boards. The only problem was that I lived on the opposite corner of campus from the interior design instruction facility…ugh…which meant the bigger the boards, the more “sailing away” would happen during the travels to and from class. If you don’t already know, design boards are heavy, large, awkward and expensive! So the last thing you want to happen is to have your project fly away in the wind, or worse yet, having the large flat object cause you to fly into traffic!

Designers have come a long way in the last 5 years in regards to presentation methods. I think as an industry we have become a little more mobile, streamlined and all around “slimmer.” I am not saying a good ol’ fashioned presentation board isn’t ever called for – I have just experienced less and less requests for them. They cannot be altered as easily and quickly as digital presentations, not to mention they can take more time to fabricate, as well as to be shipped or delivered. So, as we become more tech-savvy and digital as an industry do you think we are losing something?

The “green” side of my brain says no, but the side of me that enjoys classical music and board games says yes! In regards to designers being more environmentally conscience, I think by creating more digital presentations, we are drastically reducing the amount of embodied energy we put into developing end results (this does not mean we skimp on brain power and the wonderful intangible parts of design work). The amount of shipping that takes place to get samples and then the amount of mounting materials it takes to create presentation boards can be substantial…not to mention that the more digital we go, the less chance there is to experience accidents with Exacto knifes and hot glue guns! I bet you did not know being an\ interior designer could be so dangerous.

In the end, I still think making work more portable through online meetings, graphic presentations and research via the internet is inevitable in order to keep up with the pace of business today. But it is still nice to see a well crafted presentation board on display and think…yeah , I could still do that!