by Myrna Simon
Let’s pretend you are planning to “re-do” your home. It certainly can be an overwhelming task. Where do you start? How will you place your furnishings? Will you be keeping what you already have, or will you be purchasing something new?
You have had your house painted in plain white, or in boring beige for the past ten years and you would love to have a change. What colors should you be painting, and what would the intensity look like on the walls? Where is your sunlight showing through? What side of your house enjoys the sunlight?
This is now becoming too much for you to endure, so you decide to hire an interior designer. The most important part of hiring a designer is the chemistry between you and her/him. Of course you want to make sure that you understand each other, but be sure you are not being intimidated, and know that the designer is listening to you.
Your designer has been trained to listen; to look around your home and see how you live; to notice colors that you enjoy living with; the formality or informality of your home. Are there children? Are there animals? What type of fabrics will work with your family, your lifestyle, etc? As I mentioned in an earlier blog, a good idea is to keep a little folder with ideas you may have taken from magazines or newspapers. This can be a great reference for you and the designer.
So, when your homework has been done, what is the next step? Will you hire this designer? Or, will you decide to call in your best friends for their opinions? (This is referred to as your “Decorating Committee “.)You will then discuss what the designer has proposed. You will share with your friends the colors which have been selected, the fabrics, the furniture placement, etc.
Here are some problems that may arise. Your friends may be very talented, but do not agree with your designer; one friend will tell you that you should definitely be using warm colors when you are looking forward to a very cool palette; or that you should be using florals instead of stripes when you specifically advised the designer that you do not want to live with florals, etc. And now, you are in a mess!!!
I can give you a typical story. You have called in a designer (we’ll call Designer A), who you would like to work with. She/he may have been referred to you, or you have seen some of the designer’s work. Designer A comes to your home, looks around your home and goes over a lengthy questionnaire about your lifestyle, the colors you want to live with, what would make you smile when you get up in the morning, and what you would like your home to look like in the long run. Designer A can get a clear picture of your home-to-be and thus can make recommendations based on your conversation.
Then, your friends come in, and with all good intentions, talk you into changing your decisions to make your home look like something THEY would like to live in. Designer A concluded that after spending time with you and listening to your ideas, and talking about colors, that you definitely wanted cool blues. Your friends suggest that you use warm reds ‘cause that’s what is being shown now. So, you change your mind. You advise your designer that you would like to go with reds. Your designer has no choice but to follow your wishes. Once the job is over, you hate the outcome. You are in tears, and it has cost you a fortune. Lesson learned.
The Designer can do an equally good job for the client whether decorating with blues or reds, or whatever color, keeping in mind that colors affect people differently. Yellow may make one person very happy, but can give someone else a headache. Blues can be very soothing to one person, but depressing to another, and so on.
Here is my advice to you. A good interior designer is up-to-date on new design trends; the many new fabrics, wall coverings; paint colors; flooring, drapery styles and window coverings, etc. From the many conversations with the client, hopefully, the interior designer has been LISTENING, and is able to pick up on the client’s preferences, colors, ideas, and dreams.
Bear in mind that your friends are designing YOUR home with THEIR ideas in mind. This can only lead to disappointment, and can also be a very expensive mistake. Designers have been trained to design YOUR home with YOUR lifestyle in mind.
The best advice to a client and to a designer is to be very careful when the client and designer are friends. I’ve seen designers help friends over and over and the jobs are overwhelmingly successful. I have also seen the break up of friendships because of a designing job. If your friend happens to be your designer, I would suggest a very frank conversation before the contract is signed.
Please consider all this. Friendships are too important to lose over a decorating job. You will want your friendship to continue when the job is over.
Good luck with your next project. In the long run, and after all the headaches, it’s worth it to wake up in the morning with a smile on your face!! A lovely home can do just that. And remember, at Alicia Friedmann Interior Design, WE MAKE YOUR HOME YOURS!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Getting ready to sell your home?
by Myrna Simon
associated with Alicia Friedmann Interior Designs
You’ve decided to sell your home, but don’t know where to begin. When do I call a realtor; when do I begin to pack; what do I do with all these knick knacks which have been collecting for years? Do I paint? Do I recarpet? Do I make major changes in the house? Does my furniture make a good impression? How will this house compare to the homes for sale down the block?
There is only one word to remember: “Simplify.”
Before you call in a realtor, I would suggest that you prepare to minimize your furnishings so that the rooms do not appear cluttered. You always want the rooms to appear larger. Take down anything personal, such as portraits, photographs, children’s artwork, handicrafts, to give the prospective buyer the opportunity to look at the now uncluttered house with his own family in mind.
When you feel the house is ready to be shown to the realtor, then make the phone call. If the realtor feels like this house could be sold faster with the assistance of a professional stager, then believe him/her.
The professional stager will look at the house from the buyer’s point of view. The stager may advise any or all of the following: what will it take to fix up the kitchen to entice the buyer (probably the most important room in the house)? Perhaps fresh paint, or a good scrubbing. Sometimes one or two new appliances can bring the kitchen up-to-date. This would not be a big investment, but a great return on the sale. Look inside your pantry. Are the shelves in good shape? Are they clean?
Same thing is required in the bathrooms. Do they need a good paint job; are the shower curtains in good condition; what about the faucets, sinks and toilets? Bathrooms are very important to new buyers who do not want to come into a newly purchased home and make an immediate investment. Inspect the bathroom for possible mold.
For all of the bedrooms….cleaning is of utmost importance. Be sure not to leave any clutter on the floors or closets in the bedrooms. Prospective buyers will definitely look in the closets to determine the amount of space. In the buyers’ minds, if the closets are cluttered, that would probably mean there isn’t enough closet space. They also want to see the bedrooms and imagine a nice clean, open and relaxing space. I suggest you invest in a new and clean duvet and shams for the purpose of showing the house.
Closets throughout the home should be cleaned and tidied. If the carpeting is fraying, a nice new inexpensive and neutral rug should be installed; draperies should be taken down if they are not in good condition, and replaced with inexpensive shades to let the light in. The more light in the house, the better it will show. Lighting is important. Be sure all light bulbs are in good working condition.
Your professional stager will determine what size furniture would be best in the family and living rooms. If your sofas are too large, the rooms look too small. If your sofas are too small, then they are dwarfed in the large rooms.
Outside patio: clean out all debris and place a simple table and chairs, or a couple of patio chairs to show the prospective buyers what a delightful place it is to sit and enjoy. If you do have patio furniture, analyze the quality and quantity of the pieces. Imagine your patio as another room in your home. Would a prospective buyer appreciate your patio?
You definitely would like your home to show better than any other home on the block. Then, call in a professional stager. We have the experience; we have been through this exercise many times before; and we’ve been successful staging homes and preparing them to sell.
Myrna Simon
Interior Designer
Alicia Friedman Interior Design
562-286-4353
myrna@aliciafriedmann.com
http://myrnasimon.blogspot.com/
You’ve decided to sell your home, but don’t know where to begin. When do I call a realtor; when do I begin to pack; what do I do with all these knick knacks which have been collecting for years? Do I paint? Do I recarpet? Do I make major changes in the house? Does my furniture make a good impression? How will this house compare to the homes for sale down the block?
There is only one word to remember: “Simplify.”
Before you call in a realtor, I would suggest that you prepare to minimize your furnishings so that the rooms do not appear cluttered. You always want the rooms to appear larger. Take down anything personal, such as portraits, photographs, children’s artwork, handicrafts, to give the prospective buyer the opportunity to look at the now uncluttered house with his own family in mind.
When you feel the house is ready to be shown to the realtor, then make the phone call. If the realtor feels like this house could be sold faster with the assistance of a professional stager, then believe him/her.
The professional stager will look at the house from the buyer’s point of view. The stager may advise any or all of the following: what will it take to fix up the kitchen to entice the buyer (probably the most important room in the house)? Perhaps fresh paint, or a good scrubbing. Sometimes one or two new appliances can bring the kitchen up-to-date. This would not be a big investment, but a great return on the sale. Look inside your pantry. Are the shelves in good shape? Are they clean?
Same thing is required in the bathrooms. Do they need a good paint job; are the shower curtains in good condition; what about the faucets, sinks and toilets? Bathrooms are very important to new buyers who do not want to come into a newly purchased home and make an immediate investment. Inspect the bathroom for possible mold.
For all of the bedrooms….cleaning is of utmost importance. Be sure not to leave any clutter on the floors or closets in the bedrooms. Prospective buyers will definitely look in the closets to determine the amount of space. In the buyers’ minds, if the closets are cluttered, that would probably mean there isn’t enough closet space. They also want to see the bedrooms and imagine a nice clean, open and relaxing space. I suggest you invest in a new and clean duvet and shams for the purpose of showing the house.
Closets throughout the home should be cleaned and tidied. If the carpeting is fraying, a nice new inexpensive and neutral rug should be installed; draperies should be taken down if they are not in good condition, and replaced with inexpensive shades to let the light in. The more light in the house, the better it will show. Lighting is important. Be sure all light bulbs are in good working condition.
Your professional stager will determine what size furniture would be best in the family and living rooms. If your sofas are too large, the rooms look too small. If your sofas are too small, then they are dwarfed in the large rooms.
Outside patio: clean out all debris and place a simple table and chairs, or a couple of patio chairs to show the prospective buyers what a delightful place it is to sit and enjoy. If you do have patio furniture, analyze the quality and quantity of the pieces. Imagine your patio as another room in your home. Would a prospective buyer appreciate your patio?
You definitely would like your home to show better than any other home on the block. Then, call in a professional stager. We have the experience; we have been through this exercise many times before; and we’ve been successful staging homes and preparing them to sell.
Myrna Simon
Interior Designer
Alicia Friedman Interior Design
562-286-4353
myrna@aliciafriedmann.com
http://myrnasimon.blogspot.com/
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Experiences in the Field of Interior Design
by Myrna Simon
associated with Alicia Friedmann Interior Designs
So, you are thinking of hiring a designer to assist you with a new design for your home; or you need assistance with an update, and you are concerned about the cost. Should you attempt to do this yourself, or should you hire a professional. At the end of the day you will find that having a designer assist you will save you money, not cost you more. We will save you many errors, costly ones at that. We will be able to show you all the latest and greatest ideas for your home, including fabrics, furnishings, lighting, etc. We have our fingers on the pulse for new products and new ideas.
There is one very important element to hiring a designer. It’s the comfort level between you (the client) and the designer. It is very important for a designer and client to have an honest rapport and open communication. Without this, the designer may as well pack up and forget about this job. Compare the relationship between a designer and client to one with your personal physician. We may not be there to care for your health, but we will be caring for your home, and in many cases, this does translate into good health for you and your loved ones.
The first meeting with a client should be open and honest. The client should be able to tell the designer exactly what she would like to have done in her home. If, ultimately, he/she would like the entire house remodeled or decorated, but has a budget for only one room at a time, do not be embarrassed about it. We are used to this; this is our job and this information should be conveyed, so that the focus is on the particular area where the initial work will be done.
The next order of business should be the lifestyle in the home. Is it casual or formal? Does it have to be children friendly, or will the room(s) be used for adults only? Do you prefer contemporary, traditional, transitional, etc? Even though there may be some existing pieces of furniture, the client may want to “change the look.”
And then, you would proceed with a myriad of questions. What are your color preferences? Where does the lighting come from? Will you need additional electrical outlets? and so on. In many cases, the client will want to have all new furnishings; but in the event that we will be using the existing furnishings, the designer will need to know exactly what is remaining so that the design can be worked around that.
In many instances a client will have a stash of photographs taken from magazines to indicate the “look” she/he would like to have. This can help immensely.
If this is a married household, or there are two people who will be making the decisions, it is advisable that both people attend the meetings. It is usually preferred to have the initial visit during the daytime to see the natural light in the home. If there are children in the house, perhaps a meeting could be scheduled during nap time or school time. Sometimes a sitter can take them away for a little while, so that there is no distraction. You will be spending your hard-earned money and your attention to the job is very important. There is less confusion, the discussion is open, and the job will move along at a smoother and more rapid pace.
Finally, the client should have a budget in mind. Knowing how much money is available makes the job so much easier for the designer. We are then able to select the furnishings, draperies, flooring, accessories, etc., based on your budget, and we can advise you accordingly.
My associate, Alicia Friedmann, (Alicia Friedmann Interior Design) and I believe “we make your home yours.”
Stay tuned for my next blog or send me an email at: Myrna@aliciafriedmann.com
by Myrna Simon
associated with Alicia Friedmann Interior Designs
So, you are thinking of hiring a designer to assist you with a new design for your home; or you need assistance with an update, and you are concerned about the cost. Should you attempt to do this yourself, or should you hire a professional. At the end of the day you will find that having a designer assist you will save you money, not cost you more. We will save you many errors, costly ones at that. We will be able to show you all the latest and greatest ideas for your home, including fabrics, furnishings, lighting, etc. We have our fingers on the pulse for new products and new ideas.
There is one very important element to hiring a designer. It’s the comfort level between you (the client) and the designer. It is very important for a designer and client to have an honest rapport and open communication. Without this, the designer may as well pack up and forget about this job. Compare the relationship between a designer and client to one with your personal physician. We may not be there to care for your health, but we will be caring for your home, and in many cases, this does translate into good health for you and your loved ones.
The first meeting with a client should be open and honest. The client should be able to tell the designer exactly what she would like to have done in her home. If, ultimately, he/she would like the entire house remodeled or decorated, but has a budget for only one room at a time, do not be embarrassed about it. We are used to this; this is our job and this information should be conveyed, so that the focus is on the particular area where the initial work will be done.
The next order of business should be the lifestyle in the home. Is it casual or formal? Does it have to be children friendly, or will the room(s) be used for adults only? Do you prefer contemporary, traditional, transitional, etc? Even though there may be some existing pieces of furniture, the client may want to “change the look.”
And then, you would proceed with a myriad of questions. What are your color preferences? Where does the lighting come from? Will you need additional electrical outlets? and so on. In many cases, the client will want to have all new furnishings; but in the event that we will be using the existing furnishings, the designer will need to know exactly what is remaining so that the design can be worked around that.
In many instances a client will have a stash of photographs taken from magazines to indicate the “look” she/he would like to have. This can help immensely.
If this is a married household, or there are two people who will be making the decisions, it is advisable that both people attend the meetings. It is usually preferred to have the initial visit during the daytime to see the natural light in the home. If there are children in the house, perhaps a meeting could be scheduled during nap time or school time. Sometimes a sitter can take them away for a little while, so that there is no distraction. You will be spending your hard-earned money and your attention to the job is very important. There is less confusion, the discussion is open, and the job will move along at a smoother and more rapid pace.
Finally, the client should have a budget in mind. Knowing how much money is available makes the job so much easier for the designer. We are then able to select the furnishings, draperies, flooring, accessories, etc., based on your budget, and we can advise you accordingly.
My associate, Alicia Friedmann, (Alicia Friedmann Interior Design) and I believe “we make your home yours.”
Stay tuned for my next blog or send me an email at: Myrna@aliciafriedmann.com
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