How to Accesorize Affordably!

When one shops one is attracted to items for many reasons.  It might be the uniqueness, the quality, or the price!  Whatever the reason, be sure the piece works in your space. Think things through. Often times we bring things home and have no clue where to place them.  If items are on final sale this could be an expensive investment. 
If you are working with an Interior Designer, let your professional guide your purchases.  Keep your floorplan with you and only purchase items that have been suggested or planned for.  Allow your designer to find the right accessories for you.  This way there will be fewer mistakes and in the end you will have spent your money wisely!
Check out the floor samples on sale at your designers studio. 
We have items for sale on our floor on a regular basis...stop in and see for yourself.
Collaborate Design Studio
849 N. Waukegan Rd.
Deerfield, IL

Stay Focused on Your Project

When planning for your space, it is important to stay focused!  Many clients hire designers and then drop the ball. Be true to yourself.  If you have hired a designer, you obviously want to get your project going.  So, allow your designer to lead your job, especially if you are not the kind of person to stay on task. When meeting with your designer make sure you leave with the next appointment scheduled. If you are working with a deadline, the work has to keep on moving.  Decisions must be made and products need to be selected and ordered. Whether for new construction or a remodel, things seldom come in on time, so it is imperative to place your orders well ahead of schedule if at all possible.  This way you won't be disappointed, and your contractor will be able to work at a steady pace.
I have had many clients who ask me to keep them moving, as they know their own personalities and need to be kept on track. When running a job I prefer to schedule a regular weekly time slot for my client.  This better serves everyone as I am working steadily and my client is completely involved and invested.
Even if there are no deadlines involved, it is best to work efficiently.  Once selections are made, orders must be placed in a timely fashion.  When clients cannot commit, they run the risk of items being discontinued or prices increasing.  There is nothing more frustrating than to have to reselect when the perfect piece is no longer available. Although there are always other options, it often becomes difficult to see past the original selection.  So if you love it, go with your gut...and move on!  As you finalize each of your selections you continue to move forward and onto the next step.  Once you have made all your decisions and placed all of your orders, you can just sit back and relax waiting for your anticipated move in date to arrive!
And then you can reap the benefits and enjoy your new environment!

How to Seasonally Update Your Home Environment

Many people love change. 

Living in a seasonally changing climate is an automatic schedule for changing the climate inside the home as well.
In the spring and summer we enjoy being outdoors more.  There are many more colorful options awaiting us outside in the natural plants and flowers at this time of year. And not only are the days longer, but they are also brighter as well.  So why not bring these brighter and more colorful elements inside.  If we have solid colors and textures on our sofas and chairs then add a colorful mix of accent pillows in bright summer colors and patterns. Use lighter fabrics like simple cottons, crisp linens, chintz and silks.       
In the autumn and winter we watch the leaves falling off the trees, the lighter and less hardy flowers and plants start to fade away leaving the deeper and darker colors of fall to thrive. The days get shorter and just a little less bright!  Just as we have added a brighter mix of accent pillows for spring and summer we can do the same for fall and winter.  Follow the palette of your favorite fall colors and textures to shake up the feel of your home. Remember to add the heavier, thicker textures of chenille and corduroy, velvet and mohair for this time of year. You can even go further by changing with the fall themes from thanksgiving through the new year.  Using the rich browns, deep rust and gold colors of the harvest from September through November and then transition into a palette of winter whites for December and January.

Another simple way to make some changes are to purchase covers for your dining chairs to create a different feel at your dining table.  Slipcovers made in different fabrics for an accent chair can be easily stored and used to update a chair from one season to the next. 

Don't be afraid to create interest and change for your space which can enliven your spirit during different times of the year.

If you are unsure as wo how to make these changes happen, you could always contact your interior designer.  He or she will know just how to help you get the seasonal look that you are after.

How To Help Your Home Sell

About to list your home for sale? You know it needs work, but you don't know where to start?
You can hire an Interior Designer.  Really we love to help people "Stage" their homes! 

Remember, this has been "Your Home",  so it is only natural that it is filled with family photos, children's artwork, and old memorabilia that you love.  Unfortunately, the potential buyer cannot see past those things when trying to envision their personal stuff in your space.  So that is where the staging comes in.

First of all you will be directed to clean up...and by that we mean take away most of the pictures, artwork and memorabilia.  Box it up and store it.  You will have to pack eventually, so why not start now.  Remove as much of the clutter as possible.  All those cute things on display on your shelves and counters...must be packed up.  Don't forget to label when you pack, so you know what is in those boxes!

The next thing to consider is the general shape of your house. The walls and the flooring set the overall tone of the home.

Does the paint look tired?  Are there cracks that are visible to the eye?  Will the colors in the home be difficult for most to work with?  If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you should find yourself an inexpensive painter, get some help in selecting the best color, and repaint!

If your carpet is simply dirty, then cleaning it might just be the solution! However, if the carpet is extremely old and worn, you will need to replace it. Select a neutral tone that is warm and inviting, and remember there are many inexpensive options to choose from.  If you have hardwood floors beneath that old carpeting you could consider removing it and leaving the wood exposed.  The wood might need to be lightly sanded and resurfaced to give it some life, but the result will be quite appealing to most!  

The only other area to think about is the correct placement of your furniture.  When Collaborate Design Studio stages a home, we often position furniture simply and cleanly.  We will sometimes ask a client to remove a piece that is too large or overpowering in the space.  But whenever we can, we simply shift things around to better utilize the space and help your home appeal to others.

How To Manage the Construction of a New Home

You've hired a reliable Builder and an outstanding Architect and are about to start the process to build that new dream home.  So now what? 

The architect will come up with a fabulous design that will meet your needs and design style and the builder will ensure that your home gets built to specifications and codes.  But what about the interior?  While the architect will design an amazing structure, he is not always considering the interior elements of your new home, such as the actual use of your space and interior details that may enhance your lifestyle.

Many hire an Interior Designer at the beginning of a project as well.  This way you can benefit from all your professionals working together for you!

Often elements, especially windows while aesthetically pleasing to the exterior architecture of the home, end up causing difficulty for interior use of space.  An Interior Designer will ensure that the architect creates interior spaces that are functional and that furniture will fit and good placement is possible.

Many finishes for this new home will have to be chosen.  Flooring, cabinets, doors, trim details, tile, lighting, plumbing, appliances, counter tops and paint colors will all have to be selected by you.  Your builder will need to know all these interior finishes in a timely manner in order to keep the job moving on schedule.  Your interior designer will help you make all of these selections and show you the complete picture, so that you will understand what the interior of your home will look like when completed.

If these elements are discussed at the onset and worked on throughout the process,  then the team of professionals you have hired will ensure your home is everything you dreamed of!

How to Keep Style Alive with Hand me Down Furniture

When talking style...we mentioned contemporary, traditional and transitional...but there are many other styles so do not feel pigeonholed into one.  You may want more of an Eclectic feel to your space.  In order to achieve this, you will need to combine antique with current, as well as a mix of contemporary and traditional styles.

Many of us get hand me downs in furniture and feel a little over our head when we try to incorporate the pieces that we grew up with and loved into our current lifestyle.  Don't worry, this is where we come in.  We do this all the time.  What better way to make your space as individual as you are simply by adding a blast from your past! 

Do not be afraid.  If we are talking about an upholstered piece, a trip to the re-upholsterer, usually does the trick.  Add in some fabulous fabric and now you have the Wow factor in that one little old piece!

If the piece you've been handed down is all wood, a trip to the finisher is all that takes... in a dynamic new finish that old table or wood chair becomes alive again! 

Everything old is new again! 

How to know what your "Style" is...

Often when one is shopping the question of style comes into the conversation.  The salesclerk in the store where you are searching for that perfect outfit, asks..."what's your style"?  And often times we have to stop and think "do we have a style" and "what is it"

For interiors there are many styles but those that quickly come to mind are Contemporary, Traditional and Transitional.

Usually when you are shown products or look at items in the store, you are attraced to certain items.  If you consider the things that appeal to you, you will realize your style.
Sometimes people seek different styles in clothing then they choose in home fashions, because they are more comfortable to show it but not wear it!

 When you meet with your designer for the first time, a visit to your home will take place.  During this visit, the designer will be talking to you and looking around to get a sense of your style. 
A good designer will develop your space based upon your style.

So let's discuss some of these "styles"

Contemporary furnishings are the cleanest. They have very little or no adornments and if there are details they are clean and simple.  Contemporary upholstery is usually low and straight.  The fabrics are more geometric and linear. 
Contemporary pieces can be placed into settings that are either sleek and cold, but they also work extremely well in a warmer environment.

Traditional is the opposite of contemporary...adorned pieces, intricate carvings, many levels of woods and finishes.   The upholstery is big and curvy, and the fabrics are detailed.
Traditional furniture when placed in a traditional environment keeps the feel extremely traditional but when the same pieces are placed within a cleaner backdrop the  environment becomes a little more subtle.

When we enjoy bits of contemporary and bits of traditional we then enter the Transitional style, which is exactly that...the transition between the two styles.  The mix of both contemporary and traditional pieces in one space can be very enlivening.  We place these components together with a mix of fabric and texture and the outcome for many is very comfortable.

Whether contemporary , traditional or transtitional, your space can be made to feel as casual or formal as you prefer. 

Stay tuned to more style conversation next time...ta ta for now

How to Create Interest in Your Space, Simply!

If you are looking to update your space but cannot afford to do much, then buy a can of paint!  Within your palette, pick the strongest color or a new one that contrasts what you have going on right now.  By adding a punch of color to a wall, you will have created a point of interest.  Pop color behind your headboard in your bedroom or on the inside backs of a built in cabinet in your family room. Update the look of an old piece of furniture by repainting it.  And don't be afraid, even go a little outside your comfort zone to add more excitement to your space.
Another way to punch some color into your life is with the addition of pillows on your sofas and chairs!  A little pillow in a fabulous fabric can make a huge impact in any space.  The fabric can add not only color but also a different a much needed change of texture!

If you are feeling the need for professional advice, most designers can be hired hourly.  An hour or two with a designer for a consult might be a great use of a professional resource!

How to Work with a Designer... continued

A designer is a professional who, like other professionals, gets paid for services. Many designers charge an hourly fee in addition to the costs of the products purchased.
Think about it, we need to provide a workable floorplan that best utilizes our clients space and fits the family lifestyle. Then we continue to research products and fabrics to create just the right look for our clients. We want to ensure that your home reflects you and your needs. As I always say to my clients..."this is your home, not mine". Not every individual is able to pinpoint the look they envision; an experienced designer is able to achieve this more quickly and easily than if you were to do it on your own. Therefore, the fees paid out to your designer in turn save you money and possibly some costly mistakes.

Hire a designer with whom you have chemistry. Always make sure that there is good, open communication. If you are unhappy with your designer at any point, you need to discuss this with them. There is no need to feel uncomfortable when you are spending your hard earned money to design your home. One of the advantages of working with a large firm is that you have the ability to switch designers if you become unhappy with your original designer.

How to Know the Difference Between an Interior Designer and a Decorator

An Interior Designer has gone to college for anywhere from two to four years. During their schooling they have completed many projects and experienced internships where they have learned first hand the ins and outs to becoming a working designer. They also meet a rigorous set of standards that allow them to qualify for professional affiliations. Interior Designers are linked to professional associations such as ASID (American Society of Interior Design), IIDA (International Interior Design Association) or NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) to name a few.
Anyone can call themselves an Interior Decorator, nor do you have to complete any formal education to become one. Many decorators are very talented but an interior designer has studied in the field and has insight into basic building and architectural concepts.

Why use a designer when the decorator at the furniture store comes free with your purchases?

Remember that the decorator at the furniture store has to work with the furniture and fabrics within the store's product lines. An interior designer, especially one who is part of a design studio has access to many furnishings and fabrics, in addition to the ability to access other products such as flooring, wallcovering and windows treatments. Since the interior designer has access to more than just furniture, hiring one becomes a more efficient way to get an entire space completed which in turn benefits the client.

How to work with the designer you just hired!

You have interviewed and hired a designer. Now what?

You feel comfortable with the person you just selected, so now you need to let them start the project.
Hopefully you have a plan to connect within the next few weeks so your designer can measure, take photos and collect information on items you are planning to keep. Once your designer has gathered this information to begin, you should also have a next meeting date scheduled.
During the time between hiring your designer and the next meeting, you need to understand that the designer is now transferring the information to drawings and then thinking and sketching ideas for your project.
An efficient designer is able to balance many projects at the same time. While researching for you he/she may be ordering for another and scheduling installations for someone else. It is okay to call your designer anytime to ask a question even if it is in between meetings. They are there for you! Also remember that your designer is working for your benefit and may need to call you from time to time to ask a question or clarify a concern.
You should feel confident and trust your designer.
While it can seem overwhelming, allow your designer to ease your stress. Enjoy the process!

How to know..It is time to hire a designer?

Where do you start, how do you start? Hiring a designer could be the best deal in town. When you hire a designer you can be given the map for future changes. Changes that you can make when you are ready. It is always best to know what you want to achieve in your space, but one does not always know what that is. An interior designer can offer suggestions, and ideas to help you take the first step. If you know what your space can become then the journey to get there can be a lot of fun.
Even during these difficult times, small changes can make a huge difference. After a while in one environment we all need to make changes. However in this economy many people are feeling that it is not the time. On the contrary it is the perfect time.

visit us at www.collaboratedesignstudio.com