Over our decade of marriage, Ted and I have moved six times and learned to create “home” in each space we called our own. Over time, our style evolved from hand-me-down pieces that worked for a season to a collection of furniture and art that reflects who we are and the life we’ve built together.
While we’ve talked a lot about staging homes to help them sell quickly, staging and marketing a house is largely about creating a product that appeals to a broad audience, while designing a home is about creating a practical and beautiful space to inspire the people who live there and help them to thrive.
Today we’re excited to welcome you to one of our favorite rooms in the world—our living room, as we truly live in it (Okay, I did pick up the dirty kids’ clothes off the floor, but this is pretty close to “every day!”).
We started designing our space by thinking about how we wanted to feel when we came into the room; joy, laughter, and comfort were words that came up again and again as we dreamed of the space. While there are still a few finishing touches we hope to add someday, like a larger built-in shelf to hold our many games, and more beautiful light instead of our old fan, there are so many details here that bring us energy and joy:
Walls: The original walls in here were a dingy taupe, which works fine if you want an ultra-earthy feel, but we wanted the space to feel bright and cheerful. We painted the walls Sherwin Williams Alabaster White, and painted the trim the same color in a glossier sheen.
Color: We also went with a neutral backdrop where we could because we recognized that we both love bright, cheerful colors—like the multi-colored rug, pink curtains, and playful artwork our kids created.
Storage: There are baskets hidden in almost every corner of this room, and storage was essential in the furniture we picked for this space. We want plenty of space for toys, games, and books to help prompt moments for us to play together.
Seating: As our cat can clearly attest, this is a ridiculously comfortable couch. Placing it against the window maximizes natural light while we enjoy a morning cup of coffee, and we can also look out and watch kids play in the backyard during the warmer months. We incorporated more flexible seating for family gatherings and impromptu game nights with friends, which we can’t wait to enjoy again when COVID ends!
We were also very intentional about what didn’t fit into this space: we wanted the primary living room of our house to be screen-free, so we created a family-friendly media space in our basement for movie nights.
While we loved everything about designing and creating this warm, inviting space for our family, we recognize that designing your dream room can feel like a chore to many homeowners, leaving them overwhelmed or unsatisfied with their home. If you’re feeling a bit lost, it is absolutely worth consulting a professional to make your space work for you! If you’re new to interior design and want some help, here are some tips to consider to get the most out of your project.
How To Get Great Results From Your Pittsburgh Interior Designer
Here are a few different steps you should take to make life easier for both you and your designer, regardless of whether you’re working with a solopreneur or someone from a Pittsburgh-based interior design firm:
1. Discuss your budget for interior design.
Budget is a major concern—both for you and the designer you’ve chosen. Your budget often goes both toward new furnishings and the designer’s hourly fee. So, if you’ve budgeted $5,000 to refresh your kitchen, only $4,000 may wind up going to appliances, paints, and decor, depending on what your interior designer’s fees are.
While you’re discussing the budget, here’s another question you can ask early on: “How do you prioritize design budget?” If something goes awry in the process (say your construction crew makes a mistake that the designer must accommodate for), you want to know how they’ll correct the issues.
2. Show what you like.
You might lack the design vocabulary to say you appreciate “Shabby Chic” or “French Country,” and that’s OK! Clipping out images from magazines like Real Simple or sharing a few posts from Instagram are great ways to showcase your favorite tastes (try flipping through hashtags like #interiordesign for ideas).
Remember: A picture is worth a thousand words! They can really help you pinpoint what you like and what you don’t like. Pictures are especially useful since some interior designers like to work on their own and make all of the decisions based on what they feel is best for you and your space. If you discuss these images ahead of time, you can reign in your designer from making design decisions you may ultimately dislike.
3. Show what you dislike.
Your designer uses their own personal experience, your design preferences, the latest trends, the layout of your home, and your budget to deliver something they think will appeal to your tastes.
But they might not get it right on their first proposal.
You’re responsible for being clear about when you don’t like something—even if it’s something as small as a lampshade. You might feel tempted to defer to their judgment since they’re the professional, but you’re paying for a service. It’s OK to expect great things inside your home!
4. Ask to see the designer’s portfolio.
Ask to see projects they’ve work on with a similar budget and within similar styles.
This cuts to the core of what you’re looking for: Success in an environment that matches your own.
Depending on your tastes and budget, your Pittsburgh interior designer (or prospective designer, depending on where you are in the process) may have a limited portfolio to match your needs.
Still, it’s important ground to cover to see if they can match what you’re looking for.
Take note: If you’re working with someone inside a larger Pittsburgh interior design firm, make sure the portfolio pieces they share with you are their own designs and not someone else’s!
5. Agree on a timeline.
You don’t want to wait forever for a comfortable interior! Talk to your designer about nailing down deadlines for the project.
A concrete timeline is especially important if you plan on selling your home and need the project to wrap before you start showing.
6. Discuss communication.
How does your designer prefer to communicate? How do you prefer to communicate—and can they accommodate your style?
Knowing how they or their interior design firm prefers to communicate lets you know whether you should pay closer attention to your email or incoming calls so you don’t miss a single update.
Enjoy the Results!
Whether you design a space yourself or get professional help to bring your vision to life, we hope your home is a place to learn and grow in happiness. We are always happy to share our experience, and would love to see your space, so keep in touch at theblocks@blocksintheburgh.com.
Cheers,
Julie & Ted