Pink is in the house! I haven't seen an interior color trend take over so quickly since shades of grey and I have to admit, I am on board! Shades of pink even made me Top 5 things I just can't get enough of for Spring. Here are some of my favorite examples of pink being used in todays interiors.
We are all spending more time on…well..having more time on our hands. Meaning, this is the perfect opportunity for us all to tackle those easy DIY projects in our home. The greatest part about it all is it won’t cost you much money and will make a huge impact on your emotional well being. Check out my suggestions on what you can do to make the time go by a little faster while beautifying your surrounding.
A can of paint costs next-to-nothing for the huge impact it will make. Not to mention, some of us have left over paint cans hanging around; so why not use them? Adding a pop of color to your front door showcases your personality and painting an accent wall in your home creates visual interest and depth.
While some of us have a junk drawer in our homes (most of us) and others may have a junk room, now is the time to clean out and organize. A cleaner space will help us be more productive, organized, and happier!
You may be thinking, “Duh, Kevin, of course I should clean.” I am not talking about the every-day cleaning, i’m talking about that cleaning you do every now and then; grout in kitchens and bathroom, baseboards, windows, and furniture vacuuming (you read that right). Did you know that vacuuming your furniture will get all of the years of dust, skin cells, and dirt off of it? It instantly breathes new life into furnishings and will help extend the life. Don’t forget to unzip those cushions and vacuum inside the casings as well!
Add a bit of you into your home with custom arts ant crafts! Some of us have transitioned from CEO to stay-at-home and are now having to juggle entertaining out little ones. A great project is allowing your family to create something special for the home. From rock painting to framing a painting you created, this will add that pop of personal!
Lighting is so important. We have all been in that zoom meeting where someone has terrible lighting and they look like that are giving an anonymous witness testimony or live in a yellow covered world. Lighting has different warmths that give off a yellow, white, or blue tint. My recommendation is 3000 kelvin, perfect balance of warmth and white. Uniform light temperature through your home will create the perfect ambience for you to enjoy!
Hey all you cool cats and— no that’s not how I want to start this post. Let’s try that again…
Hey y’all (that’s better), we are going into week four of sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak and I have had a little time to think about the latest trend with Interior Designers. E-Design services.
I love how the designers of the world are adapting during this time, however, do not rush to jump on the E-Design bandwagon because business is slow. By doing so, you can cheapen yourself as a designer if you do not properly prepare.
First, what is e-design? Well, when you boil it down to it’s simplest form, e-design is a way for consumers to work with an experienced designer at a fraction of the cost. Sounds too good to be true right? Well first let’s go over how it typically works.
The Client is responsible for sending photos and measurements of the room you are wanting to update, along with inspiration photos of a style you really like.
The designer then puts together a floor plan, mood board, selects furniture, picks paint colors, and anything else that curates a custom designed look for you.
Upon approval of design, clients will get a shopping list, with all the URL links for you to make the purchases on their own.
The links that are sent from the designer are affiliate links, meaning if you use them and purchase the product, the designer gets a kick back from the website you are purchasing through. The client is not paying anymore than they normally would. This is great for designers who are looking for an extra revenue stream.
As designers, we need to be up-front with clients and set the proper expectations prior to any job starting. Here are some things to go over with your potential e-design clients.
Payment for e-design packages are paid in full up front.
E-Design does not generally provide clients with higher quality products. Rather, it is targeted to potential clients who want a magazine-ready designer look, but do not have the budget or designer for long lasting desire furniture. Which is totally okay as long as the client knows ahead of time what the durability and expected longevity of the product can be. Good design can come in all budget sizes.
E-Designing usually limits revisions to one revision: this is so designers can properly price Packages and still remain profitable with their time.
Once the links are sent, the project is complete. Anything additional is considered outside of the scope and a new agreement will need to be made.
Set the expectation with the client. If potential new client is wanting completely custom designs that are high end and super tailored to them, direct them towards a full-service working relationship.
Now, e-design is a relatively newer introduction to the world of interior design as a way for individuals new to the profession of design to start building a portfolio and client base. In recent weeks, seasoned designers have also begun to offer these services as a way to continue working as the world has seemingly screeched to halt. Know that a more seasoned designer will charge more for these packages. But as we all know, you do get what you pay for.
If you are thinking of offering e-design as an added service for clients, here are some questions to think about when pricing your packages.
How long does a typical room take me to properly put together for a client?
How much money do I want to put into marketing my e-design service?
Am I skilled as putting together a lower-budget design?
Does offering an introductory package cheapen my brand?
Is this a bandaid for what is going on in my business right now that I want to continue when we are allowed to start going back into client’s homes?
Y’all, e-design is here to stay, but it’s up to us as designers to choose if we want to offer this as a service or if we are fine with sticking to the services that fit our business model the best.
Kevin Twitty
Principal Designer
Kevin Twitty Interiors
503-714-5197
I am known for my belief that every room needs three things; furniture to use, art for beauty, and a reflective surface for depth. For me, the go-to reflective surface of choice is a wall or floor mirror that adds something special to the design. A huge bonus for me is you can put a mirror almost anywhere and it be a success in the design. Don't believe me? Check these ways a mirror can be just the thing needed!
Being outdoors is on the top of my "list of loves" in life. It makes me so happy to breath in the fresh air and take a pause from the four walls that envelope most of my day. Over the past few years this sentiment towards being outdoors has been shared by more and more people and because of this, indoor/outdoor living spaces in homes have been raising in popularity and manufactures of outdoor safe furnishings have kept up with the pace. In honor of the summer season coming to an end and beautiful Autumn weather rolling in, here is a design you could easily do for your own outdoors. I call it, Relaxing Tangerine: A relaxing casual style with clean lines and natural textures.
Arrow Accent Pillow - Pillows are some of my favorite ways to update a space. This charcoal arrow on a cream background has a fantastic modern casual vibe. $60
Tone on Tone Striped Pillow - These contrast against the charcoal, of the other pillow and add structure to the space. - $79
Natural Trellis Pillow - I love how these bring in the mid-tone of all of the neutrals. $98
Tangerine Bohemian Style Rug - Adding just a touch of color is perfect to give your outdoor patio just enough color without overwhelming. $629
Woven Natural Stools - These wicker stools add visual texture and an extra place for guests to sit when you are entertaining. $250
Copper Bowl Planter - Adding a little bit of shine plays well against the softer tones of the design. I love the warmth in the metal. $175
Copper Cylinder Planter - This is the sister planter. It has all of the same material elements, but allows for something a little different. $175
Outdoor Safe Table Lamp - Electric lamp outside? What! That is awesome. This outdoor lamp will keep the mood casual. $279
Antiqued Side Table - Everyone needs a place to put a drink down, and this small antiqued side table is perfect for that. It also connects well with the planters and cocktail table. $199
Gray Sofa/Chaise with Casual Washed Wood - Upholster is where you splurge! These well constructed pieces are going to last you a lifetime. They are the perfect classic high end look for your outdoors. $3579
Gray Chair with Casual Washed Wood - A perfect compliment to the sectional above. I love how this chair is oversized. Makes me want to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book. $1125
Rusted Top Round Coffee Table - A show-stopper of a cocktail table. The simplicity in the shape is lovely and the rusty top is a worry-free way to live outdoors. $855
