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What's your style? Call us (425) 890 1847, lets have a talk!
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to send us e-mail at or call (425) 890-1847 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your style? This is probably the most common question I hear. However, as a professional interior designer, I believe it is a largely irrelevant question. Allow me to explain why. To make an analogy, would you expect a knowledgeable financial advisor to set up your investment plan similar to his/hers without consideration of your specific goals, or that a large-muscled trainer would only train you for body building, even if that was not your objective? Of course not. It would be quite irresponsible for these individuals to impose their personal preferences on the client. Their advice should instead be drawn from their broad knowledge and expertise of the overall subject matter and oriented towards achieving the client's goals and objectives. Similarly, an interior design should reflect the style, taste, and preferences of the design client, not those of the designer. As a professional, I make an assessment of the family lifestyle, personal preferences, budget, style of the home, and multiple other factors in order to recommend the best furnishings or accessories for your home or office. Nowhere in the multitude of things do I impose my personal preference toward one particular style. I might have a style for furnishing my own home, but even then preferences of my family and the style of the house might precede my own. What is more relevant to the discussion is what style do I typically design. Meaning what resources do I go to and utilize on everyday basis. Given that I practice in the Northwest, my clients tend to stay on a modern/contemporary side with the warmth and comfort of traditional style, yet offering a casual, airy and spacious look. There are a variety of styles that can be combined under our Northwest style umbrella – from Arts&Crafts and Shaker to Danish Modern and Late Modernism. I also have clients that enjoy creating traditional, Victorian, and colonial style adaptations in their home; drawing on my extensive travel experience and European background I am able to create a lavish interiors adorned with fabrics, and blends of finishes that invites ones home and make a sense of belonging, tradition, and the history. I don't want to create an illusion that the modern and traditional are the two styles I practice. I am equally passionate to create English-Country kitchen, Nantucket living room, a Beach house mud-room, or a Log-cabin entertainment room. The ability to create various themes that are unique to you, my client, styles that are reflective of your dreams and wishes, rooms that carry the only designer signature I'd expect – loved and cherished by the family for years to come – this is what I feel keeps me as designer on my toes. Sincerely, Natalia Smith Principal Designer How much would it cost...? The question of cost is obviously a very common question. While the short answer is inevitably "it depends", I will try to provide some general guidelines that might help you in deciding when to bring us on board. Every project, be it a furniture placement layout, a wall color consultation, a master bathroom remodel, or space planning for a new house, starts with a consultation. My consultation rate is $175/hour prorated for the time we spend together. What is included in a consultation? We can cover anything you want to discuss. My policy is not to hold anything back. Given that it is our first meeting, I will not have catalogs of furniture or fabrics with me to suggest an exact selection; however, we will brainstorm on positioning of furniture, advantageous color schemes, lighting, and accessories (the list of things varies based on your needs/concerns). In the case of a remodel, we will talk about various choices that are available to you, your preferences and the styles that go well with the house, what are the next steps, and so on. At the end, you will have clear vision of spatial relationships of your home/rooms, what you need to focus on, and where you should begin. Once we identify the specific scope of what needs to be accomplished, we can work based on a Design agreement; where we agree on the phases of the project, your rights and our responsibilities, and the design fee for the project. The design fee is calculated using a $135/hour rate for the design services and conference time, and $40/hour for travel time. If you do not wish to work with a design agreement, we can continue our relationship on an "as-needed" basis and advise you on furniture selection; custom designed pieces – lighting, art work, carpentry, etc; and on-site consultations using the $175/hour rate. As to the question, how much the entire project would cost; it is really hard to answer. In general, cost to plan, source, and orchestrate, a kitchen remodel runs around 10-17% of the total budget you want to spend on the space; for the bathrooms it is around 15%-20%, and as for interior design services to design your bedroom or living room – it depends on the number of finishes you want to be specified/designed. For your reference, I listed few packages that I offer with the starting price points, which can be found in Condo section, under Residential services. Typically, at the end of the initial consultation, I would be able to have a feel to how many hours it would take me to complete your project. Keep in mind, that as a professional in the business of interior design, I am trained and experienced to be fast and efficient when it comes to various sides of design and project management. The breadth of professional contacts through practice and active involvement with AIA, NKBA, and ASID; continuous market research on new products, and keen ability to visualize a space in its completed stage saves you months in research and frustration; and ensures that your place will look what you've always envisioned it to be. To read about the tips on remodels and interior design styles, please view our newsletter section Sincerely, Natalia Smith Principal Designer Do you offer a free consultation? We still offer a complimentary 45-minute consultation for new clients to have a chance to get to know one another, and discuss the project and ways that we can help you. This complimentary session can be scheduled for M-F, 9am to 5pm, at the Seattle Design Center (5701 6 Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98108). You are welcome to bring photos, dimensions of the room/rooms you would like to work on, your idea book, or any other materials that help convey your lifestyle and preferences. To schedule your time, please e-mail info@eastsidedesigner.com or call (425) 890 1847 What services do you offer and how are you different? Whether you are building a new home or remodeling a single room, you want the finished space to be pleasing, comfortable and functional. It needs to match the way you live, as well as reflect your personal style and taste. As an interior designer, I address all these concerns and more. Color, fabrics, furniture, art and accessories are indeed important elements that create beautifully appointed rooms; but interior design also involves many technical considerations that affect comfort, function, and safety. I work with new construction, renovation, historic restoration and model homes. In addition to typical living spaces within the home (bedrooms and family rooms), I design the following specialty areas: kitchen, bath, home office, home theater, wine cellars, home health care and fitness areas. I have aesthetic, practical and technical expertise in all the elements that make up an interior environment. Any number of services and suppliers can provide and install items for the home. Some offer advice on selecting colors, patterns and materials or on arranging the furniture and accessories in a room. When you hire myself, an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create an attractive, cohesive space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs. I can do so much more than recommend furniture, fabrics and colors. With artistic flare and a creative eye combined with in depth knowledge of products, materials, and fixtures, I have the training and experience to plan, schedule, execute, and manage your project from start to finish. I know and work closely with many vendors, contractors, and other service providers to coordinate and orchestrate the entire design process. I also provide specification and purchasing services to procure materials, furniture, accessories and art, some of which are difficult to find on your own. Here is a sample of areas of expertise that I offer to my clients:
Hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Natalia Smith Principal Designer Days and hours of operation? We are available by appointment only Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday – Saturday 9am - 7pm If you would like to have a color consultation, it is best to meet during the daylight hours. How to make an appointment? To make an appointment, please e-mail to info@eastsidedesigner.com or call (425) 890-1847 with the following information:
We are looking forward to speaking with you soon. Sincerely, Idée Chic Design |
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