Process in Interior Design

Many people feel that planning a room in their home can be a stressful and overwhelming task. There are many things to consider, including space planning, fabric and color coordination, frame selection and accessories. In order to make these projects enjoyable and stress-free, I follow a simple four-step process with time between each step to assimilate our choices. If you are not a visual person, work with an interior designer to help you through these steps.


Step One

Room Planning

The first step is to create a floor plan. I do this by measuring the room including all doors, windows and open walkways. It is also important to measure any pieces that will be staying in the room, such as an area rug or table. Once these measurements are gathered, I utilize my Room Planning software to create the new room. Then, from conversations with the client on how the room will be used, I create anywhere from three to five different furniture configurations. Some may have a sofa and loveseat, others a sectional and chair. Some differ only in a placement of the pieces. All of these choices are then considered and a favorite is chosen.


Step Two

Once we know which pieces will be in the room, our next step is to select the frames we like the best, such as a deep or shallow sofa; a traditional, modern or transitional piece; a wing chair or club chair. We decide based on comfort, size and look which actual frames are best for the family and use of the room.



Step Three
After frames are selected, we now know which manufacturers make those frames and are able to sort through our vast fabric library to coordinate each piece with each other. We make sure that the scale of our prints and depth of our colors all work together to make a beautiful space.


Step Four
Finally, after the upholstery pieces have been finalized, we turn to the accent pieces in the room to complete the look: coffee table or ottoman, side tables, lamps, area rugs and accessories. If needed, we can also pick paint colors for the room and fabrics and designs for window treatments. The final room will be balanced and comfortable.


Each step leads progressively to the next in an organized manner so as not to become overwhelmed, but instead can truly enjoy the process of making our home our own.

One word of warning...please never select your paint color first!!  This is always decided after the fabrics have been chosen so that the correct color hue for the walls can be drawn from the fabrics themselves.  Good luck in your room planning!

By Karen Dunn

Interior Designer

Woodward SSI

Why Should I hire an Interior Designer?

Claudia Simoes
Scott Shuptrine Interior Designer – Royal Oak Gallery

I had no idea how to start this first blog…what should I write about? Then, after a while it came to me that just writing about my job would be a good start…and it would also help people who still don't understand how it works or may feel uneasy contacting an Interior Designer.

Being a Designer is a fun job! It's very exciting to meet a new client and start building a relationship that is all about trust. Understanding the person's needs and desires, and being able to truly translate that into an actual room plan that becomes a lived in space... that's the challenge.

A professional designer will plan the room and coordinate the right pieces of furniture, creating balance in scale, color and materials. We all have different lifestyles: some people entertain a lot, others have kids and/or pets…first home, vacation home… so everyone will need different plans, pieces and materials. Durable fabrics that are kid proof…maybe leather, or even silk, for the more formal, dressy chair and pillows. Will they choose a fabric ottoman versus glass-top cocktail table? What will be the best color for the walls in a room with fewer windows…or where is the best place for grandma's old china cabinet, old pictures, or just some place for the souvenirs from the last trip? Whatever is important to keep, we will work around it.  Let’s rearrange the pieces - add new ones…refresh the space.

A designer will select exactly what you need in your budget…window treatment, wall covering, floor covering…the best carpet for that high traffic area, the perfect rug for your foyer, along with the art and all the accessories that will make that room look exactly like the room you dreamed of. Sometimes just a beautiful wallpaper and a big mirror will transform that forgotten area.

There's never an interior design project that's too small. At the end it's all about keeping the owner's identity alive… and in the end that's what matters.

By Claudia Simoes
Interior Designer
Woodward SSI