I’m excited to share this project that used my e-design interior design services for my client, Sheri, who lives three hours away. Sheri is the sister of another client and good friend, Marilyn, who referred me. We started in February with the initial Zoom Discovery Call to gather information, and have since had many more Zoom meetings, lots of emails and text messages, photo sharing, and eventually two site visits.

What a delight to get to know Sheri better and to guide her through the design and decorating process for her space, especially so, knowing that she had some personal challenges going on in her home that escalated at the end of Phase One of this two part refresh.

Wish List and Design Brief Ideas

My Pre-Consult Questionnaire came back with Sheri asking for help to update her kitchen with new appliances, cupboards, flooring, backsplash tile, countertops and paint colours. She also wanted to better organize what was there.

Further, Sheri was asking for help to create a colour palette to paint the entry, the entire main floor with the exception of the bathroom and bedrooms. This also included help with new living room and sitting room furniture, lighting, and window coverings.

Decor jumping off point ideas where to start

You can have lots of decorating project ideas, but when it comes to the actually decorating, where to start can be one of the biggest challenges you’ll face. I’ve met many clients in a state of overwhelm when the time comes. That can be the biggest reason to hire a professional. Get over the overwhelm and get that decorating process under your belt to avoid costly mistakes, setbacks and delays.

What will be your jumping off point? It can often be a piece of artwork that is staying in the space, or one that you already have that I will suggest to come into the room. Or, perhaps you have a fabulous area rug that has beautiful textures and colours with a style all of it’s own. It can set the mood and be the place that we pull colours from to continue the process. You get where I’m going here I’m sure.

Elements of a warm and cozy look and feel

Sheri asked that the kitchen would feel energized and functional, and the living - dining space would feel warm and cozy.

The greatest influence to warm up a space comes from the colour palette, as well as the furnishings and even the accessories.

I knew that adding plants, wood elements, stone, wicker and even water if possible, for Biophlillic design in this space would bring that calm sense of wellness Sheri also desired.

Soft neutral foundational colours would bring a bright, fresh look and feel to the boring builders beige that had been on these walls for a long while. Adding warm pops of colour throughout, where rustic and contemporary styles meet, would bring the desired warm and cozy feel we were after.

Developing Colour Palette Ideas

How to create colour palettes is one of the most fun and the most challenging aspects of any project for me. I need to get in my clients head to understand what they like and don’t like, while making it all work with existing or new pieces coming into the space. The feedback from my Pre Consult Questionnaire is invaluable in the initial stages of any project.

I look at the natural light in the home, existing pieces that are staying in the plan, undertones of fixed surfaces like tile, countertops, flooring and other architectural features. It’s important to know your undertones! It helps avoid clashing colours and sets your colour choices up for a beautiful end result.

Sheri’s husband, Tom, was thoughtful in his response to what colours he thought he’d like to see in the palette. While both of them were totally open to my suggestions and leaning on me for the design and decor choices, Tom was solid in saying he didn’t want any red or purple walls.

While I immediately agreed at the time, you do know how it’s a women’s prerogative to change her mind, right? Stay tuned for Phase Two and see what happens in the kitchen.

The existing furnishings were going to be replaced for the most part, which gave me a free hand in almost all of the decisions for the scope of work needed and the direction to take the project to reach the desired goals.

Sheri, her sister Marilyn and I, collaborated throughout the process making final decisions on my recommendations as presented.

Walk Through Assessment Questions

Every opportunity I get to do a walk through of a home allows me to both get a feel for a clients style, and also let’s me see what I might “steal” from a room to bring into the space I’m working on. I love to give things a new home and to repurpose existing pieces whenever I can. Sustainability is important.

E-design interior design services also includes the all important walk through. It involves a virtual tour with the client using their device to take me through the home as I direct them along, asking all my questions as we go.

Room by room, Sheri and I confirmed what needed to come out. “Edit” is my polite word for “this needs to go”. Sheri was so ready to update and refresh everything and was in agreement with all of my suggestions. We were off to a great start.

decorating project ideas started

The rooms were cleared of old mirrors, furniture and window treatments. Fusion Mineral paint was introduced - yes again, you know me - for pieces I wanted to reuse. Many had sentimental family memories attached, which made it extra special to have them as personalized choices in the home.

Our homes should reflect who we are individually and not just be cookie cutter versions of a furniture store showroom display.

Marilyn took on the task of hours of prepping and painting these pieces that gave them new life, new purpose, and helped us stay on budget. I make mention of them in the Phase One reveal video below.

Several pieces of furniture were found in storage that we pulled out and added to Marilyn’s task list. The existing dining table and chairs and a backgammon table were also tagged for the Fusion paint redo.

The Colour Palette

The final colours were decided on as shown below. Clay Sage for the entry, Roman Column for the main, Oak Moss - oooo I love this one - made a stunning dining room accent wall that framed a repeat application on the back wall of the adjoing sitting room. Hits of black in the furniture, lighting and accessories connected to the area rug, as did all the other neutrals chosen.

E-Design Process

My process for e-design interior design services involves the client helping with showing me the space on Zoom calls as we walk from room to room. I ask for short video clips of each space and room measurements to help me plan and work up a good layout.

Lots of photos are shared throughout the process, as are mood boards that I create and tweak as needed. Background images are removed from photos of individual items going into the design plan, and furniture, flooring, and tiles can be imported or painted to the closest look of the products we’re considering.

Putting together concept drawings with this information really helps to visualize the space and allows the client to see what I have in my head for the direction I want to take things. I can put in the actual paint colours of the walls when using Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore products, the only two brands I specify and love to work with.

I put in online sourced images of area rugs, wallpaper, pics of artwork, and import fabric swatches to add to window treatments, toss cushions and furniture pieces in the drawings.

Here are two concept pics that I put together for Sheri to see during our virtual design presentation session.

The wall colours, wallpaper, area rugs, and sofa are true to image and the dining table, sideboard and tv stand were tweaked from library items in my software drawing program and then painted to specification.

This is the best way to help clients who have trouble visualizing my ideas and gives us a layout with spacing and all the design principles like scale, proportion, balance etc.

Sourcing

A quick note on sourcing. E-design interior design services fit perfectly for online sourcing of most items in the space. For Sheri’s project, we were able to source online for product images that went into mood boards that were eventually finalized for the project. Most were ordered and delivered right to her door, others were confirmed on an in-store sourcing trip.

It’s key to know your layout to get correct sizes for furnishings and accessories coming into the space. We all know the disappointment of that long awaited something to arrive, only to find out it is too big or too small and will need to be returned.

Project Reveal

Are you ready to see the reveal of Phase One? Have a look at the video below and see the transformation that happened.

Do consider e-design interior design services for an upcoming project you have in mind, or for someone you know who could use my help. I appreciate your referrals like this one, and am always excited to start a new project.