Behind the Scenes

It's been a great day!   My new design assistant, Jen, started today.  I'm thrilled because not only did she hit the ground running (in just one day she learned to use a Mac, sourced fabrics for a project, staged accessories in a client's home, and helped me set up vendor accounts) but she's talented too.  She has a great background working with fabrics and tiles.   I met Jen in design school and soon learned she had a good "eye" and was a hard worker.  Plus she chose Jack Johnson, one my favorite singers, for a celebrity design project!  I knew we'd get along!

Since I've started my business I've been fortunate to meet lots of great people who help me make my designs become a reality.  Here are just a couple of people that I work with.  This is Jeanie, a wonderful seamstress who works at my workroom, and creates gorgeous drapery treatments and pillows.

Here is Cathy, another seamstress who works out of her home and makes wonderful roman shades and pillows.  Aren't her vintage looking sewing table and drawers great?

One day I would like my office to look like Suzanne Kassler's office.  Mostly white,  a clean canvas that won't compete with client's fabrics, pictures, carpet samples and finishes.  Not shown is a fully upholstered wall where the designers pin up all the samples for their designs.  I so want to do this to one of my walls and discard all my ugly brown cork boards!

Here's a little peak at my office.  I have to warn you that my office is definitely a work in progress.  It's spacious and has tons of natural light making it a nice space to work in but currently lacking some pizazz.  One day I'll replace my desk which I'm sure will be the impetus I need to redo the space.  My desk is always covered in sort-of-neat piles that represent my "to dos" for the day.

I like my cute pillow but really need to replace that unattractive chair.   You can see my draft table on the left which I use more for storage of note pads then drafting.   I use AutoCAD on my macbook for most of my drawing.

Here's my work table that I use to layout fabrics, trims, paint chips, and finishes for projects.  On the back wall is a bookcase filled with some of my fabric and trim books.

More fabric books, design books and design boards can be found on another wall.

I'm a big fan of John Robshaw fabrics so I hung up some of his pretty fabric samples so they are one of the first things I see when I walk into my office.

I'm also a big fan of Schumacher fabrics.  These memos were just too pretty to fold up and tuck away.   Client drawings are in the cart (previously used for toy storage a few years back) and my Benjamin Moore paint chip bag on the right accompanies me on every paint consultation.

It's not the prettiest or most stylish office but it works for now. But I admit it is fun to dream about my future office that I'll have one day.

My next two days are filled with shopping trips with two wonderful clients in and around DC.  Thursday I'll be checking out all the home stores on and near U Street with a client who is in need of some gorgeous accessories for her home.  Friday I'll be checking out all the home stores in Vienna and McLain with another client who is also in need of some great accessories.  When you're accessory shopping for a project you know your close to completion.

So many of my projects are so close to being picture ready.  I cannot wait to share.

Please call me if you would like help making your home more beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the week!