Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

A family member recently asked for my help with a renovation project they’ve undertaken. They’re reconfiguring their first floor to include a primary bedroom and constructing an addition. Since they’re already in a state of upheaval, they’ve also decided to refinish their upstairs hardwoods, basically moving out of the top floor of their house and living on the first floor during construction. They have been through renovations before and decorated their house (beautifully) on their own. They have a very strong sense of their personal style, and it’s magical. What could they possibly need my help with? 

Then I realized, perhaps they’ve become overwhelmed by the process. Beyond the design, an interior decorator can lend an ear to help you clarify your ideas, be a second set of eyes, and provide the structure and a path for progress to see a project through to its completion. It’s not just about creating a great floor plan or selecting the right finishes; it’s also about the implementation. Hiring a designer is like hiring a personal trainer or going to an exercise class instead of trying to work out on your own. An instructor not only develops the routine but also helps lead you through it, which makes it easier to do the work and answer questions when things get tricky or they’re not working as you expected. Sometimes we just need someone to provide us guidance or the encourage us to keep going.