"All designers can decorate; however, not all decorators can design." True or false??

I just read this fantastic blog by a writer for HGTV, Brian Patrick Flynn, about the difference between a decorator and a designer.  He asked the question " is it safe to say that all designers can decorate; however, not all decorators can design?"  to a handful of successful decorators and designers.  The answers were interesting to read, that's for sure!

Let me give you a little background.  In order to be considered a licensed interior designer, you must have gone to an accredited college and received a degree.  After college, you must work in the field of interior design for so many hours, which equals about 2 years if you are full time, and then you must take, and pass,  a test.  If you pass, you are then allowed, by law, to be called an interior designer.

If you want to be an interior decorator, well, there is no law requirements or education necessary.

So, lets discuss the difference between the two.  A designer has formal training, which is usually in commercial design.  They work on the project from the very start, all the way to final completion.  This includes programming and schematic design, design development, construction documents and the overseeing of the entire project.  A designer can move walls and re-locate windows and doors; a designer will create the shell of the space and follow through with the selections of furniture, materials and lighting. 

A decorator may or may not have formal training; it is not necessary.  If they do, it can be in either residential or commercial design.  A decorator does not have the authority to move walls or re-locate doors or windows.  They strictly design the inside of the shell that the designer created.

A decorator MUST have talent...either you are good at decorating or you are not; design is a skill that can be learned.  Just because you are a designer does not mean that you are a talented decorator.  A designer can be skilled in the technical aspect but have absolutely no eye for design or style.  Designer, Erica Reitman, said a designer is "someone who guides others towards their own styles using a combination of creativity, innovation, color theory, architecture and psychology."  Decorator Phoebe Howard, said this of decoration, "decoration is the comprehensive and conclusive finishing of a home. It is about arranging furnishings in ways that are both pragmatic and beautiful." This is decorator, Nick Olson's answer to the question, "To my understanding, calling oneself an interior designer requires a degree in the field, a professional certification, accreditation and so on. I think the biggest difference between designers and decorators is that the former literally moves walls and other structural elements of a given space, while the latter decorates the box." 

So, it seems that there is a clear definition for both decorator and designer, but is the statement true? Can all designers decorate, but all decorators can not design?  I am undecided.  I am formally trained, from an accredited college, in commercial design; I just happened to have found my niche in residential design.  I am not licensed, yet, but I do have the formal training, so technically, I am skilled to do both decorating and designing.  I believe that a decorator and a designer can do the same work...it just depends on their background in design, if any.  However, I do believe that a decorator is a decorator for a reason, they are talented and know tons about style, where as a designer may not have that same skill set.  On the other hand, a decorator may not have the same skill set as the designer; they may have no idea how a wall is built or know the codes that are put in place to keep people safe.  I guess this one is just a matter of opinion, and ego if you ask me! 

So, it looks like I am considered a decorator, and proud of it!!

What do you think?  Would you not hire a super successful and talented decorator to decorate your dream home just because they do not have a degree?

*Kim*

How to show off your space in the best light possible!!

When I was in college, I tended to focus more on the technical aspect of the project and not the materials, finishes or lighting. It was not until I began to work on real residential projects that I understood the importance of lighting in a space.  When a space is being designed, there are key pieces to which attention must be paid; walls, flooring, window coverings, furniture and lighting.  Lighting in a space is so important.  I found that while I was doing projects for school, I would let this key piece of design fall to the wayside, never giving it any thought.  I would flip through a magazine and specify the first light fixture I came across to show that I "thought" about it.  If I only knew then how important lighting was to a design, I could have designed some pretty fantastic spaces just by adding an interesting light fixture that was thought about and not just picked out.

There are many different types of lighting such as table lamps, floor lamps, pedant lighting, wall sconces, task lighting, etc.  A space can seem very boring or plain until you add light to it.  A light fixture can become the focus of a space.  You can conceptualize an entire design around a traditional chandelier or a very modern pendant light.  Wall sconces can add symmetry to a space.  Table lamps can add interest to a not so interesting table and they are also a great way to add color to a space.  Some lighting  fixtures can be very feminine and elegant, while others can be very masculine and sophisticated.  Lighting is a functional aspect of design, but try not to get too technical when it comes to choosing the right light.  Sometimes, a lamp may act as more of a vase or sculpture then a functioning light; this is totally ok!!  You want it to have character, after all, you are choosing to put this in a space that represents you!  The important thing to remember about lighting is that it should never be an after thought.  Next time you redecorate your living room, try to base your design around an interesting table lamp you found, or revamp your foyer or entry way by adding wall sconces or matching ceramic lamps to either side to add symmetry or color.  Here are some great ideas for lighting up your space! 

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler

Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel

Jonathan Adler

Adding color

Adding symmetry

Focal Point of Space

Setting the mood

*Photos from Jonathan Adler, Crate and Barrel, House Beautiful, Traditional Home and Chicago Home and Garden*

Art Clusters....better than just one single piece of art? You be the judge...

While meeting with a new client last week, we discussed some ideas for the re-design of her family room and the idea for a feature art wall.  This particular client, and her daughter, love to create their own artwork and showcase it throughout their home.  On one wall, the client had hung a beautiful painting, of her daughter, that she, herself, created.  We knew this was a piece we had to keep in our new design.  There were many other paintings and photographs, scattered throughout the house, that we knew we wanted to use.  As I began thinking more about this feature art wall , the idea of art clusters came to me!  Why not create a feature art wall with multiple pieces instead of just one large piece?? The painting alone looked fine, but why not try to incorporate more of this clients artwork on to her new feature wall? Why not make it more interesting? More eclectic? Why not add more color and texture?  Why not make this wall the focal point of the entire space?

There are many ways to organize art clusters.  The easiest way to begin is by creating an overall grid (total length and width) in which to work.  Here are some different ways to hang art work in clusters. Don't forget, you can mix and match the content of the artwork or you can keep it the same, either way, this is going to make your artwork look much more interesting and give you a focal point in your space!

Evenly sized and spaced

A mix of horizontal and vertical

Different shapes, sizes and content

Different shapes and sizes. Similar content

*Photos from House Beautiful , Chicago Home and Garden, Traditional Home and Domino*

Zebra print....who doesn't love it?!?

I have been contemplating the idea of starting a blog for some time now, but I was not sure what I wanted to blog about and more importantly, who will read or care about what I have to say? After careful consideration, I knew I had to write about something that I felt passionately about, something that I would be interested in reading myself and something that I had knowledge of.  That's when I knew that I had to write about Interior Design. I want this blog to inspire people, give them a reason to love art and design and enhance my knowledge of design as I continue on my journey to becoming a successful, inspiring, well rounded and humble designer.  I want to share with you what inspires me everyday and also share some design tips and tricks. 

Before I get into the fun part of this blog, I want to give some background on who I am. My name is Kimberly Huff.  I graduated from Columbia College in 2009 with my degree in Interior Architecture.  I had big plans of entering into the world of hospitality design and designing 5 star hotels, but that dream fell flat when I struggled to find an internship. I quickly realized that if there were no internships, the chance of landing my dream job was a bit far fetched.  As any recent graduate knows, now is not a great time for graduating college and entering the "real world."  After months and months of internet searching, thousands of phone calls and emails and many long nights of wondering if I was ever going to graduate from college, I landed a fabulous internship with a well known, Chicago Interior Designer, Lauren Lozano Ziol.  The month that I began my internship, she was featured in Chicago Home and Garden Magazine; her photo was on the cover!! Needless to say, I was a bit nervous and intimidated, not only because she was a real interior designer, but because she was a residential interior designer.  I had studied commercial design in college and was afraid that I would not do well in this realm of design.  I caught on very quickly and began to enjoy this aspect of design; it didn't hurt that I had an amazing mentor!! As luck would have it, she hired me as her design assistant after I graduated and I have been working for her ever since. 

Lauren Lozano Ziol, Cover of Chicago Home and Garden Magazine

                                     
Time to get to the good stuff! I want to start off my very first blog by talking about one of my favorite things...animal print...more specifically...zebra print!!  As my friends and family will tell you, I am all about the animal print!! I can not pin point when my obsession began, but I try to incorporate it into every aspect of my life, especially in design (faux, of course!!)  I know not everyone is about animal print, but I want to show you how it can be used in design without being tacky, safari-like or overwhelming!  Accent pillows are a great way to use animal print.  They are small enough to where you will not feel overwhelmed by it, but stylish enough to add something to the space.  Another way to incorporate animal print is through upholstery, specifically, on a chair.  However, I would not recommend upholstering a sofa in animal print...even I think that is a bit too much! Animal prints can also look great as an area rug or, in some cases, an actual leather hide.  This can make a room look traditional or modern, depends on the look you are trying to achieve.  It can easily be incorporated into any design. Let me know what your take is on animal print...do you love it or hate it??

Here are some ways that animal print can be used successfully!  Enjoy!!

  

Dining Room Seating

Upholstered Benches

   

Upholstered Chairs

Wall Paper

Accent Pillows

Area Rug

(Photos from House Beautiful, Chicago Home and Garden, Ethan Allen, and Traditional Home)