Use design visualization for your project

This Seattle interior designer is fortunate to be featured in an article by HomeSavvi, “Visualize design BEFORE you spend”. What’s excellent about the article is the demonstration using ‘before and after’ images for a real client seeking to update an outdoor space.

In all my projects, my team includes  3D For All, a Seattle based company launched by Mary Curley.  Learn about Mary here.

Working together with Mary and the clients, I was able to use images from Gloster Furniture to accurately ‘imagine‘ the outcome of the design concept I proposed.

As I begin work with clients, I offer a design fee of tiered services and two of the three tiers include design visualization. My clients gain confidence about their project and the outcome they desire when the design comes to life in advance of construction.

Imagine seeing your new room before you spend a penny. Remove the stress of design decisions in advance and avoid costly mistakes. Contact Faith Sheridan Design Group for your indoor or outdoor project and experience confidence in the outcome.

In my Seattle design practice I advise that rugs in outdoor spaces achieve the very same outcome as they do indoors. They define an area for seating, add color and pattern, and offer texture and pizazz too. Today’s outdoor rugs are eye-catching, long lasting and  quite affordable.  Some are indoor options too. Word to the wise – Putting them in a covered area will extend their life.

Liora Manne Outdoor Rug

5 Tips for outdoor rug selection –

1. Place them in a covered area, and clean them (vacuum and hose).
2. To clean:  hang it up, hose it off, and let it dry completely before putting it back.
3. The  label should say 100% polypropylene and even better UV stabilized, plus mold, mildew and weather resistant.
4. Choose a machine-made rugs. They are lighter, dry faster and better suited for exposed areas.
5. Size instructions: In a seating area, all front legs of furniture should be on the rug. In a dining area, all legs should be on the rug even when chairs are scooted out.

Our team is here to help you design your indoor or outdoor space using area rugs. Call us 206.973.3743 or send a consultation request.

Last week this expert Seattle interior designer shared some first look photos from the makeover I did for a mother and daughter last Thursday. KOMO News in Seattle covered this surprise and I have additional images of before and after and a video too.  Please enjoy them in this time of holiday giving.

KOMO video of makeover 

“For the first time, a Seattle mother and daughter say they have a home. They are domestic violence survivors who recently moved into an apartment, but had no way to decorate it, and barely had any furniture. KOMO4′s Michelle Esteban was in on a surprise Home Makeover.”

Before Mother's Bedroom

Before daughter

Before bath

Enjoy your holidays and share the spirit of giving to others. My sincere wishes for a joyous season.

Faith

In our Sunday Seattle Times I enjoyed a story about the restoration of a home by Paul Gregutt and his wife. While I am an expert Seattle interior designer, Gregutt is a highly regarded wine writer. Appropriately, they found a 1,000-square-foot, rundown cottage in Eastern Washington in the community of Waitsburg, where the grapes are grown and many of the wineries are located.

In our Sunday Seattle Times I enjoyed a story about the restoration of a home by Paul Gregutt and his wife. While I am an expert Seattle interior designer, Gregutt is a highly regarded wine writer. Appropriately, they found a 1,000-square-foot, rundown cottage in Eastern Washington, where the grapes are grown and most of the wineries are.

What is an “al fresco” design inspiration?  Interior design expert, Faith Sheridan  interprets her client’s wish list.

Clean, uncluttered lines and abundant windows

My clients found a home in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle and quickly embarked on a major remodel of the main floor including a custom kitchen. An overriding desire to connect the kitchen to the outdoors results in an eight foot window instead of traditional upper and lower cabinets. Peeks of garden foliage and abundant light from all four directions via the stairwell and other windows unify the main floor remodel of this Madrona home with an open theme. My clients prefer a Zen-like concept of clean lines, sleek surfaces and minimal clutter.

Before remodel shows upper cabinets and refrigerator

After image shows undercounter refrigeration and storage

I located all refrigeration undercounter and customized storage throughout the remodel with pullouts that organize recycling, tableware, glassware, cookware and spice storage.  A wall of cabinets 24″ deep collects small appliances, baking supplies, linens and other kitchen essentials.

The use of horizontal Wenge and horizontal rift-cut white oak veneers maintains a recurring horizontal design element throughout the home as do the simple cabinet pulls parallel to the grain. The Basalt counter material continues to the floor on the island and maintains smooth, continuous lines.

Enjoy the before images and the transformation. Learn more about Faith Sheridan and her team.

An interior design colleague alerted me to this video on Hulu.  From the press release, ”Northwest interior designer Faith Sheridan was chosen over two Seattle-based designers to create a new bathroom on “Designers’ Challenge” TV Show which appears weekly on the Home & Garden Television channel. ”

HGTV Designer's Challenge Deja Vu Tranquil Master Bathroom

I“competed” to win the contract of a Seattle couple who were looking for a new design for their master bathroom.  The couple, Chris and Sharon Lockwood, told me that they loved my design, and that is the reason why they chose Faith Sheridan Interior Design during a two-day shoot.  

“The inspiration for Chris and Sharon is a calm oasis, a serene spa-like setting so they will love to come home,” Sheridan said.  “This bath features an innovative shower system, luxurious natural materials and a partnership with respected Northwest artisans in glass and specialty finishes.  The view of Lake Washington is the focal point.”

The couple heard pitches from Sheridan and the others, and chose Faith Sheridan to re-do the bathroom.  Over three months, the TV show  videotaped Sheridan working with the couple on the specifics of the re-design, and showed  Sheridan’s chosen contractors rebuilding the bathroom. Sheridan maintains offices in Portland and Seattle.

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As an interior designer, before and after images are often requests I receive from website visitors and new clients.  When I started with these clients they had lived in a houseboat on Lake Union near downtown Seattle.  Then a fabulous property on Lake Union became available. This townhome features amazing views of mountains, skyline and the water  plus also offers a cozy family room.  But it sorely needed new furnishings except for the big screen TV.

Take a look at what we did.

Family Room-Home Theater Before

Family Room-Home Theater After

A new arrangement is both conversational and perfect for watching sports and movies. All the furnishings are from my favorite company, Hickory Chair. The addition of a game table affords another conversational area. The owner loved to sail and I used black and white photos to emphasize and support that interest. More memorabilia is on the open shelf unit too.

Furniture from Hickory Chair: Marshall chair; Cate side table; Gunnison leather chair and others.

The outcome of the design concept introduces paint and color finishes in the wood side table and etagere.  A sheer texture drapery fabric over wood blinds combines to add a sense of coziness, warmth and intimacy. 

What do you think? Would you like to settle in to enjoy a game or movie  in this room? Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for more ideas.

The article last Thursday in the NYTimes, Renovating an Industry, is getting lots of attention and discussion from designers and other industries too. Certainly I read it a few times and enjoyed all the comments too.  As a Seattle interior designer practicing for many years I have seen many changes to the industry.  The internet makes so much available and accessible.  I began to think about offering online quick, expert, direct solutions to those who are  DIYers.  My name for this service, Fast Solutions for Interior Dilemmas. $50 for a fast solution is email only.  You send your design along with 3 photos of your room and relevant information like measurements. Within 48 hours you receive a professional solution with links to products.

Before and After

See this example of a dining room with simple changes like paint, new rug, chairs and moving existing art to the newly painted wall.

So I say, “Let’s do this!”  Try a  new approach and benefit like other customers who are finding design more accessible and less expensive. Take advantage of color consultation, art hanging and personal shopping from a second pair of eyes and a  short term relationship with a professional designer.

In the project shown in the before and after sequence, my challenge was to stay within the footprint of the existing  master bathroom.  Also, the soaking tub was a favorite place for relaxing so it too remained. 

The other challenge was a very tall male… who loved the the idea of a ceiling showerhead which he often used  in hotels while traveling.  So now you know the general parameters and can see the transformation.

before vanity

before shower

before soaking tub

Now for the transformation

Vanity, natural cherry with dual sinks

Shower and solartube

Soaking Tub

Solutions  to this master bathroom remodel:

• a single vanity with customized storage for him and her
• balanced lighting from sconces and overhead fixture
• 36″ counter height suits both
• glass wall between tub and shower enlarges room
• Solartube adds lighting  with less expense (original plan included skylight)
• hotel towel shelf stores extra towels
• mosaic border adds horizontal element
• travertine throughout is easy to maintain