One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "So, do you just choose cushions and curtains?"
I always smile because, while I do love beautiful cushions, they usually arrive right at the end of a project.
Interior decorating is about enhancing an existing space. It focuses on furniture, fabrics, colours, artwork and accessories that bring personality and warmth to a room.
Interior design starts much earlier.
Before I think about fabrics or finishes, I'm asking a completely different set of questions. How does this family live? Does the kitchen flow properly? Is there enough storage? Where will natural light fall during the day? Can we improve the layout so the home simply works better?
Sometimes the most important decisions are the ones you never notice. Moving a doorway by half a metre. Widening a passage. Adding concealed storage. Planning lighting before the walls are even painted. These are the details that quietly transform the way you experience your home every day.
There's also a fair amount of project management involved. Coordinating suppliers, working with builders, selecting materials, reviewing drawings and solving the unexpected challenges that inevitably pop up during a renovation. Trust me, there is always at least one surprise waiting behind a wall!
Of course, decorating is still an important part of the journey. It is what adds softness, character and those personal touches that make a house feel like home. But when the design has been carefully considered from the beginning, the decorating feels effortless because everything already works together.
The best compliment I can receive isn't, "Your home looks beautiful."
It's when a client says, "Living here just feels so easy."
Because that's what good interior design is really about. Creating spaces that not only look beautiful, but make everyday life feel a little more enjoyable, one thoughtful decision at a time.