Orange County Interior Designer - Paille Interior

Flooring: Natural vs. Synthetic

2012-11-19T14:33:00.001-08:00

There are various thoughts on specifying a natural wood or synthetic product for your flooring.

Some characteristics of a natural product:

One of a kind colorants & textures
Unique finish
Can be customized, color, finish & texture
More character
More richness

Some characteristics of a synthetic product:

Can be more affordable, depending on the product
May be more readily available
Longer life
Less maintenance

Most of my clients want a unique, rich wood floor with its' own character. Who doesn't? What I remind them is that after the initial excitement of getting their new custom floor - there is the maintenance issue. Natural wood floors are beautiful, BUT they do require much more frequent maintenance. So, depending on the lifestyle of my clients, I ask them if they are willing to maintain these floors to keep them looking like they are intended to.

It's like selecting very light colored carpeting. Are you willing to spend the money on having it cleaned a minimum of once a year? Some people are and that works for them.

Bottom line...........ask yourself what the traffic usage is where you want wood flooring. Get comparisons of the cost of the natural and synthetic products like Pergo or Amitico you are considering, then make your decision. Remember, the cost of installation may be about the same and sometimes there is not a huge difference in the initial overall cost. The difference is in the life cost of maintenance.

Collections are Cool

2012-11-05T09:45:00.000-08:00

I had an enjoyable day last week visiting the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. My main reason for visiting was to view their collection of California Plein Air paintings, but two other visiting exhibits were equally wonderful. If you have the chance, take an afternoon and go see the Faberge jewelry and accessories created for the Russian Tsars. The other exhibit which was a real treat was Madeleine Albrights', former Secretary of State, pin collection. She was known for wearing a pin to represent the mood or conditions at the moment of her official visits with dignitaries.

People love to collect things. I have never been a collector of anything until a few years ago. I started collecting small boxes I can display throughout my home. It's fun because whenever I look at them, I'm reminded of past trips, museums or events I've attended. My only criteria is that they are small and unique. Collections can be display in creative ways and give a very personal touch to your interior.

What do you love? Think about collecting it - and then how to display it.

One of several trays of my boxes

Before and After Shots

2012-10-22T14:18:00.002-07:00

Here is a before and after shot of Master Bath from my latest project.

Changes we incorporated were:

Removing the existing bathtub, creating a large walk-in shower.
Selecting granite for counter & incorporating new back splash tile which continued in shower.
Selecting new floor and shower field tile.
New custom cabinets and hardware.
New frame less shower door.
Custom lighting.
Custom framed beveled mirror.

BEFORE

AFTER

Hope you like the reults - we did!

How Interior Designers Charge?

2012-10-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

I received many inquires on how I charge for my services. So, I thought I'd take the opportunity to explain how I charge - other design firms have similar or different methods of compensation.

I have spent hours of analyzing the most efficient way to use my time and to charge for my design services that benefit my clients and provide me fair compensation.

When I first talk to potential clients, they ask if I offer a free initial consultation. That depends. Most often I do not charge for the first meeting, as I am really interviewing them, accessing what they want and need, their time frame and budget. My potential clients are doing most of the talking, I'm doing most of the listening. Then, I write up a proposal, outlining in clear language what I will be doing for them and how I will be charging for my services. The proposal, or more commonly, a Letter of Agreement, requires their signature and a retainer before I start working on the design project. On the other hand, if someone wants specific design advise, for example, selecting finishes, colors or furnishings, I do charge an hourly fee.

I have experienced that clients hire interior designers for two main reasons, they have neither the time or expertise to accomplish their desires. In the beginning stages of a project, most of my time is spent designing and specifying products. As design decisions are made, I spent most of my time on "project management". In order to successfully complete a project there are innumerable resources and tasks to coordinate to get the job done. This phase of a project can take more time than one realizes. Sometimes this can be a frustrating process, but the entire project rests on the designer or their staff to see every detail is completed. Project Management, I feel, is one of the most important responsibilities I have as a professional designer.

Accessories Accessories !

2012-09-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

In my last blog I talked about important things to get a home ready for sale. One of the easiest things you can do is de-clutter, taking away minor tchotchkes that don't mean anything to a potential buyer.

Later today I am photographing my latest design project and one of the critical things I have to do is "stage" each shot / room. This means looking into the camera and placing each accessory in it's proper place to enhance the view of the space.

In staging homes, we also do this, but in another sense. Buyers should be able to walk through a home and be able to move around without being distracted by the current owners furnishings.
Show off your home - not your furnishings, especially those accessories or tchotchkes that are sentimental only to you!

At the other end of the spectrum, I had clients several years ago who spent a fair sum on remodeling and new furniture. They were very happy with the results, but lacked the forth sight to let me incorporate a few key accessories that would have enhanced their new remodel. When I say "key" I mean just that - a few important accessories that add that finishing touch, not distract attention from the whole house.

We are all different, some like less, some like more "stuff" around, but when it comes to resale, it is better to have a home under furnished and let potential buyers see the property, not the furnishings.

Tchotchkes that add interest to a simple mantel!

Getting Your House Ready for Sale

2012-09-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of talk about this subject in the last few years - as well as a cottage industry evolved. Real estate staging is here! As I am now in the group who is getting my home ready for the real estate market, I'll share some of the suggestions my realtor gave to me. The last one is one I had never thought about - but makes good sense.

Scrub every nook and cranny of your house. Houses that are stunningly clean and smell fresh SELL!
If you want the most bang for your buck, if you don't have a lot of time or money, have the house painted inside about a month before it goes on the market. Light colored, boring beige or cream, all the same color, unless you have a really good eye for color and can design something up to date, contemporary that will appeal to the "average" buyer.
Declutter. The house should be slightly UNDER furnished, so as the buyers walk through they get a feeling that it's easy to move around without bumping into things. This includes the garage!
The little things - fix them! It all costs a little but it doesn't give a buyer the impression that the house "needs work". A buyer will knock off $2000. in his mind for every $500. that actually needs spending.
Once you start preparing, stop thinking of it as YOUR house........start thinking about how to present it for sale. Most people get irritated at the inconvenience of preparing and maintain their house in selling condition...... and that COSTS THEM MONEY.

In my next blog I will elaborate on the declutter process and how to decide what accessories to keep out, and which ones to give or put away.

Choosing a Color Scheme

2012-08-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Many people find it difficult or intimidating to select a color scheme. One thing I tell my clients when they ask: "Can we do this "? My answer is usually yes, we won't be breaking any laws, but there are those things called the Principles and Elements of Design. Much of interior design, fine art, landscaping etc. are the result of the subjective preferences and choices we make.
In selecting colors and color schemes, most of us are leery of how to start. There are many methods and opinions, but here is one suggestion I have used.
Go to a paint store and collect the free fold outs that paint companies offer showing their colors in various schemes. Find one or two that appeal to you, and then modify it. For example, if some colors are too strong, take that one out and substitute it with something you can live with. Starting with these pre established schemes can get you started and give you ideas. This is by no means the only way, but I have used it when clients have no strong ideas or opinions in regards to colors. Of course, looking at interior pictures can also give you a feeling for what you like and don't like.
Remember that dark / strong / saturated colors usually advance - making a space seem smaller. Lighter / muted / pastel colors recede - making a space seem larger or longer.
There's been a trend in the last few years to use very strong colors on accent walls. Very dark colors are hard to cover and not good if you're selling your home.

Benjamin Moore Affinity Colors

salsa dancing
AF-280

citrine
AF-370

flora
AF-470

masada
AF-220

Four Hands

2012-08-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Four Hands is one of my favorite vendors with a huge inventory of some of the most unique quality home furnishings I have found. The Austin, Texas based company has only been in existence since 1996, but the evolution of the company has been staggering.

Their products range from new items to antiques found throughout Asia, Mexico, and Central America. Read the history of the company and you will be amazed.

As I've said before, knowing where to find exceptional quality and unique home furnishings is one of the most important and enjoyable things about being and interior designer.

Check out their website for a feast of products............. www.fourhands.com

Asian Red Chest wth Sculptor

I Love this Landscaping!

2012-08-06T09:57:00.001-07:00

We all know water is becoming a precious commodity. If you're in the desert you can see how they've been landscaping there for years. Shady Caynon in Irvine doesn't allow lawns in the front yards in some neighborhoods. So, succelents and cati are fast becoming the landscaping of choice.

Driving through a well established neighborhood in Costa Mesa recently, I saw an entire front yard beautifully landscaped with a wide variety of low and tall succelents and catus. They also made a sitting area with desert sand and gravel as the base for patio furniture instead of concrete - it was lovely!

Below are a few examples of how you can use water resistant plants to save on water and change the look of your garden. The other perk is that most of these plants don't require as much trimming and maintenance. Be creative and think about "desert" landscaping before you go to the nursery next time.

Patio Furniture within the Garden

Mix Colors and Textures of Succelents

Design Trends for 2013

2012-07-30T12:26:00.001-07:00

What's New for 2013?

Among the resources I use to stay on top of the latest trends in Design, is Dunn Edwards annual Specs + Spaces article. Today I'm sharing with you and edited version of their design trends for 2013. I'm not including the new colors trends due to time restraints. Following my blog is a link you can use for more in depth information on design trends and many great visuals of color examples.

The themes for the future are:

Re - Invent
Re - Newel
Re - Imagined
Re - Vival

RE-INVENT

The Inspiration: Inspired by the 19th century Industrial Age as well as sociological changes to the American landscape.

Design Check List

Metals that age gracefully will cover surfaces rather than just details
Rust, corrosion and copper are important materials and finishes
Molten metals with raw joints
Archaeological Chic
Extreme Salvage
Wild West Abode Chic

RE-NEWAL

The Inspiration: A world of blissful innocence not yet affected by global strife, focusing on a truthful and honest lifestyle, coupled with restrained luxury and a touch of glamour.

Design Check List

Textures mimic nature
Threads of color appear in fabric, wall covering and carpet
Thatched Roofs
Home Spas
Mirrors and Key
Plank siding and driftwood
Faded colors that are dilapidated and charming
Prairie planting
Rough Luxe

RE-IMAGINED

The Inspiration: Images of far off realities give us a desire to run away.

Design Check List

One World City
Edible looking colors (cantaloupe and bubble gum)
Pointillism, pixilation and cubism become design elements for walls
Fantasy and escapism
Sticker Art (for kids)

RE-VIVAL

The Inspiration: Re-birth of midcentury modernism in the Southwest. Resort lifestyle with a thrill of nostalgia and memories of travel and places.

Design Check List

Mid - Century motifs
Mid - Century reading
Hollywood lore
Resort motifs (logos from the past)

If you have further interest or want see the colors, visit:

www.specsspaces.com/article/simplyarenaissance2013colortrends

A Favorite Resource

2012-07-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Bungalow 5 is one of my favorite vendors. They have a unique collection of furniture, lighting, wall decor and accessories. Their furnishings are transitional, contemporary and many have an Asian influence. I'm including some examples of their products I think are special and fun!

Jacqui Tea Table

Calista Mirror

Costa Table Lamp

Lotus Vase

The New York based company is always adding pieces that are a joy to offer clients who like distinctive furnishings.

Emphasis

2012-07-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Another Principle of Design is "Emphasis". This goes along with my blog last week about including a special piece in your interiors that create "Contrast", i.e. you're creating "Emphasis". Emphasis is something that the eye is first drawn to. A simple example is a fireplace - this is structural emphasis.
Emphasis can also be achieved through color. Similar to Contrast, too much Emphasis causes confusion and the lack of Emphasis causes boredom.

Below are examples of spaces with and without any Emphasis. It is obvious the space with the fireplace and bright colored and bold patterned rug is the better design. The space where everything
is a neutral color lacks excitement.

Good Example of Emphasis

Poor Example of Emphasis

Choose your furnishings and accessories wisely, so what you have is exciting, combine things that normally would not be used together. That's what makes good design!

Somthing Special or Different

2012-07-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Ideally each room or space should have a unique piece of furniture, an accessory, lighting or artwork that stands out as special. These can be heirlooms, a piece bought on a trip, or something found or sought after to fulfill the Wow Factor.

I will be sharing in this and upcoming blogs companies I've discovered that offer such pieces. I like to find furnishings for my clients that when people walk into their rooms, they ask, "Wow -where did you find that?"

African Screen

The beautiful African screen above by Hoyos comes in a variety of wood stain finishes or can be customize stained to match your interior finishes. Just another example of a unique furnishings not found everyday. It's not trendy - it's timeless.

Principles & Elements of Design: Scale

2012-07-02T19:38:00.001-07:00

My last blog was about "Contrast" - very important!

Another critical principle of design is Scale. An easy example is: size of furniture to size of room or space. When talking about Scale - it always involves two things. In this case, furniture and a room size. Often we over crowd rooms with too much furniture, accessories etc. Good design results when everything is in Scale to each other. Another example is too tall or large of a lamp on a small table or visa versa.

Scale is also relevant in pattern. A very large pattern repeat is not suitable on a small piece of upholstery - you loose the pattern. Often times I see coffee tables that are not in scale with the sofa they are used with.

Doing a furniture plan can eliminate obvious mistakes, but an elevation for heights is usually necessary as well. There are no "rules" I strictly follow on Scale, usually my eye will tell me when something is in or out of Scale.

Contrast - an Important Principle of Design

2012-06-20T15:16:00.001-07:00

Contrast can be achieved in a number of ways:

Color: Light & Dark Values

Strong Color Values

Materials: Smooth & Rough Materials

Smooth & Rough Materials

Styles: Modern &Traditional

Contrast in Styles

Contrast is important because it gives attention to the details and beauty of each element. Too much contrast causes confusion and disharmony. Too little causes monotony. Selecting all samples of a project before making a final decision gives you the opportunity to be sure all your choices work well together.

Quick Blog Today

2010-04-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

Just did some preliminary real estate staging in Coto de Caza this morning.

Wrapping up loose ends today as I'm off to New York City tomorrow for fun and inspiration! Hoping to come back with new ideas and trends, espically if I can make it to MOMA - Museum of Modern Art to see the exhibition on Design and Architecture!

Follow Up - Staging for Resale

2010-03-29T19:51:00.000-07:00

Check out Leslie's video blog for further help on getting you home ready to sell.

AND DON'T FORGET..............................

Clean out that garage too - buyers like to look in there too!

Orange County Interior Designer Talks About Staging Homes for Resale

2010-03-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that everyone who sells their home doesn’t have it professionally staged for resale, espically in this difficult market. When I stage a home, I only use the buyer’s furniture and accessories. I almost never have to buy or rent anything to supplement the staging.

Staging takes only a few hours and is well worth the fee spent for faster sales and a higher sales price.

After consulting with several successful realtors regarding staging homes for resale, I think my colleague, Leslie Eskildsen said it best.

“I think what staging does is give the home the highest possible emotional appeal and therefore adds the WOW factor – which gets offers in faster and closer to the list price – may get you an extra 1 – 2% more that you might not have gotten otherwise.”

Check out Leslie’s video blog for further help in getting your house ready to sell.

Click on the link below.

http://www.leslieeskildsen.com/blog/7-tips-for-home-orange-countuy-home-sellers.html

Orange County Interior Designer Gives Tip for Selecting Interior Colors

2010-03-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

March 22, 2010

If you are trying to select a new color scheme, one company's line of paint I like is Benjamin Moore’s Affinity Collection. This color palette combines 144 colors that all coordinate with each other.

Whether you are looking for a neutral, monochromatic, achromatic, warm or cool color scheme, you can find it here. These colors are somewhat muted, but all offer a fresh contemporary style.

What is nice is by using the colors in this palette, you can have an entire office or space completely “coordinated”. Choosing paint colors is not always easy, as there are undertones in every color. There are only six true stand alone colors. Benjamin Moore has done a great job in producing their Affinity Collection.

If you need help in selecting colors, please call our office and an interior color consultant can help you.

Another tip: don’t let your painter be your paint consultant. They know the methods of applying paint – but let an expert interior color consultant help you select the colors!

What is a Certified Interior Designer?

2010-03-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

To the public we are decorators, in the industry we are designers, to the profession, we are "Certified Interior Designers" - what's the difference? A certified interior designer is to the design industry what a licensed architect is to their industry. A certified interior designer (CID) is someone who has the three "E's", Education, Experience and Examination.
To be certified, one has to have a minimum education of design courses, practical work experience and passed an examination of design problem solving, a knowledge of ethical business practices and have a good uncerstanding of building, fire, safety and ADA codes. Certified designers are required to take continuing education courses to maintain their certification. We are professionally responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. Due to the high standards of the profession, CID's charge between $100.00 and $200.00 per hour. Compensation for CID's vary and clients should discuss the terms in full before starting a project or making a decision to hire a designer.
Why should you hire a certified designer? When considering hiring a designer, for commercial or residential work, you are assuring yourself that your project will be excuted in a professional and ethical manner. Certified designers are, by California law, able to submit working drawings to a local building department for approval without the stamp of a licensed architect. Keep in mind, this can only be the case if the project does not involve the removal or replacement of load-bearing walls. In addition, every design project should commemce with a written contract or letter of agreement. This is for the protection of the consumer and the designer. This agreement should simply address the work to be done, and how the designer will be compensated.
Visit the California Council for Interior Design Certification website for more information.

Orange County Interior Designer Recommends Checking This Out!

2010-03-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Even in this recession, I find a lot of upgrading in homes and offices today, people want to love the environment where they live and work.

Being an Orange County interior designer for over 25 years, this is one of the best pieces of advice I can give my prospective and current clients. Before hiring any contracotr, go to the state of California's License Board's web site. Here is where you can check out the contractors you are considering hiring. You can check to see if they are licensed or not, or if their license is expired, and if there are any compliants filed against them.
This web site has over 60 licensing classifications. Go to http://www.cslb.ca.gov/ and click on the "Consumers" tab. In the upper left hand corner (this can change over time) look at the "Quicks Hits" areas and click on "Check a license on His Registration". This will take you to an area to input a license number. If you don't know a contractor's license number, look on the right hand side and there are links to check by their name or company name.
I also recommend you read the valuable information on how much money a consumer is required by law to put down as a deposit. There is also a lot of other good information provided on the site worth reading. You should also ask for insurance information from your contractor, as the information on this site may not be updated on a very frequent basis, but most likely it's your best resource.
If a contractor does not provide you with adequate insurance information or creditials, keep looking for another one. Today, with most ethical contractors trying to keep their businesses going, they should be happy to give you this information. Most people probably never think to ask, but just do it: you have the right and just getting a recommendation from someone, is not enough to ensure you will have a successful outcome on your project.
Please contact me if you have any questions or need any help in finding a good contractor. Good luck and do your homework!

Julie K. Paille
Certified Inteiror Designer # 2523
(949) 858-3611
julie@pailleinteriordesign.com

Welcome To The Official Orange County Interior Design Blog!

2010-02-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the official Paille Interior Design blog. This blog will be dedicated entirely to interior design in Orange County. Paille Interior Design has one goal which is to create aesthetically pleasing and functional environments within homes, professional establishments, and even physicians offices so that employees can be more productive and patients can feel welcome. These Orange County interior designers adhere to this philosophy regardless of the task at hand and go above and beyond for each and every client to ensure they're satisfied with their new interiors.

Paille Interior Design can assist just about anybody in need of interior design in Orange County. This includes homeowners, physicians, dentists and even owners of professional establishments. Regardless of who you might be or what type of Orange County interior design you might need Paille Interior Design has a service that can work for you.

Orange County Interior Design Services:

Orange County Home Design
Interior Office Design
Commercial Office Interior Design
Small Office Interior Design
Executive Office Interior Design
Doctors Office Interior Design
Paint Consultant
Custom Home Furnishings

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