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Hired an Interior Designer Hired an Interior Designer

08-18-2007 , 07:01 AM
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Are you sticking with the clearly Asian theme you have going on?

Nice place! He should be able to make it a showplace for you
Yes. I don't know what to really call it, but I'm calling it "a contemporary/asian blend". He seems excited, so I'm hopeful.
08-18-2007 , 07:02 AM
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fwiw I meant I don't particularly like that clock there
Ah, I misread.
08-18-2007 , 07:02 AM
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This thread is making me dread having money and trying to decorate my own space... attractively. I really like what you have going on right now and have no doubt in my mind I couldn't create anything 1/5th as nice. I guess an Interior Designer is my only recourse in the future.

And, am I the only one that thinks the ladder to nothing is hilarious?
Thanks for the compliment.
08-18-2007 , 07:04 AM
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God that staircase just brought up some bad memories from my floorcovering days. What a nightmare.

What's with the ladder by the fireplace? It looks like someone left it there and doesn't really belong.

Cool lookin' countertops and table.

Winerack in the living room doesn't seem to fit, imo.

I like the plants.

b
Need to put the wine somewhere. I will say nothing to him about the ladder and see if he passes the EDF test by removing it.
08-18-2007 , 10:57 AM
Im not sure what I would do, but it looks like you have too much stuff. I would like too more space.
08-18-2007 , 02:00 PM
Hm I asked my dad who was an interior designer but he's just in charge of all the designers now. The only advice he could come up for the general public is basically it all depends on through who and how you got your designer, and judging from what you've said so far in this thread i am guessing you did an excellent job so far. He said there are few vitals things that yourself has to answer because there is no way you can run a mock interview without knowing what your goals are: is it commercial or residential (res obv)? Revonation/remodel/design/build from the scratch? The designer sounds good for the job but maybe he's in the field of commercial and your place looks a tad crowded in the pix. As for the rate $125 is very standard and the fact you don't pay mark-up is phenomenal. (even tho LV is a very competitive market and some designers will go out of their ways to get your business) Can't wait to see how this turns out! When will master bedroom be done?
08-18-2007 , 02:27 PM
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When will master bedroom be done?

I'm assuming at the same time. When I get less lazy I'll post pics of it too.
08-18-2007 , 02:49 PM
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your place looks a tad crowded in the pix.
One of several reasons I'm bringing in an expert.

My original plan was to put a pool table in the open space in the living room, but once it became clear it would be far too cramped, I decided to call in the posse.
08-18-2007 , 03:32 PM
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Is there like some countertop at the top of the stairs?

Adorable dog.
Yes it is, and yes she is.
Clark,

I think DaveR was being diplomatic. He probably means, wtf is a kitchen cabinet doing at the top of the stairs? (Probably a wet or dry bar, but…anyhoo.)

He's right about the dog, too.

RJT
08-18-2007 , 03:40 PM
It's just linen storage.

The designer asked if I was ok with ripping it out and having him design something custom to fill that space. My response was "if the remaining budget allows after main floor and mater bedroom are done".
08-18-2007 , 04:47 PM
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It's just linen storage.

The designer asked if I was ok with ripping it out and having him design something custom to fill that space. My response was "if the remaining budget allows after main floor and mater bedroom are done".

If you end up ripping it out, think about buying a piece of furniture instead of an attached custom cabinet. An armoire type thing – it will probably cost the same or less and if you ever move you haven’t sunk $$ into something you no longer own.

Or even something like the piece in your foyer (actually that piece might look great up there (it seems a bit too large for the space it is in now – but it might be too big for the top of the stairs). Then hang a picture above it that is proportionately sized to it (i.e., not too small) – like the wall screen that is now to the right of your front door..
08-18-2007 , 07:44 PM
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I think DaveR was being diplomatic. He probably means, wtf is a kitchen cabinet doing at the top of the stairs? (Probably a wet or dry bar, but…anyhoo.)

Haha. Actually, those were exactly my thoughts.
08-19-2007 , 03:20 PM
am i the only one who looked at the pics and thought, Wtf do you need an interior designer for?
08-19-2007 , 07:00 PM
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At the risk of sounding gay, does anyone else think interior decorating sounds like an awesome job? I'm sure you gotta work you're way up, but playing with rich people's money and getting paid decently while doing it sounds like fun.
Rich trophy wives with nothing better to do are Interior Decorators. This guy is an Interior Designer. There is a vast canyon of difference between the two.
08-21-2007 , 01:46 AM
I'm surprised so many guys are interested in interior design. I always thought a guy's design was a black leather couch, coffee table for the feet, a big screen TV and a cooler for the beer. A mattress on the floor in the bedroom, and borrowed motel towels in the bathroom. A pot and a pan and a couple of place settings for that special night in the kitchen.
08-21-2007 , 02:05 AM
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I'm surprised so many guys are interested in interior design. I always thought a guy's design was a black leather couch, coffee table for the feet, a big screen TV and a cooler for the beer. A mattress on the floor in the bedroom, and borrowed motel towels in the bathroom. A pot and a pan and a couple of place settings for that special night in the kitchen.
It's all about feeling. I have a few friends with very affluent parents and going into their house is just pleasant. Creating the environment sucks but experiencing it i'm sure would be worth the price.
09-04-2007 , 11:08 AM
Today he is presenting his lower level floor plan. Hopefully will have positive results to report back this evening.
09-04-2007 , 11:09 PM
Original pics posted below for ease of reference.

I am getting more info emailed to me, including window treatment and furnishing information, though he did a great job of working with my existing furniture (with the intriguing idea of mixing and matching the family room mossy couches with the living room leather/cream couches), requiring only a few new pieces.

Below is his recommended floorplan and concept sketch. In general I think it's pretty awesome. For me, at least, it took some time to really consider the whole and feel for how it would all fit together.

His recommendation for flooring is that I get some dark bamboo wood floors, you can see the area rugs on the floorplan overhead. I concur that it's a good idea, but his estimate is expensive and I want to consider the idea of phasing it in at some later point. With them, I won't be able to do the master bedroom at this point, without them, we should be ok upstairs. Tough decision.

Note that the cabinet behind the dining table is custom to include two of the tall wine fridge I have pictured below, with some room in the middle for storage, display, glasses, etc. Left middle is a Viking fridge that Ed Miller bequeathed to me, right middle will be a glass front with storage behind.

Top right of the floorplan is a pinball machine, I'm going to change that to a dart board.

The big discussion amongst us right now is the paint recommendation with the horizontal stripes. I like, the girls don't. Thoughts appreciated on this item.

The window treatments look pretty nice, especially once I saw the catalog photos.

Estimated cost, excluding design fees, 23k without the wood floors and throw rugs, 31k with, though I think his estimate for paint costs at 5-7k may be slightly high.















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Here are some pics of the main floor. We're also going to do the master bedroom, but I was too lazy to walk upstairs and take pics.

The long narrow area is where I'd guess 75% of the work will be done.






















09-04-2007 , 11:20 PM
I think replacing that carpet with dark wood would be a massive improvement...bigger than anything else he is suggesting
09-04-2007 , 11:29 PM
I agree with zod, wood floors would be great. oddly enough, you seem to have the same kitchen faucet as me. does the end of yours pull out so you can use it as a sprayer?
09-04-2007 , 11:56 PM
I guess it a matter of personal preference, but I've never thought that hardwood floors were that big of a plus. In my opinion you could get a much better aesthetic effect using that money on furniture, art, window treatments, paint, etc. I also think being able to walk around barefoot on a nice comfy carpet gives a place a more homey (is that even a word?) feel.
09-05-2007 , 03:49 AM
Now the area with dining table/seating area/pinball machine (soon to be dart board) is the same room that currently has your t.v. in it, right? Isn't it awkward space planning to have the seating in the room facing for conversation and not to the t.v.? Granted it divides the space by function eating/sitting/play but it's not particularly practical. I think I would find turning my head to watch the t.v. VERY annoying.

I'm a big fan of wood floors and I don't much care for the stripes (although it's hard to really say without seeing the exact colors you've chosen--I don't care for it in his artistic rendering).

I'm surprised by the estimate for paint. It seems steep.

I'm most impressed with the custom cabinet for the wine coolers. That seems like a smart solution.
09-05-2007 , 11:06 AM
The striped walls are not good. i think you would like it for about a week then get super sick of it. You have such a verticle space, when flatten it out with horizontal wall paint?

Skip the wood floors and paint yourself. it's not that tough.
09-05-2007 , 11:32 AM
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I guess it a matter of personal preference, but I've never thought that hardwood floors were that big of a plus. In my opinion you could get a much better aesthetic effect using that money on furniture, art, window treatments, paint, etc. I also think being able to walk around barefoot on a nice comfy carpet gives a place a more homey (is that even a word?) feel.
I think carpets just scream 1970's. I'm always terrified to spill anything on them, and in general wood just looks a lot classier.
09-05-2007 , 12:23 PM
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I guess it a matter of personal preference, but I've never thought that hardwood floors were that big of a plus. In my opinion you could get a much better aesthetic effect using that money on furniture, art, window treatments, paint, etc. I also think being able to walk around barefoot on a nice comfy carpet gives a place a more homey (is that even a word?) feel.
I think carpets just scream 1970's. I'm always terrified to spill anything on them, and in general wood just looks a lot classier.
QFT - I'm always a bit surprised when people prefer wall-to-wall carpet to hardwood floors. Also, you can always throw down an area rug if you want.

If you have to go wall-to-wall carpeting I think berber is the only acceptable kind.

-Al

      
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