3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me why they should hire an interior designer when they could just do their own decorating. After all, there’s a billion-dollar industry targeting those weekend warriors and aspiring Do-it-Yourselfers to do just that. I actually love to answer this question, which is a good thing- because I encounter it a lot!

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Maddie Landers
Do I need permits for my remodel?

Two questions we get asked all the time from folks about to embark on a home remodel are: “Do I need permits?” followed by “Can you help us with that?”

Let’s see if we can shed some light on what you might be facing when it comes to permits, covering the nuts and bolts of whether or not you might need permits and exploring who actually submits the plans to the City and pulls the permits. Spoiler: Nope, it’s not us and it’s probably not your architect. It *might* be you, but *hopefully* it’s your contractor!

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Maddie Landers
Multifunctional Living Spaces: How to Get the Latest in Indoor & Outdoor Design

Many things have changed over the last couple years, but one thing is certain.. Home has become much MORE than just the place you relax in after work, come back to after school or return to after vacation. For many of us it has become the place in which we now work, go to school and look to for our vacations (aka “staycation”). It is also now more-than-ever the place in which we seek sanctuary from the world and take a pause from world events. A productive “safe-space” that, according to most home builders and realtors, will remain so for the foreseeable future.

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Maddie Landers
Insider Tips: What to Look For in Quality Sofas & Chairs

Sofas and chairs are what I like to call “high-ticket” items. They’re not cheap, and there’s a good reason for that. Unlike an end table or even a statement chandelier, sofas and chairs must stand up to daily use. They carry a “load” (haha), endure long-term wear and tear, and may need to stand up to kids, grandkids, pets, or a weekly stream of guests you love to host.

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Maddie Landers
KICKING HOME ENTERTAINMENT UP A FEW NOTCHES

Remember when “home entertainment” consisted of a wall-mounted TV in the family room with a few surround-sound speakers? Or a pool table paired with a small bar in the basement? Or maybe a video game pit with some oversized pillows and a TV? Well, it’s time to kick home entertainment up a few notches.

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Maddie Landers
How to Make Your Home Feel Like You’re on Vacation

Spring break may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the benefits of vacation life when you’re at home. There are plenty of design tips and tricks that will help you create a “vacation getaway” in the comfort of your own home. From “living” wallpaper to a spa-like bathroom, as well as soothing seaside color palettes and textures.

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The IDS list
Paper + Pigment: Why We Have Color Issues

In his influential 1963 book Interaction of Color, artist, art theorist, and educator Josef Albers described the fickle qualities of color, including color relativity. For a perfect demonstration of this phenomenon, watch this mesmerizing video from Germany! Or check out the following example from Albers’ book. You’ll quickly understand why we have color issues.

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The IDS list
How to Design a Soul-Nourishing Workspace at Home

With so many of us working from home, practicing isolation and social-distancing, which is critical to stemming the spread of COVID-19, our need for soul-nourishing at-home workspaces has never been greater. Our physical environments have a huge subconscious impact on how efficiently, and happily, we work – which, in turn, can dramatically affect the quality of our output.

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The IDS list
Why Your Home Should Feel Like a Hug

Hello Dear Reader. I have been thinking a lot about the fact that I can’t hug people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is hard for me because I am Italian and hence affectionate and hence a hugger! Hugging is one of the most underrated and powerful things you can do to make the world just a little bit better. That is why my Mom, God rest her, always told me to give away hugs freely and generously. And I do. Or I did. Until March when the hug factory closed its doors.

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The IDS list
Top Designing Styles and You

Design styles, where to start and where to end? Journey deep into Instagram, Houzz, or Pinterest and many of us come up for air wondering how to articulate our style. As an experienced Dallas interior designer, I have seen several styles come and go and each one has its qualities, quirks, and irks.

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The IDS list
Containing Christmas

If you’re reading this, you probably appreciate shows like the Home Edit and Tidying Up. I thrive on systems to keep my interior design business running smoothly — as it turns out, I have some pretty methodical systems for managing Christmas too. If you try any of these tips, I promise your 2021 self will thank you.

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The IDS list
Fifty Shades of Purple

Purple has been getting a lot of attention lately from the Interior Design world. (And no… I’m not talking about Purple, the company, that’s offering bedding, pillows and linens.) I’m talking about PURPLE, the color.

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The IDS list
Kids Workspaces & Distance Learning Essentials

No matter how your kids are going back to school this fall, they’re going to need their own designated workspace at home. Whether your kids have a corner in your office, a seat at the dining room table, or their own dedicated nook – a kid’s workspace is going to be a must for surviving this school year! To help you get through the semester, we’ve gathered some of our favorite A+ kid’s workspaces to inspire, and we’ve curated a list of the best distance learning essentials to help you transform your space at home.

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