Day 1 of 5: Designer Dialogue
In honor of PRB Interior Designs turning 5 (yay!) I will be sharing 5 things about my personal home that I frequently get questions about (yes, I really do), as well as, sharing what “real life” looks like for me in my home. Nothing is cleaned up or staged; this is truly how I live 24/7.
So, let’s jump right in with number 1! This is my home office, the most important room of the house. Nothing fancy, no designer furniture and honestly not even that great of a picture, but I predominantly work from home so this space gets used A LOT. It reflects who I am and how I like to work. It’s bright with tons of natural light; it has plenty of storage, space for me to spread out design projects and I have space to reflect on what I love and what I’ve accomplished when things get tough. As an added bonus, my little fur babies get to hang out with me — our cat tree is in the corner!
Currently I am set up with my mobile drafting table. Yes, I do still hand draw some things — perspectives mostly. But, typically you will catch me at my desk with my laptop working and staring out the window into our backyard… wishing I was back there with the fire pit going and a glass of wine in my hand, but that’s a story for another time. This room has everything that I need on a day to day basis: you can see my fabric books, next to that are memo samples, flooring samples, ceiling samples, lighting catalogs, manufacturer specifications, design magazines, tile pieces and stone fragments. Some other things you can’t see include all of our DIY needs and my crafting hobby supplies; that includes a rarely used sewing machine that was gifted to me by my in-laws many moons ago. It’s a personal goal of mine to become an expert seamstress. I’d love to be able to modify clothing, make pillows, reupholster furniture and make masks for those in need during this COVID-19 crisis.
Most people who come to my home think this room is messy and it truly is organized chaos. Also, to be completely honest my husband and I often use it as a “catch all space” for bills/ paperwork, non-profit clothing donations, and things to get rid of, but it’s still, honestly, one of my favorite places to be in my home. I am telling you this because it’s ok if your room isn’t picture perfect, as long as it works for you. I like to work, I like to create and this space brings that out in me.
However, with all that said, my biggest complaint is that stool! Ugh. It is the absolute WORST EVER! Ergonomics is key in having great working conditions and I am reminded every day how true that is. So because of that, it is a critical design component in all my projects. Also, after living with my office and within a business that is constantly changing there are a few other things that I would change as well. The first would be the closet that still holds clothes. I hate that there are clothes in my closet! I can’t wait until I’m able to utilize it for customized storage of material samples, rolls of fabric, or a display area. This is the first thing on my to-do list when I am ready to tackle this room, customize it to MY wants and needs; if I have to live here it needs to work for me. A quick tip to help in thinking through your project: design should be decisive while decorating can be developed. Altering my closet is a design decision, while changing my desk and storage (non-built-in features) are decorating choices. Both need to work in tandem. Both need to be thought through in different but coordinating ways.
The second thing I would change would probably be my desk. At the time it was a great buy and a good decision. It actually still is a good decision, but only when I’m standing up. That height is perfect for working while standing, which I do often, but it is not so perfect for sitting on the computer and working. A quick solution is for me to get a more comfortable counter height stool so I can have some kind of back support and cushion. A better solution would be for me to have an adjustable height desk since I work both standing and sitting.
All of that to say, I think there is beauty in discovering balance when starting your project. Deciphering what is currently working and understanding what needs you still have are critical in the beginning stages of the design process. Having a phased plan to redesign what irks you the most while making sure you’re taking workability into account and of course balancing all of it with your budget, time and mental capacity — don’t let your design project make you crazy.
That’s it for now, until next time, stay happy, helpful and healthy out there
