Renovation is such an exciting prospect with so many emotions.  Follow this upcoming blog series which touches on what you should expect during your renovation whether you hire an interior designer and complete the work yourself, or you hire a General Contractor.

When you finally decide to renovate, the excitement is high.  We prep our clients (all in fun) in helping them to know what to expect, by filling them in on what emotions they should prepare for.  If you have gone through a remodel, you know how it can wear on you.  Reaching out to your interior designer for the first time can be so intimidating but you, with some research, will find someone who is approachable and is able to translate your vision into a functional and beautiful space.  After developing plans, you are ready to go!  The General Contractor (GC) has your plans and is providing a bid to get the ball rolling.  You are trying to be patient waiting for the pricing, but it is taking so long.

Ouch, the bid came back.  To complete everything on your Wishlist it is going to cost more money.  Your options are to take some things (or rooms) off the list, do the project in phases or decide you are okay with the investment.  We try to prepare our clients during our initial phone call for what to expect.  We’ve been in the industry long enough to understand the average costs of doing certain kinds of renovations.  Our current labor shortage adds to the problem of things costing more than what you may expect.  We have found locally, to renovate a kitchen, which would include new, flooring, cabinets, lighting (possible plumbing/electrical relocation) begin in the 45k range and go up depending on size and material selections.  These are all things we cover in our two-hour consultation to help you create a budget that is feasible.  We don’t want you to have an ugly surprise after falling in love with your new design, only to find out it may be out of your budget or more than your willing to spend.

Okay, you have worked through and have an amazing design plan, found the perfect licensed GC, and all the contracts are signed.  Everyone is so nice and they know their stuff.  You feel so lucky to have found the best in the area, a real A Team.  A construction calendar has been created for you so you know the start date on what to expect when.  Depending on what your renovation entails, we and/or your contractor, might suggest ways to help simplify your life during construction.  If it is a complete home renovation, a space in the basement where you can cook, cleanup and bathe is very important.  For people who don’t like to live this way, a short term rental apartment or moving into a relative’s home might be a good solution.  Living in a construction site gets old…very fast.  These are all things that should be addressed with your GC prior to any demolition.

You begin this process with lots of energy and excitement.  Expecting that there will be hiccups and you will be frustrated and overwhelmed will help to prepare you for the reality of renovating.  Take heart, by the time you reach the end, you will have forgotten all of your frustrations!  Stay tuned for what happens during the nitty gritty part of renovations.

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While we have been planning for our new office renovation and trying to locate unique to the Inland Northwest items, we have come across some unique home décor and gift items that we know our clients would love.   Our newest find is an item that I knew we had to have.  Who wouldn’t love their own little personal fireplace to create some ambiance?  Perfect in time for our chillier weather.

For those of you who want to know how things work.  It uses rubbing alcohol and has an amazing flame.  It burns cleanly, so you can use it inside!

Last summer, during the burn restrictions, my son was very disappointed that we could not make smores.  When I saw this, I knew this could help avoid his disappointment.  I’m so looking forward to using this!  I can see us using this all year long.

Gotta have one?  We would love to get one in your hands.  There is limited stock and our vendor has them on backorder.  So, I’m not sure we will be getting any more in prior to Christmas.  You can find them in our shop here.  Better yet, if you are a local, we have free curbside pickup available.  Make sure to email us at info@509.design, so we can send you an invoice to avoid the shipping and we can arrange a pickup time.

Want to know what’s going on with us?  Check us out on Instagram.  In addition to sharing some amazing client’s projects and have started a new weekly series:  Design Tip Tuesday.  If you have any design dilemmas or questions feel free to post them on Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@509.design.

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Location: Spokane, Washington

Cost of project: $46k

Our goal was to take a previously dark, cramped, disconnected kitchen and transform the space to fit our client’s Mid Century home. Amidst a trend of white kitchens, we opted for stained wood cabinets that coordinated with all of the existing woodwork. 

A separating wall and awkward buffet niche were removed to enlarge and connect the kitchen to the dining and living.  The support beam was sistered in the ceiling to avoid dividing the space in half with an exposed beam. To conserve cost, a new cabinet layout added much needed storage space and maintained the sink and range location.

We converted the range wall into the kitchen’s focal point, introducing a costly mosaic accent tile into the backsplash. Adding to the focal point are floating wood shelves, custom milled for this project.  The shelves were installed over the windows, which allowed us to maximize our window space, flood the room with natural daylight, and provide a connection to the backyard.

In order to accommodate the client’s love for entertaining, a custom wine rack was created to provide storage and avoid sacrificing any of the needed cabinet space.  In this manner, the wine bottles became an art display.  Adjacent to the wine niche, a wipe board wall was created to act as this busy family’s command center.  It has also become a fun feature where guests share their thoughts.

The floating LVP floor allows the clients to refinish the existing wood should they decide to in the future. The floor provides an interesting contrast to the cabinets and coordinates with the backsplash.

A beautiful quartz countertop tied the whole room together, the creamy pattern coordinated with the backsplash and lightened and brightened the space.

Thank you for checking out our blog post! See something that inspires you? Let’s chat about how we can implement it in your own home.

The post Before & After Gorgeous Mid Century Kitchen Remodel appeared first on 509 Design.

In this newsletter you will find ways you can still move forward with redesigning/redecorating your home, as well as a list of questions you should ask yourself before proceeding.

We hope you enjoy this newsletter. Click on the image to view the flip-able booklet.

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An important section of this Questionnaire is a series of Lifestyle questions. These questions help our clients think beyond what they want their space to look like, but how the redesign will allow them to interact with friends and family as they live in their home.

How would YOU answer these questions?

• Describe how you live in your space. Does everything in the home have its place? Are you a lounger? A pack-rat? An entertainer? A chef?

• How much time, on average, does each member of your household spend in the home during the week and on weekends?

• Does your daily work invigorate you or deplete you of energy? When you return from work, are you looking for a place that will stimulate you or will relax you?

• Do you entertain often? (Do you currently have room for this, or do you need to reallocate space for this purpose?) If so, what do you need to make sure you include so that entertaining becomes easier? How many events do you normally host? In what rooms do you entertain?

• Where do you eat most of your meals?

• Is your lifestyle more causal or formal?

• Write a list of your family’s regular activities, hobbies or interests. Does Joey like to do puzzles in the living room, does Suzy like to paint in the kitchen, or do you sew? Do any of these activities need a dedicated space?

• Is there enough storage space in your home? If not, figure out where you can utilize space to function as storage. List the areas where you need to focus on storage.

Ultimately, we want to create a space that reflects your dynamic lifestyle! If you are interested in booking a consult and filling out the entire Questionnaire, email kendra@509.design. We can’t wait to work with you!

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The best inspiration I’ve found are by fellow designers, decorators, bloggers. We are all searching for the latest trend, most fashionable furniture, best hacks of 2019. It’s encouraging to find so many beautiful people pursuing the same dream as me. Although it can be hard not to get too competitive, I realize that we need to encourage each other, praising other bloggers for their incredible insight.

That being said, here are my Top 5 Favorite Bloggers:

• Ana White

Ana’s blog is geared toward three different audiences: Total Newbie (no experience with power tools or building), Home Builder (a few projects under your tool belt and plan on building projects for your personal use and occasionally for others) and Professional Builder (you are building for resale). Her tips and tricks are helpful no matter where you are on the spectrum!

• Not Just A Housewife

Stacy Risenmay shares her adventures of fixing up their tiny 1938 cottage. “Whether it is big or small, I think everyone should love their home and I don’t think it takes a lot of money to make a space your own.”

• A Bowl Full of Lemons

Toni’s blog is all about organization, whether it’s your home or your life. She shares helpful insights about budgeting, cleaning, preparing for emergencies, and purging.

• Miss Mustard Seed

Marian wished to connect with other DIY/Home bloggers. Some of the blog series cover making slipcovers, starting a creative business, painting furniture, before & after inspiration and decorating tips & tricks.

• Thistlewood Farms

Karianne blogs about her family’s farmhouse, which includes farm-life tips and tricks that are essential to their family’s dynamics.

Here’s to 2019 and every improvement you will make in your beautiful space!

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Christmas is in 20 short days! If you are like me, you’re scrambling to get last minute gifts for friends, family, and coworkers.  With so many to buy for, Christmas can get expensive! Which is why the 509 Design team has put together a list of 10 home decor gifts under $30. Happy Shopping!

#1: Hanging Note Roll $28

Some use chalkboard walls, but why not try this note roll instead? Leave notes for your loved ones, make a grocery list, or schedule your week.

#2: Recycled Glass Mini Votive $16

Stocking stuffers don’t always have to be candy! Buy these for the candle-lover in your life.

#3: Recycled Champagne Flute $28

These champagne flutes add an elegance to any home, party, or event. There is perfection in the imperfection of this recycled look.

#4: Artificial Succulent Stems $14 Per Set

Decorate your home with these adorable artificial succulents.

#5: Black Clip Board $10

Whether used as decoration or note taking, these clip boards are a useful gift!

#6: Cast Iron Dachshund Paper Towel Holder $26.00

The cutest gift for the most obsessed dog-lover.

#7: Cast Iron Rabbit Wall Hook $20.00 

Hang things stylishly with this rabbit wall hook.

#8: Grey Willow Lantern $28

For outdoor use, use an artificial candle; for indoor use, use a real one!

#9: Dark Brown Willow Lantern  $20

This lantern will bring rich tones to your stylish home.

#10: Grey Willow Lantern With Wire Frame $28

Who says lanterns can only be used at weddings?!

Check out the rest of our shop for more home decor.

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The Difference Between An Interior Designer and An Interior Decorator

A person might not understand the difference between an Interior Designer and an Interior Decorator. Likewise, you might wonder which you should hire for your design project, home renovation, home staging or spruce-up.

The two professions are vastly different, even though they are both involved in aspects of interior design. Which one you’ll want to employ…is up to you.

Interior Designer

An Interior Designer is sometimes required to have a license. Licensure may be state mandated, though this requirement varies by state. To achieve licensing, some states require the passage of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam (NCIDQ).

To qualify for the exams and to practice in a given state, a person often has to have a certificate or diploma from an accredited institution such as an art college or university and a combination of hours of experience. Many Interior Designers also complete internships in addition to schooling.

A degree in Interior Design involves much more than the creative aspects. An Interior Designer has to be capable of reading blueprints and other technical documents. A designer needs to learn drafting and blueprint programs such as AutoCAD, Revit or Sketchup. A designer is also well versed in the basic principles of architecture and needs to be able to plan a space. Interior Designers are involved from the programming phase and can be involved in the final furniture and accessory installation.

Interior Designers sometimes design custom furniture, help with construction coordination (depending on if your state requires a General Contractor’s License), project management, budgets and estimates and much more. Interior Designers are also employed far beyond the scope of merely the residential sector; designers also do commercial work for business and corporate spaces, health care, government and indeed any type of building that people will occupy.

Many designers specialize in one particular area. Some specialize in Residential Interior Design, others in health care, some in bathrooms and kitchens only and so on, and many niches of design have their own accredited programs and certifications were the designers are encouraged to attain.

Interior Decorator

An Interior Decorator, on the other hand, selects the furnishings and accessories of a room. This can involve many elements including paint, furniture selection, accessory selection and also custom drapery. Just like an Interior Designer, there is a creative element in that the aesthetics and functionality of a space have to be created out of thin air. Additionally, a Decorator needs to keep an eye on the function of a space.

The education, certification and technical knowledge required for the job, however, is often much less than what is required of an Interior Designer. That said, there is still a good deal of knowledge required for a competent Interior Decorator.

A person has to have a good understanding of colors, namely what colors contrast with each other and what effects they have on people that are living in the space. A Decorator should also have a thorough knowledge of furniture design; the lay person, after all, has no idea of the differences between furniture of Modern design and furniture from the Arts and Crafts school, or for that matter Japanese or Amish carpentry.

There are a number of schools that offer coursework in interior decoration, and some professional organizations that offer certifications. However, licensure is not a mandated requirement by state governments.

Interior decoration involves much more of the creative aspect of design, but still requires a great deal of knowledge.

Should I Hire An Interior Designer Or An Interior Decorator?

In truth, your specific needs may guide you toward choosing an Interior Designer or an Interior Decorator, as both have their place. There is also significant overlap between the professions; both are heavily involved in the creative aspect of designing a space. Given the expertise required for interior design, it could be said that most interior designers also decorate rooms, but interior decorators don’t engage in programming and space planning of a room that Interior Designers do.

Sometimes it comes down to this, do you click with your potential Interior Designer or Decorator?  You will be spending a considerable amount of time together planning your space.  You want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the person and feel like you can share what you want for your room.  Ultimately, this is what helps to achieve your dream space!

Wendy is a military spouse who has returned home to Spokane,  after exploring the world and experiencing varied clients that each new location brought.  She is very excited to grow business roots in the Inland Northwest while raising her children along with her husband in this beautiful part of the country.

Contact us today to schedule your initial design consultation.  We look forward to hearing about your project and sharing how we might help you.

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How To Hire An Interior Designer

Your home is a growing asset. It is also the first thing guests will see when they visit you. A well-managed home need not be big, it need only be well designed. Choosing the right interior designer is as simple as picking out drapery. While there are a ton of awesome designs out there, it helps if you know what you’re looking for.

Let’s go over some of the ways that an interior designer helps you.

Interior designers save you money.

Yes, you read that right. Your home is not just where you live, it’s an investment. A home naturally depreciates in value over time. Every home will need a face-lift. Even if you don’t plan on selling your home, it’s still an asset that should be making you money, not losing it.

If you go to the local home supply store and randomly shop around, you could be flushing thousands of dollars down the sink for almost no gain.

Added to the countless hours of moving furniture, painting walls, and installing fixtures only to find out a measurement was done incorrectly – this is a struggle every homeowner encounters at least once.

And the smart homeowner doesn’t need to repeat it.

Your real estate agent will thank you later.

No matter how big or small your home is, the use of that space will dictate how a potential buyer sees himself living in it. A grandiose home that fails to properly use its interior space is throwing it away.

An interior designer doesn’t just understand what works for you – she understands what works for the next buyer, too. According to Zillow, home-owners are quick to pick up on these ten things when seeing a home for the first time. Spoiler alert: all of them are turn-offs.

Proper interior design will set up your home to not only reflect your desires but easily transition to another home buyer as well.

Will Work within your budget.

When you decide to give your home a face-lift, you likely have a budget. How realistic is that budget? When you work with an interior designer, she’ll line up where you want to go with how much you have to get there.

Hiring an interior designer brings in a breath of fresh air. Don’t be surprised if this leads to a bit of correction on both sides. Everything you want may not be within budget but you may also find some surprising things that are possible within it.

Getting the right contractors on board for home remodeling projects.

If you don’t know the right electrician, plumber, carpenter and painter, you’re not alone. A lot of money gets spent by contractors and home services providers to get your hard-earned dollars. Hiring the right interior designer comes with a hidden benefit – they know who’s right for the job. Interior designers walk into thousands of home each year and dramatically alter the inside. This means they’re constantly bringing in contractors that they know can provide timely, professional services on a tight budget.

Wendy is a military spouse who has returned home after exploring the world and experiencing varied clients that each new location brought.  She is very excited to grow business roots in the Inland Northwest, while raising her children along with her husband in this beautiful part of the country.

Contact us today to schedule your initial design consultation.  We look forward to hearing about your project and sharing how we might help you.

The post How To Hire An Interior Designer appeared first on 509 Design.

I came across this fun quiz:  Color Test Challenge  Just be warned, your eyes will go a bit buggy looking at the colors!  If you don’t do well-don’t worry, with practice you can get better.  You have to look at lots of color and compare it to other colors to see the undertones and whether a color has gray or white added, how light or dark it is or if it is a pure color.

It’s always good to know where you stand.  If you know you have a challenge with certain hues, you can always show your selections with family or friends to make sure they really do coordinate!

You’ll have to forgive me for bragging a bit but, I was pleasantly surprised by my results…a perfect score!  (Maybe everyone does well, though!)  I always wonder how aging is going to alter how accurately I see color.  Did you know that as you age the lens of your eyes yellow?  If you were to look through a yellow film, you would see that any yellows become REALLY yellow.  The only color that is not affected is teal and it’s variations.  If you have ever wondered why little old ladies have blue hair, this is why!  You just don’t see color accurately as the eye ages.  Interesting, huh?

So, let me know in the comments below…how well do you see your colors?

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