Why Interior Designers are an Asset to Your Project
Hey Y’all- It has come to our attention recently, that not everyone in this beautiful world knows or understands what the benefits of hiring an interior designer are or how much time/money hiring one can actually save you. Well grab a notebook and take some notes- we’re about to demystify design & give you the full 411!
Before I start- I feel the need to mention that we can only speak for ourselves, as Omorfiá Designs, on what we offer to our own clients & how we run our business. Although we PRAY that you will never have issues with any company/designer that you choose- sometimes mismatches happen (so do yourself a favor and find the designer that offers what you need & is perfect for your project.) That being said: We are truly honored and grateful any time we are invited into a clients home and chosen to bring their dreams to life!
Out of all of the services we offer including: full service remodels, color consults, new construction, layout design and custom furnishings/window treatments- there is one that stands out above the rest. I believe it is one of the most important and valuable resources we offer... our in-home 2 hour/$99 consultation. We use this “Discovery Session” to gain inspiration, make sure we are understanding your vision and to get your project started off on the right track. As your designer we are part creator, part project manager & part therapist😛! We strive to be as up front as possible and we operate with a CLEAR IS KIND standard (shoutout to Brene’ Brown) so we encourage you to ask questions, get to know your designer and really feel comfortable with your decision to bring us into your life/project.
What you should expect from Omorfiá & any interior designer, you decide to hire for your projects.
Saves Money/Budget- decreases margin of error & avoid costly mistakes “measure twice, order once.” be clear and concise about wants/needs/budget. stops impulse buys. budget hacks- similar look in range of prices. know when to invest and when to save. help with bidding and negotiations between contractors/architects & tradespeople. average “trade pricing” discounts- save roughly 10% going through your designer (ex: a $3,000 bill BUT 10% savings on your $30,000 furniture/furnishings bill = $3,000) designers usually pay for themselves in savings, time & returns!
Save Time/Planning- use time/effort to accumulate good resources (no research time for you.) time tested process, order is key (tried and true method to guide project & stay on track.) simplify your process of making decisions by narrowing down options to their 3-4 best choices (less overwhelming.) anticipate obstacles & plan ahead to avoid them. constantly adjusting schedules and coordinating contractors, orders, installs & client deadlines. project management is time consuming- make an efficient process to achieve your desired outcome & save your sanity.
Professional/Trained Eye- acute attention to detail. immediate consult advantage. keen knowledgeable eye (lighting, furnishings, scale, placement, form/function/color.) aware of space requirements, building codes, inspection regulation. know when to stop adding creative features. warn of potential issues before work begins & creatively find solutions. see potential/how to get the most out of your home (repurpose/reupholster.) make spaces unique, functional and beautiful. total design concept awareness (layout, furnishings, color, construction, plumbing, etc.)
Liaison- project management. know how to speak many “languages” to bridge the gap between client and architects, contractors & tradespeople - stops design miscommunications. key elements like lighting/furnishing/plumbing/electric are addressed before construction. explain your vision to tradespeople and suppliers with detailed ideas, drawings, documents, selections & follow ups. coordinate ordering/delivery & tradespeople/installers with your personal schedule. on site for measurements, assessments and installation. superior communication is key.
Availability of Resources/Contacts- gain access to exclusive products not available to public (connections, resources, general merchandise.) valuable access to showrooms, discounts & knowledge only designers can get. have and use the best design tools (software, 3D visualizations, color samples/swatches, custom materials.) industry contacts/recommendations are invaluable & save time/headaches trying to identify your own reliable resources. procurement of materials/supplies (place/track orders, assess lead times, back orders.)
“Wow” Factor/Visual Storyteller- tell your personal visual story. take risks & “think outside the box.” amazing, homey/livable environment mixed with dazzling, show stopping moments. create room by room statement guides & know where to add elements of drama. enhances your space/quality of life as an investment to your enjoyment. makes a house a home. collected sensibility, remaining personal/unique & true to you. visit site after project completion/finish (ooh & ahh! point out special features, warranties, care instructions, ensure client satisfaction.)
Home Resale- adds to market value/boosts your listing. increase showings/offers & exponentially decreases time on the market. real estate investments= most expensive but increases resale buyer appeal/value of home. demand increases, along with the number of potential buyers. visually pleasing, thoughtfully designed, well balanced aesthetic/function & each individual item is thoughtfully considered with how it fits together as a whole. timeless concepts fair better than specific/stylized trends. cohesive & move in ready vs. potential significant updates.
Mood board created by designer Ashley Dupert; Sioux Falls, SD
What to expect when you schedule OUR 2 hour/$99 consultation. Whether we’re helping you repaint a room, makeover your kitchen or convert a spare bedroom into a MEGA CLOSET (Hint: One of our favorite clients!) we start with a personal home tour. You show us first hand, the problem areas & discuss what’s working/not working anymore. Together we discuss how you want your home to feel, your favorite looks/trends/colors/styles and any hobbies/collections that you want to showcase. We determine your priorities & expectations and how those needs/wants fit into your lifestyle. Then we review all of your inspiration- Yes, finally putting all those Pinterest Boards to good use!! Then we will start to narrow down what you’d like to start addressing based on your budget range/desired time frame. To finish out our time at your home- we will talk overall space plan, explain the next steps to get started, discuss how we work/answer any questions and start the conceptual process.
Now that you know what to expect from the Omorfiá designers and the amazing benefits that you receive from bringing a designer onto your project- the Proof Is In The Puddin’!
Call us today (605)223-0193 or click HERE to set up a consultation, to let us breathe life into your next project.
Things to Consider Before Starting a Remodel Job
Are you looking to update your home? Have you been considering a remodel job but aren’t sure where to start? Remodeling your home is a wonderful way to refresh your home, bring old trends up to date, and sometimes even repair or upgrade certain areas.
Are you looking to update your home? Have you been considering a remodel job but aren’t sure where to start? Remodeling your home is a wonderful way to refresh your home, bring old trends up to date, and sometimes even repair or upgrade certain areas.
While a remodel job will give your home with a new look, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed about the process itself. Omorfia Designs can help you evaluate all the steps and find what is right for you.
Deciding to renovate your home can be a big step, but with proper planning and consideration, you can help avoid many of the inconveniences that sometimes go hand in hand with a remodel job.
Your Time Frame
It is essential to consider the remodel time frame before beginning this project. You will want to avoid any big family events, or maybe even think about the weather during the particular season you want to start.
Assessing the length of time the remodel will take is also important so you can evaluate how long you might be without certain areas of your home. If you are remodeling your kitchen, for instance, you will need to think about how long you may be eating out, or ordering takeout.
Avoiding holidays, vacations, or other key events, as well as considering how long the remodel job can take is essential to planning your project. Go ahead, sit down with a calendar and think about what will work best for your household. Planning the right time and accounting for the amount of time you’ll be working with a remodel job will help to avoid stress as the process unfolds.
Your Budget
Your budget might be the least fun thing to consider when planning to remodel your home, but it is one of the most important. It is essential to be realistic when preparing your budget. Getting halfway through a remodel job and finding out you are already at the end of your budget can be discouraging and stressful.
With sufficient planning and budgeting, you can make sure you account for almost everything, and then leave a cushion for some of the unknown items that could come up. If you plan to budget for a little extra, running into any problems or changes won’t be catastrophic, and you will be ready.
Aside from materials and labor, you should also account for some of the inconveniences of a remodel job, such as being without a kitchen and having to eat out or replacing items that could become damaged.
Clear Out the Clutter
Cleaning and organizing can help prepare your home for a remodel job. You will need a blank canvas to work with and will require many of your items packed away, as well as furniture, moved out.
Prepping your home for remodeling is a great time to declutter and organize areas in your home that you’ve been meaning to get to. Removing unwanted items, trading outdated decor for more current pieces, and cleaning, in general, will prepare you for this endeavor. Ensure you have space to move your furniture and belongings during the remodel.
Keep Your Family Safe
Do you have pets or kids? If so, it will be essential to make sure that the conditions of your home remain safe. Baby gates may need to be utilized to keep small children and pets out of construction areas, and debris will need to be cleaned up regularly.
If the living areas that kids and pets frequently spend time in are no longer available to them, you will need to make sure you have another safe and livable area for them during the remodeling time.
Make Your Dream a Reality
If you are willing to take the time and money to remodel your home, you will want to make sure the result is exactly what you’ve dreamed. Make sure you spend plenty of time listing and planning your dreams and expectations.
Draw pictures, list your ideas and develop a clear concept of how you want the result to end up. Details and planning will help you make your dream become a reality, and will make achieving that dream a lot easier.
Don’t Forget The Permits
Your county will likely require the necessary permits and fees before you can begin your remodel job if you are creating an addition to your home. If you are going beyond a simple remodel in your home and adding living space, you will need to make sure you check with your county and have everything approved.
Don’t be caught off guard and plan to obtain the required permits before you start your remodel job. Getting this vital step out of the way will help to ensure everything is done correctly and up to code.
Choose the Contractor That’s Right For You
You will want to decide if you are going to tackle your remodel job on your own or hire a contractor. While a DIY remodel might save money, a contractor can save you time, and potentially a headache. A contractor can ensure everything is done right and can likely accomplish the job on a shorter time frame.
Be sure to find the contractor that’s right for you by looking over client reviews and consulting with the contractor. You will want to be sure you’re confident in the contractor’s abilities and work ethic.
Omorfia Designs can recommend licensed and bonded contractors that they regularly work with and can provide you with a recommendation for you. Feel free to ask them about a contractor that would be right for you.
Focus on Interior Styling
Once the construction part of your remodel job is finished, you’ll be able to enjoy the fun part. Working with Omorfia Designs, you’ll be able to establish the interior design aesthetic you’ve been looking for.
Their team of professionals can help put the finishing touches on your newly renovated home with updated trends, style, and expertise. Interior styling of your remodeled space is the much-awaited result, and usually the most enjoyable part of a remodel.
Enjoy The Process
In the end, it’s important not just to survive the remodel process but to embrace and enjoy it. With planning, lists, and some research, you can make your remodel job easier and even enjoyable.
Let Omorfia Designs help get you started with a free 30-minute consult. Relying on experts for your remodel job will help take the guesswork and stress out of the process, leaving you free to enjoy the new look of your home.
Popular Kitchen Remodel Ideas
Your kitchen is the heart of your home. You spend hours there every day, so you want it to feel bright, inviting, and comfortable. And if you do any entertaining, your kitchen is on display for guests to see.
Your kitchen is the heart of your home. You spend hours there every day, so you want it to feel bright, inviting, and comfortable. And if you do any entertaining, your kitchen is on display for guests to see.
Updating a kitchen can make the space more your style, more useful, and something you want to show off. It can also increase the value of your home. Kitchen remodeling is one of the most popular interior design projects we help our clients with.
A full kitchen remodel averages $21,751, with a range of between $12,000 and $33,000. But kitchen remodeling doesn’t have to be a $30,000, month-long project. Omorfia designers can also help you with some smaller-scale remodels that will pack a punch without breaking your budget.
Here are some kitchen remodeling ideas that can be done alone, or in combination, to upgrade your space. Let us know if any of these sound interesting, and we’ll help you get your kitchen spiffy in a jiffy.
Light Up Your Life with New Kitchen Fixtures
Is your kitchen saddled with a white square on the ceiling that looks like a piece of gum? How about one of those long rectangular fluorescent lights like they have at the dentist? Maybe your current fixture screams “That 70’s Show.” One of the quickest and most effective kitchen remodel ideas is to change out your lighting.
Without much cost or intrusion into your kitchen, you can upgrade your lighting to get a lot of bang for your buck. Adding some spotlighting, track lighting, under-cabinet lighting, pendants, or a central fixture that draws your eye will make your kitchen bright and stylish.
One of our consultants can help you navigate the lighting world and ensure your choices are affordable, durable, and will not overload your circuits. We can also help you add recessed lighting or task lighting to make your kitchen more usable.
Treat Your Windows to a New Look
New blinds, curtains, or a valance will add color and visual interest to your kitchen window and spruce up your kitchen. It’s an opportunity to coordinate with other color choices and pull the room together for a classy look.
Our designers will help you make choices between plantation blinds, Roman shades, natural woods or bamboo, cordless cellular shades, or solar shades. We can help with fabric choices for valances and coordinate towels, placemats, and other fabric accents for eye-catching flair.
Make a Splash with a New Backsplash
A stylish new backsplash behind your stove and countertops will update any kitchen and provide a focal point. Backsplashes also make cleaning easier, as they can be wiped down and often don’t show dirt.
Backsplashes are a great way to play with color and make a visual point in an otherwise neutral kitchen. You don’t have to install the backsplash throughout the kitchen. You can make an accent wall by only putting it behind your stove, for example, or use a different pattern there and a more uniform look elsewhere.
Replacing your oven hood is a good complementary project to adding a backsplash and can also make a huge change in your kitchen. Removing the under-cabinet oven hood that is in most kitchens and replacing it with a ceiling or wall-mounted stainless steel hood will open more wall behind the hood for a beautiful backsplash.
Installing a backsplash is also a good time to consider adding any wall outlets to your kitchen that you wish you had. Many older kitchens suffer from a lack of outlets behind the counter for small appliances such as toaster ovens and Instapots. Add these outlets now, before you put tile on the wall.
Wash that Old Sink Right Out of Your Kitchen
A new sink and an upgraded faucet will make your existing kitchen more useful and beautiful. Since you aren’t tearing out your cabinets or appliances, you’ll be restricted to roughly the overall size of your current sink, but there are big changes you can make even so.
Get rid of your standard, shallow stainless sink and replace it with a double-basin sink of various depths and duties, or a farmhouse sink. Choose among composite sinks, stainless, granite, or cast-iron. Improve the functionality of your sink with features such as built-in drainboards and vegetable sinks.
Depending on your needs, faucets with built-in sprayers, or that turn on with the back of a hand can help you be more efficient in the kitchen. A high-neck faucet and a deeper sink will allow you to fill tall pitchers and buckets, for example.
Changing your sink and faucet is also a time to consider adding a water filtration system, a garbage disposal, or other upgrades. Let our designers help you make the most of this kitchen remodeling choice.
New Flooring Makes a Huge Difference
If your kitchen is stuck in a previous decade with its linoleum floor or saddled with the design choice of a previous owner that isn’t your style, upgrading the flooring can be a great choice.
There are many options for a great kitchen floor that will suit your needs and budget. Our designers can help you understand the differences and select the right one.
Ceramic tile is a classic material that is durable and offers a lot of variety and style. Wood flooring can be great, especially if you’re extending a floor from an adjacent living or dining room. Laminate flooring is durable and cleans up easily if you have a family that makes kitchen messes. Cork flooring is comfortable to stand on and can relieve joint pain if you’re on your feet in the kitchen often.
There are also sustainable choices such as bamboo, and the new vinyls are much classier and more diverse than in previous years. Often you can have a vinyl floor that looks like wood or tile, saving you a bundle in materials costs but offering a luxurious look.
A kitchen floor remodel can usually be done in a day or two without requiring you to take everything out of your cabinets.
Other Ideas for Partial Kitchen Remodels
Remove cabinets and add shelving or pot racks instead
Remove cabinet doors and use open shelving for a brighter look and to show off pretty dishes or stemware.
Upgrade your countertops
Repaint your current cabinets and install updated hardware
Add an island
Update your appliances
Whether you’re looking for a complete kitchen redesign for better flow and use of space or a more modest kitchen remodel, we can help you go from ideas to reality. Contact us for a free 30-minute consultation and let us help you make your kitchen the place you want to be.
Easy & Fun Bathroom Makeover Tips
Are you looking to bring new life to your bathroom space? Here are some fun and easy tips on making over your bathroom.
Are you looking to bring new life to your bathroom space? Here are some fun and easy tips on making over your bathroom.
Have A Plan and Stick to It!
It’s important before beginning your bathroom makeover to have a plan in place. Whether you’re just freshening things up or doing a complete remodel, it’s essential to know how much space you have and what you’re willing to spend.
If you’re adding a vanity or tiling the floor, you need to be sure that what you buy fits in your bathroom. Better Homes & Gardens suggest you get a copy of your home’s blueprints to know your bathroom dimensions and the placement of plumbing and electrical.
Be sure to have a good idea of what you are willing to spend. To help stick to your budget, it is good to know exactly what you want to do from start to finish. Making adjustments to tile selections, faucet choice or even paint colors can change your final price tag significantly.
A bathroom makeover sounds like a small project, but it can turn into a headache. Having the right partner to help you navigate the planning process can help take the stress out of your project.
At Omorfia Designs Inc., we listen to what you want, and we help you put those ideas into a plan, and make your space beautiful.
Paint
Painting is a small investment and a great way to transform your bathroom. Because most bathrooms are small, it’s best to avoid dark colors that will only make it feel smaller. Light or muted colors and bold patterns do well to makeover your bathroom walls.
Be sure that you take moisture into consideration when purchasing paint. Many paint and hardware stores have bathroom-specific paint readily available.
Most of us have some experience painting walls somewhere in our house. Painting the bathroom, however, takes a bit more preparation than most rooms. To avoid bumpy textures and paint not sticking to the walls, The Spruce suggests you scrub down your bathroom walls to rid them of soap scum and other substances.
Easy Window Treatments
If you have the natural light of a window or two in your bathroom, there are lots of ways you can dress up those windows that also help to control the light they offer.
Roman shades are yet another way to add color and pattern to your space. They also soften the light coming from your window, giving a much more ambient feel.
Shutters, whether decorative or functional, work well in bathrooms to help accent your windows. Be sure the wood finish or shutter color you choose matches any trim in your bathroom.
Drapes, cafe curtains, balloon curtains, and valances can help you highlight windows and add privacy to more formal designs. White is the most popular color for bathroom curtains, giving a bright and airy look, but you can also add pops of color or pattern with the materials you choose.
Fixtures
Choosing faucets and shower heads aren’t the most fun jobs, but deciding on stainless steel versus copper makes a difference when you look at your bathroom. It’s also good to consider low-flow faucets, shower heads, and toilets to help conserve water and keep your water bill low.
Lighting in a bathroom is very important. Some bathrooms have little to no natural light available. Adding sconces on either side of or near mirrors can maximize the light they project and illuminate countertops. Pendant lights can add a second layer of lighting and work well in bathrooms with high ceilings or hung above freestanding tubs.
Update Your Vanity
Another great bathroom makeover element is the vanity. Finding the perfect style, height, and details help to bring the room together.
Better Homes & Gardens has some ideas on how you can update your existing vanity. You can paint it, stain it, or shabby-chic it with a distressed look. A fresh coat of paint in a shade that complements your color scheme can bring new life to your vanity. Add new hardware or use decorative papers on the cabinet doors to bring texture and depth.
If you’re not keen on the stock vanities available, there are lots of ways to create your own with found or purchased furniture. Get a dresser, desk, or media cabinet that has the right dimensions for your space and can accommodate a sink and plumbing. Be sure to think about the height of the furniture for washing hands and doing your morning hygiene routine
Time to Tile
Whether you do it yourself or call the professionals for help, installing new tile helps bring texture, and sometimes color, to your bathroom. There are a wide variety of tile styles and materials available now from classic ceramic tiles to floor tiles that mimic wood flooring. Whatever you choose, be sure that you know how much you need of it so that you don’t run into unforeseen costs during your project.
Adding tile to walls, floors, and showers or tubs gets expensive. To save time and money, Money Crashers advises you to add a feature to one wall or a strip of decorative tiles to break up your wall space. This is a great way to add a pop of color without breaking the bank.
If you opt to add a large amount of tile or no tile at all, be sure to take the time to clean the grout of any existing tile. There’s nothing drabber in a bathroom than grimy grout. The same goes for redoing your caulking. It’s a simple and effective way to freshen up your bathroom at very little cost.
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by all the options out there or you don’t know where to start, we’re here for you! At Omorfia Designs Inc. we bring ten years of design experience, so we have the knowledge and skills to help you from the planning process right through to completion.
If you just need a bit of guidance as you begin your project, give us a call, the first 30 minutes are FREE. We also have a 90-minute personal design consultation for just $99 for those who want hands-on help. We look forward to working with you as you make your bathroom space beautiful.