Designing Diva Interiors

1) You have been in the interior decorating field for eight years now. What has been your favorite design project?

It is a tie between the 2010 Symphony Orchestra Show House and a historical home in Heritage Hills (featured in June 2010 issue of Edmond Active Magazine). Both jobs qualify as favorites because both were new and challenging. The guest powder bath in the Show House was the first time I had ever used black on walls and metallic gold on a ceiling. It was exhilarating doing a room that pushed the envelope and gave people something unexpected. The residence in Heritage Hills was equally fun and challenging and I absolutely loved working with the home’s historic architecture. The family’s modern tastes combined with their open minds made for an adventure in design!

2) What made you decide to start your own interior decorating company at the age of 21?

My mom always wanted lovely things in her home but because of the costs associated with them she never really got what she wanted.  Your home should be a refuge you are happy to see at the end of the day and I just didn’t think you should have to spend thousands or even hundreds to get that feeling. My dad taught me that you can learn more by doing than by sitting in a classroom reading out of a text book so I studied under other local professionals while I obtained my C.I.D. and eventually started taking my own clients. I’ve worked very hard since that year to make sure I was providing everything I based my company on originally- professional interior decorating services for every style that didn’t break the bank.

3) Do you have any designs that you regret?

Well, since I missed out on the maroon era of the 90′s I would say most of my decorating mistakes have been isolated incidents that occurred in my own home. When I was still a student I was experimenting with metallic paint glazes and painted the walls of my bedroom royal blue with a silver metallic on top. It was disaster. I love metallic to this day but have learned from trial and error which base colors to avoid with them. Around that same time I also got the idea to create the ultimate sleeping experience by overhauling my bedding. Layers of satin may look luxurious but I can confidently say that I will never use them on a client’s bed. I slept horribly for months because all that satin made me slide all over the place while I snoozed and in the summer was warmer than I anticipated. Impractical was the best way to sum up that design decision.