500 Interior Design Resources To Save You Time & Money On Your Next Project

Image source: Laurel Bern's Rolodex

I know you all love to get the inside scoop. I know you all want to know where designers shop, and what discounts designers get.

And you want to get it all for yourselves, too.

If that's what you're looking for, you are going to want Laurel Bern's Rolodex. I've reviewed her list and it is quite comprehensive. If you're a new designer, it would be especially helpful to have as a way to get to know who to work with.

As a designer, I was a bit nervous about linking here, as I sell product and many of these are my sources. However, this list doesn't incorporate the expertise or the coordination and handling by the designer. These are sources, manufacturers, and vendors. If you want to reach out to them, order, and go through the absolute headache of dealing with the whole process...I completely welcome you to do that. 

 

Personally, I love working with local sources and going custom as much as possible. 

Not only are processes, deliveries, lead times, etc. better and more closely controlled, but you can really get more bang for your buck. I have custom upholsterers that can build anything we design, usually at very competitive prices. (Notice I didn't say cheap, but...competitive. They are competitive for the quality that they build.) I have cabinet makers, faux finishers, workrooms, local dealers and stores that I love to work with, and with whom I have close relationships. 

Recently I worked on a home where we purchased some items through local sources and some through some of the companies on this list. All the locally made products have been delivered and installed now. The rest is still to come in. ;-) 

 

There are certain situations where I encourage my clients to purchase on their own through vendors they can find themselves. And I must say... 

When clients purchase on their own, it's totally their purchase. I am not involved or responsible in any way.

When it's a one-off purchase and they are not purchasing anything else through my studio - Online retailers often offer free, or lower cost, shipping than I can get. I also have to have furniture shipped to a warehouse to receive and then deliver to my client. So, that additional shipping, handling, and delivery charge puts the pricing way above what an online retailer can offer. If that client is doing multiple items, then the whole process becomes more worthwhile, as I am doing the coordination, ordering, taking responsibility, etc., and the delivery and installation costs can be spread amongst the number of items. If there's only one or two items, then working through my studio on purchases might not be the best for any of us.

If clients are only paying for design services, not specification - If clients tell me up front that they want to purchase on their own (and that also affects the desirability of the project for me), then we would select items from sources that they can find themselves. Certainly, this Laurel's Rolodex would be great for someone wanting to DIY their own purchasing.

Random follow up purchasing - Sometimes we have clients we've worked with and most of the work is done; and there are just a few more items the client has come back with needing. In that case, if it's not custom and local, then we would perhaps provide links to items online where a client can get the products themselves. We want to be involved in the design process and selections, but if it's just a few items and they are fine purchasing on their own, then they are absolutely welcome to.

When I'm working with my Designed-in-a-Click customers - This is a quick, Q&A service done by email, designed to help you over a design hurdle you may have. I occasionally recommend an item or two and send a few links for ideas. Certainly, one of these customers would enjoy this Rolodex.

Want a little more info on how designer discounts work? 

You might want to check out these popular articles that I wrote over two years ago that still get lots of traffic today:

Need help deciding when to hire a designer and when you should go it alone? 

I've got the answer here:

And here are a few more articles that lend insight into how designers get product to clients and how things can sometimes go wrong. 

That's why designers have to mark products up when they assume the responsibility for the ordering.  :-/

Btw...

This is not a sponsored post. I'm not earning any money by promoting this Rolodex. Laurel was kind enough to send a bunch of new visitors to my blog a few weeks ago, and I wanted to reciprocate with sending some new possible purchases to her. 

Plus...I think you guys will love it!

CLICK HERE for Laurel Bern's Rolodex ;-)

500 Interior Design Resources To Save You Time & Money On Your Next Project

Image source: Laurel Bern's Rolodex

I know you all love to get the inside scoop. I know you all want to know where designers shop, and what discounts designers get.

And you want to get it all for yourselves, too.

If that's what you're looking for, you are going to want Laurel Bern's Rolodex. I've reviewed her list and it is quite comprehensive. If you're a new designer, it would be especially helpful to have as a way to get to know who to work with.

As a designer, I was a bit nervous about linking here, as I sell product and many of these are my sources. However, this list doesn't incorporate the expertise or the coordination and handling by the designer. These are sources, manufacturers, and vendors. If you want to reach out to them, order, and go through the absolute headache of dealing with the whole process...I completely welcome you to do that. 

 

Personally, I love working with local sources and going custom as much as possible. 

Not only are processes, deliveries, lead times, etc. better and more closely controlled, but you can really get more bang for your buck. I have custom upholsterers that can build anything we design, usually at very competitive prices. (Notice I didn't say cheap, but...competitive. They are competitive for the quality that they build.) I have cabinet makers, faux finishers, workrooms, local dealers and stores that I love to work with, and with whom I have close relationships. 

Recently I worked on a home where we purchased some items through local sources and some through some of the companies on this list. All the locally made products have been delivered and installed now. The rest is still to come in. ;-) 

 

There are certain situations where I encourage my clients to purchase on their own through vendors they can find themselves. And I must say... 

When clients purchase on their own, it's totally their purchase. I am not involved or responsible in any way.

When it's a one-off purchase and they are not purchasing anything else through my studio - Online retailers often offer free, or lower cost, shipping than I can get. I also have to have furniture shipped to a warehouse to receive and then deliver to my client. So, that additional shipping, handling, and delivery charge puts the pricing way above what an online retailer can offer. If that client is doing multiple items, then the whole process becomes more worthwhile, as I am doing the coordination, ordering, taking responsibility, etc., and the delivery and installation costs can be spread amongst the number of items. If there's only one or two items, then working through my studio on purchases might not be the best for any of us.

If clients are only paying for design services, not specification - If clients tell me up front that they want to purchase on their own (and that also affects the desirability of the project for me), then we would select items from sources that they can find themselves. Certainly, this Laurel's Rolodex would be great for someone wanting to DIY their own purchasing.

Random follow up purchasing - Sometimes we have clients we've worked with and most of the work is done; and there are just a few more items the client has come back with needing. In that case, if it's not custom and local, then we would perhaps provide links to items online where a client can get the products themselves. We want to be involved in the design process and selections, but if it's just a few items and they are fine purchasing on their own, then they are absolutely welcome to.

When I'm working with my Designed-in-a-Click customers - This is a quick, Q&A service done by email, designed to help you over a design hurdle you may have. I occasionally recommend an item or two and send a few links for ideas. Certainly, one of these customers would enjoy this Rolodex.

Want a little more info on how designer discounts work? 

You might want to check out these popular articles that I wrote over two years ago that still get lots of traffic today:

Need help deciding when to hire a designer and when you should go it alone? 

I've got the answer here:

And here are a few more articles that lend insight into how designers get product to clients and how things can sometimes go wrong. 

That's why designers have to mark products up when they assume the responsibility for the ordering.  :-/

Btw...

This is not a sponsored post. I'm not earning any money by promoting this Rolodex. Laurel was kind enough to send a bunch of new visitors to my blog a few weeks ago, and I wanted to reciprocate with sending some new possible purchases to her. 

Plus...I think you guys will love it!

CLICK HERE for Laurel Bern's Rolodex ;-)

My Brother's Kitchen Remodel

Hi friends! Today I'm so excited to share my brother's kitchen remodel with you. You'll recall back in October when Nate and Liz were in the beginning stages of a kitchen remodel and it's finally complete!

Nate and Liz moved out of San Francisco last fall into a small town just outside the city which allows them to commute but also live in a quiet neighborhood and raise their two small boys. I helped them with the cabinet layout and suggested design ideas but they made all the decisions on finishes and did a brilliant job!

I love the finishes in this kitchen, Liz chose white cabinets, a gray plank porcelain tile floor, sage green quartz countertops, smudgeproof stainless steel appliances, and a classic marble herringbone backsplash.

Liz loved the idea of white cabinets to keep this smaller east facing kitchen light and bright. The cabinets photograph white but they're truly a warm white, they are Kraftmaid in the Canvas color. For reference, this kitchen measures 15'6″ long by 7'10” wide.

On this side of the kitchen Nate and Liz moved the refrigerator out to create more counter space and moved the dishwasher over to break up the appliances so they weren't side by side, and they also extended the wall in the opening to hide the cabinetry so it wasn't exposed to the dining room, those were smart design changes.

Before & After, Sink Side:

 

 

The cabinets are Kraftmaid and they're great quality, they offer a lot of organizational amenities (seen below). Liz and Nate chose the Shaker style for doors and slab front for drawers, a very modern look, the 'Canvas' finish is a warm white and really beautiful in person.

Here you'll notice on the opposite side of the kitchen that there was a blank back wall that was totally unused, so it was the perfect opportunity to add a pantry and also the perfect place to move the refrigerator. They minimized the size of the window to allow for upper and lower cabinetry to wrap around.

Before & After, Fridge Side:

 

 

 

 

Another smart design decision was to open up the wall that looks into the dining room to include a peninsula that looks out into both the dining and living room where they entertain. There they created a place where they can pull up two counter stools for a quick snack for the boys.

I absolutely love the sage green quartz countertops, Liz fell in love with them at first sight and had to have them. The warm hue adds color and still feels organic and lovely especially since the kitchen looks out into their rear yard. The marble mosaic herringbone backsplash is a classic look.

 

 

 

They really maximized the organization and utility of their kitchen with their new cabinets, including double drawer utensil organizers, lazy susan corner cabinets, pull out drawers in cabinets, a garbage and recycling pullout, and my brother's favorite: a pull out spice cabinet (he is an amazing cook so this is a prized feature!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It made sense to keep the sink in the same place under the window, here's a closer look at the old dated cabinets and countertops.

 

 

 

I Instagramed that the faucet was Grohe but my brother was mistaken and corrected me, it's actually this Kohler Touchless faucet (they used a Grohe faucet in their bathroom remodel which I'll share soon). My brother demonstrated its fantastic feature: you can wave your hand under the arch and the water shuts off or comes back on, handy if you've got goo on your hands and don't want to touch the handle.

 

 

 

With two little boys they knew there would be fingerprints so they opted for stainless appliances with a protective coating that makes them smudge proof (source below).

 

 

Two suggestions I made with the appliances were to 1) invest in a counter depth refrigerator not a standard 30” depth so it wouldn't stick out or block the flow of traffic from the other doorway….

 

 

… and 2) purchase a slide in range with a low profile so that the range controls are on the front and not on a raised back as they are on stand alone versions, that way the backsplash can take the spotlight.

 

 

 

 

They also followed my advice to take the tile all the way to the ceiling and wrap it around the windows, so beautiful!

 

 

You'll notice they replaced the windows, these now crank out so they can allow fresh air in or look out at the yard.

 

Nate and Liz did a beautiful job on choosing their finishes and appliances and I was happy to offer my design advice too! Congratulations to both of them on a fabulous space to enjoy for years to come!

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Cabinets: Kraftmaid in Canvas

Countertops: PentalQuartz in Sage

Backsplash: Herringbone marble mosaic, Allen + Roth

Faucet: Sensate Touchless in Stainless by Kohler

Appliances: Fridgidaire smudgeproof

Windows: Milgard, Tuscany series

Floors: coming soon

Spring Flooring Sale Through May 14!

Have you been thinking about Mirage flooring for your home? Now is the time to buy! Their Spring 2016 Rebate sale runs now through May 14; you won't want to miss it.

Spring Flooring Sale Details

Now through May 14, Mirage Flooring is offering a $0.50/square foot mail-in rebate on all standard Mirage Classic, Mirage Engineered and Mirage Lock floors. You can buy as much or as little as you'd like, and the promotion applies to any species, color or width of their Classic, Engineered and Lock floors. This rebate is rare, so make sure you take advantage of it while you can!

About Mirage Flooring

It's no secret we love Mirage's floors. As we've shared in previous posts, Mirage is known for its comfort, beauty and durability. We've worked with them for more than 20 years and have really come to appreciate their commitment to quality, the environment, health, versatility and more. They even offer a lifetime limited structural warranty so you can rest assured your new flooring will be beautiful for years to come.

Next Steps to Beautiful, New Floors

Whether you're ready to purchase or just want to learn more, our flooring experts are standing by to help! Come visit our showroom to see Mirage's stunning hardwood floors first-hand or to get advice on the best style, species, color and width for your home. You can also fill out our contact form below and one of our team members will contact you to answer your questions and/or schedule a free in-home estimate!

Keeping Thing Fresh In The Bedroom*

Last week we shared what we're planning in our new loft bedroom and walk-in wardrobe. With the loft conversion project currently on hold, improving our current master bedroom has become more of a priority. We've already completed all of the building work including updating the electrics, restoring the fireplace, having a new radiator and new... 

Read More »

The post Keeping Thing Fresh In The Bedroom* appeared first on Little House On The Corner.

My Brother's Kitchen Remodel

Hi friends! Today I'm so excited to share my brother's kitchen remodel with you. You'll recall back in October when Nate and Liz were in the beginning stages of a kitchen remodel and it's finally complete!

Nate and Liz moved out of San Francisco last fall into a small town just outside the city which allows them to commute but also live in a quiet neighborhood and raise their two small boys. I helped them with the cabinet layout and suggested design ideas but they made all the decisions on finishes and did a brilliant job!

I love the finishes in this kitchen, Liz chose white cabinets, a gray plank porcelain tile floor, sage green quartz countertops, smudgeproof stainless steel appliances, and a classic marble herringbone backsplash.

Liz loved the idea of white cabinets to keep this smaller east facing kitchen light and bright. The cabinets photograph white but they're truly a warm white, they are Kraftmaid in the Canvas color. For reference, this kitchen measures 15'6″ long by 7'10” wide.

On this side of the kitchen Nate and Liz moved the refrigerator out to create more counter space and moved the dishwasher over to break up the appliances so they weren't side by side, and they also extended the wall in the opening to hide the cabinetry so it wasn't exposed to the dining room, those were smart design changes.

Before & After, Sink Side:

 

 

The cabinets are Kraftmaid and they're great quality, they offer a lot of organizational amenities (seen below). Liz and Nate chose the Shaker style for doors and slab front for drawers, a very modern look, the 'Canvas' finish is a warm white and really beautiful in person.

Here you'll notice on the opposite side of the kitchen that there was a blank back wall that was totally unused, so it was the perfect opportunity to add a pantry and also the perfect place to move the refrigerator. They minimized the size of the window to allow for upper and lower cabinetry to wrap around.

Before & After, Fridge Side:

 

 

 

 

Another smart design decision was to open up the wall that looks into the dining room to include a peninsula that looks out into both the dining and living room where they entertain. There they created a place where they can pull up two counter stools for a quick snack for the boys.

I absolutely love the sage green quartz countertops, Liz fell in love with them at first sight and had to have them. The warm hue adds color and still feels organic and lovely especially since the kitchen looks out into their rear yard. The marble mosaic herringbone backsplash is a classic look.

 

 

 

They really maximized the organization and utility of their kitchen with their new cabinets, including double drawer utensil organizers, lazy susan corner cabinets, pull out drawers in cabinets, a garbage and recycling pullout, and my brother's favorite: a pull out spice cabinet (he is an amazing cook so this is a prized feature!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It made sense to keep the sink in the same place under the window, here's a closer look at the old dated cabinets and countertops.

 

 

 

I Instagramed that the faucet was Grohe but my brother was mistaken and corrected me, it's actually this Kohler Touchless faucet (they used a Grohe faucet in their bathroom remodel which I'll share soon). My brother demonstrated its fantastic feature: you can wave your hand under the arch and the water shuts off or comes back on, handy if you've got goo on your hands and don't want to touch the handle.

 

 

 

With two little boys they knew there would be fingerprints so they opted for stainless appliances with a protective coating that makes them smudge proof (source below).

 

 

Two suggestions I made with the appliances were to 1) invest in a counter depth refrigerator not a standard 30” depth so it wouldn't stick out or block the flow of traffic from the other doorway….

 

 

… and 2) purchase a slide in range with a low profile so that the range controls are on the front and not on a raised back as they are on stand alone versions, that way the backsplash can take the spotlight.

 

 

 

 

They also followed my advice to take the tile all the way to the ceiling and wrap it around the windows, so beautiful!

 

 

You'll notice they replaced the windows, these now crank out so they can allow fresh air in or look out at the yard.

 

Nate and Liz did a beautiful job on choosing their finishes and appliances and I was happy to offer my design advice too! Congratulations to both of them on a fabulous space to enjoy for years to come!

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Cabinets: Kraftmaid in Canvas

Countertops: PentalQuartz in Sage

Backsplash: Herringbone marble mosaic, Allen + Roth

Faucet: Sensate Touchless in Stainless by Kohler

Appliances: Fridgidaire smudgeproof

Windows: Milgard, Tuscany series

Floors: coming soon