Hello and welcome to my design thoughts.

With thousands of interior design websites, articles, newsletters, and blogs, is it any wonder home design is confusing? As an artist and designer, it never ceases to amaze me how much fabulous information is available to the curious and motivated homeowner. And free to boot!

Keeping it simple is a bit more difficult. I have visited many a “designer” client’s home, only to see the designers’ particular brand or style stamped all over it. How do we keep our homes in the realm of our own personalities?

When you’re looking for a design or a designer, look at their product first. Talk to previous clients. View the designers’ work in your private space. Works? Or could you have done a better job on your own and much less expensively?

I have designed many different styles. Each as individual as the client himself. How do you do this? First, you have to do homework. A client who says, “Do what you want, I trust you and I’ll be back from Bermuda in six weeks” could be a client I could choose to walk away from.

I will not mark my personal style in a client’s home. Your home should and should reflect your personality and uniqueness. With enthusiasm and motivation, create something entirely your own, you can learn to create a truly impressive environment for yourself.

Magazines, websites, and other design information can be your best friend. You’ve done it before, I can only see the two of us looking through magazines, ripping out the cool stuff and making loads… This is your start to discovering your personal style.

Build a book with these images. Study each image. Circle the idea or image that caught your attention. It puts you loads of images in categories. ie living room, bathroom, family, kitchen. Then go back and delete the images that may not be as attractive. Keep only the best. You’ll eventually discover what you love, whether it’s color, shape, size, or style name. My personal style is called European Recycled… No kidding.

Keep your first test and run simple. Painting is the least expensive repair and has an amazing impact. A fresh coat of paint is magical. Interior design can be a simple act of rearranging or cleaning.

Find your magic. Love where you live. make it a peaceful and creative environment of your own.

SK Sartell