A New House Becomes A Home!

Every project has its nuances and experiences. Working with these clients was an absolute joy! It started with a simple statement 9 months prior to closing, "We are building a new home, can you pencil us in for next June". A couple of months before closing we had our initial consultation to explore furniture styles. Understanding that clients are often unsure about what they like can be somewhat challenging to hone in on style preferences. I try to make the experience as carefree and painless as possible. Instead of flipping through magazines, I took these clients to one of my favorite furniture stores, which is budget friendly with lots of opportunities for furniture selections. We had a two hour shopping experience which led to 95% of the furniture purchases. Finding balance and encouraging compromise is always key when working with couples. After a quick survey, it was clear that preferences for these two were not quite the same, but more alike than they thought. Simple coaching helped them to discover their likes with focus on colors, comfort and style. While there were several compromises throughout the process, together we selected items that would complement their new build. We made a few final selections and lined up delivery to coincide with the closing date. I must admit that I was unaware of some hidden talents that were soon discovered as we contemplated the design of an entertainment feature wall. This client wanted to bring to life a visual element to fulfill his new bride's request to have barn doors somewhere in the design. We sketched out a feature wall with floating shelves, barn doors and lighting features. I was amazed when I saw the final handmade product, a true masterpiece! As the designer, I began to focus in on the little details that would make the spaces feel warm and cozy and give them the model home feel they were looking to achieve. Although they wanted the look of a model home, I knew they also needed the comfort of everyday living. We collaborated on a color palette and I hit the ground running as their personal shopper. Once all of the accessories were procured, my team and I went in for a 1 day staging event that resulted in a client reveal. I thrive on personal touches and two things were key in this process. I asked each client to provide one item for the other person that I could include in the design. They both came up with awesome gifts. The second item was heartwarming for me, as I was able to incorporate pictures of their recent wedding into the design without them expecting it. I asked to see photos from the celebration and used them to create a canvas of one of their favorite wedding shots and strategically placed other photos to give their new place a lived in, this is "ours" feel. It was an honor working with this lovely couple. I enjoyed every minute from consultation to closing to reveal. My team and I were so happy to help them along this journey in making their new house a home!

To view the photo journey of this project:
​https://photos.app.goo.gl/1yRB7ZRP2914mDNn9

Special thanks for courtesy project design photos, Scott and Lauren, Henrico, VA