2021

After 2020, I never suspected we would return to “normal,” but I couldn’t have imagined a year like we’ve had. Despite what you may read, watch, or listen to, 2021 has been a remarkable, transformative year. As the story of Spectrum Design Group continues to be written, I look back and marvel at how the firm has grown and evolved, especially over the past three years. This year required a lot of pivots, especially with labor shortages and supply chain issues. However, the biggest challenge was to find a way to scale up to meet the unprecedented demand, maintain our level of creativity, and improve the client experience, all at the same time. We’ve worked hard to refine our processes, improve communication, and manage ever-shifting expectations. Kara has worked diligently behind the scenes to help make these things happen. I’m so proud of our body of work this year. While it takes much longer to get things done right now, the designs and execution have really been spectacular. Both Dawn and Cory have produced fantastic designs and made great friends in the process (we work with the best clients). We can’t wait to share photos over the coming months of the work we have in process. Looking toward our future, I’m pleased to announce we’ve hired a new project manager, Renee Beere. In the month and a half she has been with us, she has jumped in already elevating our game. What a terrific addition to our SDG family! I’m humbled to be surrounded by such an amazing team. They’ve poured their hearts into SDG every bit as much as I have. I’m also grateful for our clients who entrust us with their homes, offices, and properties. We want to be good stewards of your trust and give you our absolute best. We have many wonderful new clients who are patiently waiting, too, and I promise to make it worth the wait. Walking through the unexpected disruptions of 2021 has positioned us for an amazing 2022. (Spoiler alert: 2022 marks Dawn’s 10th year at SDG!) As always, I’m looking forward with great expectation for the days ahead. Thanks for being a part of our story. Cheers to 2022! ~Jeff

What’s In and What’s Out If you spend much time at all on the internet, you’re sure to see articles touting what interior design elements and home décor are in and what are out this year. You may have even received similar articles in your inbox. While reading any of them, you’ve probably found yourself either nodding in agreement with the article that confirms your hexagon backsplash was a good investment, wondering how in the world the author could think that you should part ways with your avocado cabinets, or be completely confused because one article states symmetry in your living room is what you should strive for while another states the exact opposite. How is one to know what elements won’t be tired and outdated in five years?! Don’t Design for Trends There’s an easy way to avoid costly designs you’ll dislike a few years down the road: Do not design to the trends. Design for what you like. Design for functionality. Design for the architecture of your home. Design for the way you live. (Those open glass shelves in the kitchen are beautiful, but only when they’re spotless, so unless you’re willing to dust daily, they may not be the best option for you.) Just because an element or a style is suddenly seen everywhere, doesn’t necessarily make it a trend that we’ll look back on in disbelief we ever incorporated it into our homes. For instance, shiplap has been popular for several years and when placed appropriately, it won’t go out of style. Same with wood beams or barn doors. Those look trendy in a 1970s ranch, but can be timeless in a cottage or cabin. Open Concept: One Trend that is Changing Residential design tends to follow commercial design. Once modern office designs moved toward open workspaces, companies found that the open concept actually hindered productivity due to a lack of privacy, natural distractions, and sound control. It’s understandable that when workers who weren’t used to working from home suddenly had to, they found that their open concept at home didn’t function well either. We are now seeing some of our residential clients moving away from the open concept. For their lifestyle, they find it doesn’t work for them – lack of sound control, difficulty in furniture and artwork placement, lack of privacy – all can make living and working difficult. Maybe those walls aren’t so bad after all. Holistic Approach to Design When embarking on an interior design project, it’s important to take the entire space into account, not just the one room in which you may be working. You don’t want it to feel “remodeled.” How do you function in the space? How does the area flow with the spaces nearby? To make the most of your investment, ensure your interior designer designs for the era and the architecture of your home. In some cases, you’ll need someone who can blend styles. Say you love modern design, but your home is traditional. Find someone who can help you successfully meld the two. That’s how the space in which you live endures the plethora of trends that come and go and will save you money in the long run.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from someone who inquired about furniture arranging. She asked, “You’re an interior design firm; is that something you do?” Well, yes. But it’s not a standalone service we offer. That’s interior decorating, which is a service we include within larger renovation projects. Interior decoration is not the same as interior design and knowing exactly what an interior design firm is and what they do can be confusing. I’m sure the person who called is not the only one who wonders the same thing, “What is the difference between interior design and interior decorating?” Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator The services interior decorators and interior designers offer are often muddled. An interior decorator is someone you hire to help choose and arrange furniture and accessories to make the space beautiful. They don’t need special education or licenses. On the other hand, an interior designer has studied color theory and fabric, architecture, drawing, computer-aided drafting (CAD), and more. They work with their clients to create space plans that improve functionality, solve problems, and make the space beautiful. Improving functionality might mean moving walls or plumbing, so working with someone who understands the ins and outs of those types of decisions is important. Running into unforeseen obstacles is always a possibility when remodeling a home, but working with someone knowledgeable and experienced in making those types of changes can mitigate risks and save significant budget. It boils down to this: Interior designers may decorate, but interior decorators do not design. Who Should You Hire? When it comes time to hire a professional to help with your project, you’ll need to determine the services you most likely need. Do you need to improve the functionality of your space and think moving walls and adding windows will be necessary? Then you’ll need to work with an interior designer. If you just require help choosing furniture and paint color and perhaps window treatments, then working with an interior decorator is appropriate. Once you solidify the services you need, do your homework. Meet with a couple of professionals to get a feel for how they work. Do you like what you see in their portfolio? Do they have a tried and true process they can describe to you? Does it make sense? How often do they budget? Do they review numbers throughout the process or just at the end? Finally, does their personality fit with yours? You’re going to potentially work with them for many months. They’re going to be in your personal spaces. You want to ensure you’ll be able to work with them long-term. The designer must get to know you and understand your behavior in order to address your pain points. The relationship runs deep. Enjoy the Experience Now that you have a better sense of which service you need, interior design vs. interior decoration, go forth and enjoy the experience. Home renovation is never stress-free, but with the right team, it is enjoyable.