Introduction

Welcome to dwell on design!


If you are a design professional, people are always asking you for advice. Solutions are not always that easy as there are several factors that play into a design solution. I was at a party the other night and someone I had just met asked for my advice on what paint colors she should use in her home. This can be frustrating. As a professional it is your duty to provide the best information you can. But, how well do you know the person who needs your advice? How do they live in their home? What kind of decor do they have? How does color affect their mood? It might be a garden question. Are they disciplined enough to keep plants alive? It might be an architectural question. I prefer clean, contemporary lines, do they? In a perfect world, we would all be Candice Olson. Seems to me, she goes into a house, asks the owner/s a few questions about what they need, has fun working on it, and poof! A fabulous, or should I say Divine, room is created. It's perfect! The home owner's love it. Well, that is television and in the days of reality shows about teens pretending to be parents, many people are unfortunately lead to believe the reality part of it is, well, reality.


Ahh, how I would love to be able to wave my magic design wand and not only would there be no ifs, ands, buts or NO!s, but there would be no problems along the way and the end result would always be nothing short of amazing!


Fortunately, in the real world design is personal, unique, and a way to express yourself. It can also be challenging. Often times we think we know someone, or we think we know what a certain store is all about, but our perceptions change the minute we step into their surroundings. Sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. A design professional - whether it be a Landscape Architect, Floral Designer, Visual Merchandiser, or even a Retail Associate stocking shelves in a showroom - has to speak to people through design. They have to know how to translate a person or place into a design and how to represent that to the world through design. They also have to depend, usually, on a team of people to achieve the desired results.


I personally have a genuine and I'll confess, nosey interest for how people live. A house up the road from me looks as if it is being remodelled. I have yet to peep in the windows, but the urge is there. I created dwell on design so I can confess something like that to a group of people who, hopefully, would feel the same. I want this to be a place where we can tell our stories, share our ideas, support each other, and be inspired to open our minds and step outside our comfort zones. I believe that there is value in opinions, whether you accept them or not.


There is also the subject of taste. "Oh, Gwen? She has terrible taste." Does she really? Does she have bad taste or do you prefer a more traditional look compared to her urban flair? Is that bright lemon yellow color on the walls in her kitchen bad taste or does that match her personality? In the design world it is important to be exposed to all kinds of styles and understand that while they may not appeal to you on a personal level, there is always something to be admired. Even in the most eclectic room settings, if you keep an open mind chances are you will find something you actually like (or at least appreciate for what it is).


And lastly, there are the RULES. I remember sitting in one of my first Interior Design courses and hearing my teacher tell us about the Principles of Design, otherwise known as the rules every designer should follow in order to achieve a well-designed space. Let's see - you have scale, proportion, um...what else? I'm not sure. I never have been big on rules, and let's face it - rules are meant to be broken.


Let's get going! Let's dwell on design!! If you are interested in being a contributor, I would love to hear from you. If you have a design question, e-mail it to me and I will post it for comments. If you want to share some pictures, ideas or an experience, let me know. Would you like to see a link to your business or favorite design site on this blog? Tell me. Nothing is off-limits. And remember, we're all here to support each other.

E-mail me: dwellondesignINC@gmail.com