5 degrees of inspiration…pt. 4

July 30, 2009 · Posted in Interior design projects

Interview with interior designer Jamie…

Is there someone or something (architect, piece of art, painter, etc.) that inspires your creativity?

I’m inspired by nature. I like for the spaces that I design to feel like an oasis. Organic elements that you find in nature help make a space feel very warm and inviting. Most people tend to appreciate and utilize their rooms a lot more when it feels less like a furniture showroom and more like a home.

What are your favorite elements/colors to use in a design proposal and what elements/colors do you think are necessary to make a successful proposal?

I love to integrate different finishes and fabric textures. Mixing and matching woods and glass; shiny and matte; smooth and textured gives a space depth and character. Typically I like for earth tones to be the base of my designs, and then I use rich colors as accents in the space.

When did you become interested in the design field and how has your career evolved?

I’ve been interested in the design industry all my life. I love any opportunity that allows me to be creative and work with people. I started working at Vastu shortly after graduating from Marymount University with a four-year degree in Interior Design. I’ve learned so much about how to express my ideas, be more confident, and overall be a better designer. I consider myself to be at the very beginning of what I hope to be a very long career, so I expect to continue evolving in this industry over the years.

Where do you look for new inspiration and how do you avoid “designers block”?

Designer’s block is something I feel is inevitable when you’re in an industry in which you are expected to constantly produce designs that are new and creative, so seek inspiration from several places. I browse through magazines, surf the web, and turn to my colleagues for ideas.

What helpful tips can you give our blog readers about taking on a design project of their own?

For those that feel confident in taking on projects themselves I advise them to first come up with a plan for each space that they want to design. Make a simple list of the things that you need and want in the space. This will help keep the project organized as well as help avoid over spending on items that you don’t need. Designing a space can become very overwhelming if you don’t make initial decisions about color scheme, storage, the amount of seating that you want for each space, and most importantly, a budget.

Fnally, it’s important for the readers to remember that this is supposed to be something fun and not something stressful. Don’t be afraid to seek help from a professional if you reach that point in which your creative juices have stopped flowing.