Posts Tagged ‘design’
Experts offer tips on achieving your perfect green space.
By Jennifer Shapira
DeepGreen/shutterstock.com
The perfect backyard is a landscape colored with four-season interest, is high on style and low on maintenance. Achieving the combination makes for an ideal garden, but even scoring some of those details is a welcome start.
Everyone wants to make their outdoor space more inviting, more in keeping with their lifestyle. Everyone loves the idea of grow-your-own vegetables, or herbs, of being able to snip off some basil or rosemary and toss it into a summer night’s dinner.
Who doesn’t want fresh-cut flowers, like whimsical, sun-loving hot-pink cosmos or cheerful black-eyed Susans cut right from your own plot? Or sitting beneath the cool shade of a sugar maple in summer that in autumn turns a bright red? Or the gorgeous springtime sculptural dogwoods that bloom white or pink in early spring?
Sound like a fantasy? Local experts can help you make that a reality. They’ll visit your property, complete a total site analysis, paint a picture catered to your wants and needs, show you what will do well in your yard (and inform you of what won’t) by helping to identify proper plantings, suggest the right hardscaping materials and add in the all-important design accents, making it all come together.
For the creative homeowner, much of this, if not all, might seem like a series of do-it-yourself projects, but to get everything just right, it’s best to seek the advice of a professional, says Tom Harley, landscape designer at Meadows Farms Nursery. Such collective experience will keep your project on schedule and free of errors, and you will no doubt be pleased with the final results.
Getting Started
In Northern Virginia, Harley says, most of the landscaping requests he receives are modest. He hears a similar checklist from almost every homeowner. “They want low-maintenance, color all year and inexpensive—that’s what they’re hoping for,” he says.
Sounds simple enough. But plans, materials, plants and accents can start to add up. So how to proceed on a budget?
Courtesy of Tom Harley
“A lot of times people will come to me and have no clue what they’re looking for,” says Harley. “They just know they want their backyards to be beautiful. They want to soften the architecture, get plants into the ground that grow in and just keep getting better every year.”
But he, like many experts, cautions homeowners that a “no-maintenance” backyard simply doesn’t exist: One still has to water and weed.
“You’ve got to do some work to get things established. But once established, you shouldn’t have to do anything ever,” he says. “You shouldn’t have to prune, or do anything, if it’s done right. That’s the whole reason we’re there.”
Through a series of in-depth lifestyle questions: (How should your garden grow? What styles do you like?) Harley is able to dissect a homeowner’s bullet/wish list and help them to realize a vision for their outdoor space. Quite often, he says, he’ll insert himself into the design plan: If the space were his, how would he design it? What trees and plants would he choose? That’s when he says a mix of knowledge and creativity goes a long way.
“Maybe they show you a picture in a magazine,” he says. “A lot of it has to do with budget. You’ve just got to be ever-mindful of certain things: budget, drainage, engineering. Then it’s taking all those factors and coming up with a solution.”
While there are a number of common denominators, Harley, like most landscape professionals, is quick to point out that no two jobs are exactly alike. But he has noticed that more people are focused on a beautiful landscape, and that’s usually where more of the money goes.
Project Timeline (Job Process)
Tom Harley, Landscape Designer at Meadows Farms Nursery
1. Client contacts Meadows Farms.
2. Meadows assigns lead (usually within 24 hours).
3. I call client to set appointment to meet (usually day I receive the info).
4. Appointment is set with client (anywhere from the next day to two weeks out or more, depending on clients/my schedule…usually about a week).
5. Goal is to provide a plan and estimate at the time of the appointment (and to get deposit for job at that time); however, depending on the scope of the job it can take longer. Ninety percent of the appointments I go on, the plan and estimate are completed impromptu.
6. The job is entered into “the system,” a computer contract is generated which needs signature and deposit, plan all in order. (This can be done in a hour or over several days.] Then, the client has to put down their deposit, usually 50 percent down. and, it’s really up to them when they are ready to proceed.
7. Once everything is turned in and approved by management it goes to scheduling (takes about one day) and the client is called to schedule an installation date. Usually the job is scheduled to begin within two weeks of the deposit, although this can vary depending on the clients’ preferences. Most often the work is completed in one day, although depending on the scope of the work, it may take a weeks to complete.
8. The balance due for the job is collected upon completion and this is usually the last item to be taken care of. However, there may still be additional work to be done such as add on work, any plants not on site because it was not in inventory, etc.
9. Follow up of whatever is necessary is done as soon as possible, depending on the situation. There is also a lifetime warranty on all the plants we install, so even years after the job is completed we may be called on.
Some Things to Note:
Generally, it takes about a month from womb to tomb for an average job of $1,000 to $20,000. However, if you are constructing a swimming pool in Fairfax County it is going to take four months minimum from the time you submit your plans until you to get your permit. It will take even longer if you are in an RPA (within a hundred feet of stream). Larger projects like this can take months or even years; require engineered plans, impact studies, etc. Other projects, like decks that require permits, can be in your hands in one day to two weeks. It really varies, but in general the bigger the project, the longer it takes. No permits are required for plantings or most patios and walkways.
(May 2013)
Mini Makeovers & 8 Outdoor Products
Projects any space can take.
By Jennifer Shapira
Home in Bethesda designed by Jennifer Horn of Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture LLC. / Courtesy of Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture
If an improved backyard is the goal, but keeping costs down is the priority, there are a number of small, inexpensive upgrades that can provide impact. Allen D. Ford, install sales coordinator at Lowe’s of Alexandria, has a number of suggestions to save some green, while incorporating style and personality to an outdoor space.
Spruce up any patio with updated furniture; shop around for a bistro set that is a step up from the traditional color palette. Cheer up the space and go bolder with a pop of rich color. Try your hand at growing your own edibles; plant your favorite herbs and vegetables and practice in small pots that sit on the steps of your deck.
You want your outdoor space to feel secluded, private, your own. Creative landscaping can be the key to providing that kind of escapist feel. Put in a simple waterfall to add interest, and in any desired look—go natural, modern, classic, formal or Asian-inspired. The bubbling sound of a water feature can do double duty: It can bring a relaxing vibe to any backyard area, while masking the hum of traffic from a nearby busy thoroughfare.
“Defining areas is a big thing,” says Ford, but it doesn’t have to be a big job.
Increase a home’s curb appeal with neatly trimmed lawn edges, and create a hardscaped zone with interlocking pavers abundantly available in sizes, shapes and colors to complement your home’s style.
Consider adding an inviting bench to a favorite garden area. “It would draw more people out into your yard to get a closer look at the landscaping you’ve done,” says Ford. “You’d see the butterflies that it draws, the hummingbirds that it draws. It’s just a way to get people out there and look around more at the yard and flowering trees.”
Another low-cost tip: Showcase a particular tree or garden feature with a low-voltage spotlight. Point the beam up or down to kick up a little DIY garden drama. For instant ambience, place a number of lights low to the ground to illuminate a stone pathway, or go even simpler with string lights threaded through a gazebo or pergola.
Harley, who lives in a forested area, has spotlights trained on favorite trees: a hemlock, oak and beech. “It makes something ordinary look extraordinary at night,” says Harley. “I really like what that does for a place.”
8 Outdoor Products
1. MoMA Store Bistro Set
Give your patio or garden area an instantly stylish update with MoMA’s zippy bistro set. Constructed from sturdy steel, the bright orange table and chairs offer an inventive take on the Parisian classic, providing the perfect outdoor perch for a morning coffee or an early evening cocktail.
Bistro Table, $246 and Bistro Chair, $99; momastore.org
2. Felco Pruners
For the more-than-casual DIY gardener, a pair of red-handled Felco professional-grade pruners are a must, says landscape architect Jennifer Horn. The strong blades make clean cuts instead of pinching or tugging branches, which can cause damage. But, she cautions, “You can get tired from using them,” so expect a workout.
Felco pruners, $49.99 and up; available at Merrifield Garden Center and amazon.com
3. Color-changing Waterproof LED Light Patio/Bistro Set
These geometric remote-controlled color-changing LED-lit patio pieces add a sci-fi flair to any outdoor area. Translucent white when powered “off,” the rechargeable pod-like mod seating provides a vibrant, warm glow at night, turning any backyard into a party zone.
Color Changing Waterproof LED Light Cube, $129.99; amazon.com
Ibiza chair, $229.99; brookstone.com
4. Garlic Juice
Everyone in this area knows mosquitoes can ruin any outdoor gathering in the summer months. Landscape architect Jennifer Horn suggests spraying organic garlic juice which plants absorb, so there’s no lasting pungent garlic smell in your garden. “If you have a large, substantial, garden space, that’s a great way to help keep mosquitoes at bay,” she says.
Mosquito Barrier, $29.95 per quart; mosquitobarrier.com and amazon.com
5. Rain Barrel
Hook up a rain barrel kit to a downspout outside your home, and let the rain fall from your roof into the airtight cistern where the water will stay until you’re ready to use it. Most barrels hold upwards of 50 gallons of water, so you’ll save some green on costs associated with watering your plants, and feel good about reusing natural resources.
Rain Wizard 50-Gallon Black Recycled Plastic Rain Barrel with Spigot, $137.80; lowes.com
6. Trellis
If an outdoor space is at a premium or the backyard is the size of a postage stamp, add visual interest with a simple trellis that you can easily push right into the ground, says Allen D. Ford, install sales coordinator at Alexandria’s Lowe’s. Create a sort of vertical garden with a pretty climbing vine such as clematis or a perfume-scented rose.
Garden Treasures 24”W x 72”H Zen Garden Trellis, $39.97; lowes.com
7. Spotlight
Add a stylish update to any garden space with an easy-to-install spotlight. Accentuate the positive: Illuminate a favorite tree or shrub or water feature. Whether you’re hosting a gathering, or enjoying a quiet evening, the light creates ambiance and “makes something ordinary look extraordinary,” says landscape designer Tom Harley.
Portfolio Black Low-Voltage Halogen Flood Light, $18.98; lowes.com
8. Bench
Enjoy the fruits of your backyard labors from a bench-style perch. Choose a classic park-style bench, or a concrete version and place it squarely in your garden among the blooms, or make it a destination at the end of a stone walkway. It will serve as the perfect spot to relax and take in your surroundings—the happy results of hard work.
Garden Treasures 50-1/2-in. L Patio Bench, $118; lowes.com
Photos: Courtesy of Garlic Research Labs, Inc. (Mosquito Barrier); Courtesy of PYGAR USA Inc (Felco pruners); Courtesy of Lowe’s (trellis, bench, spotlight, rain barrel); Courtesy of Main Access (LED light patio); courtesy of MoMA Design Store (Bistro set)
(May 2013)
Vacclav /shutterstock.com
April 29, 2013
Metro Has the Money to Fix What’s Busted and to Test Better Station Designs
Alexandria Residents Petition Virginia to Move Express Lanes Ramp
Historic Va. ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ Disappears
Would Term Limits be a Game-Changer in Arlington Governance?
Typo Holds Up Amendment To Ease Sequestration For FAA
Volunteers Pitch In to Fix Up Homes on National Rebuilding Day in Va., D.C.
(Compiled by David Schuller)
Products for Small Houses & Professional Tips
By Jennifer Shapira
Bar Cabinet/Sideboard
“Bar cabinets are popular and more readily available now,” says interior designer Dolly Howarth. “They are a nice alterative to full-size buffets and sideboards for small dining rooms.” Because they are “typically slimmer and taller than more conventional pieces, they can fit on shorter walls, and their storage capacity is significant.”
1. Justine Dining Cabinet
$2443 solid oak, $2994 in solid cherry (available in a wide variety of other woods and stain finishes); creativeclassics.com
Comfortable Seating
Small living rooms equal limited space, so Howarth recommends looking for loveseats and chairs with exposed wood or metal arms. They are often narrower than all-upholstered pieces, but the seating area is the same size. Another alternative: armless upholstered chairs. Don’t shy away from them. “They are surprisingly comfortable and have a smaller footprint than arm chairs,” she says.
2. 5008-01 Chair
Starting retail price is $1083 (price depends on fabric chosen); leeindustries.com
3. Ravenna Chair in Atlantic Blue
$279.99; worldmarket.com
4. Edward Apartment Size Sofa
Available in a variety of fabrics; $1497; creativeclassics.com
Desk as Dining Room Table
One of Howarth’s favorite tricks, and one she employs in her own home, is using a desk as dining room table. It’s a great way to furnish a small-scale dining space. And for those interested in a custom-size table, today’s options are more widely available from places like Room & Board and Alexandria’s Creative Classics.
5. Sarah Secretary Desk
Solid cherry in six finishes., $726; creativeclassics.com
Must-have Ottoman
An ottoman-slash-coffee table is a must in a small family room. Top it with a lacquer tray to hold remotes and drinks and place newspapers, magazines, tablets where they are shielded from view on the shelf below. Even small versions of this type of ottoman are big on comfort and style and just might prove to meet “all of the storage, coffee table, work surface and foot rest needs in a room,” says Howarth.
6. Avery Ottoman
Solid Maple base available in a variety of stain finishes; $684 fabric, $722 leather; creativeclassics.com
Elfa Shelving
Interior designer Shanon Munn and her sister Sandy Grabowski are devotees of the Container Store’s fit-anywhere, chameleon-like elfa shelving. From corresponding wood veneer shelves to platinum ventilated racks, standalone or no, the elfa solution will always fit and store, no matter a room’s style.
7. Elfa Shelving
Prices vary; containerstore.com
Leaning Desk
A sleek, wall-leaning laptop desk is a perfect space-saving solution for the person who needs a place to park a few essentials (small computer, a few books, a slim storage box) and is able to minimize clutter.
“The leaning office shelves incorporate a desk to create an office area that doesn’t look office-y,” says Munn.
8. Linea Leaning Desk
$139; containerstore.com
Sapien Bookshelf
For a creative way to display the spines of favorite books in a home library, consider this sturdy vertical bookshelf. Constructed from steel, the free-standing Sapien has a weighted base that will support even the heaviest hardback tomes. Sleek and stylish, it looks great in any room, even adding some color and personality to a corner spot.
9. Sapien Bookshelf
$198; containerstore.com
Storage Boxes
Add some punch to a small home office with Container Store’s storage boxes. Available in primary colors, sherbet tones and florals, these sturdy containers come in several shapes and sizes and will suit basic filing needs and complement your home’s hues. They’ll make any desk or shelf look neat and orderly. For the extra-organized, slip a homemade label into the provided slot.
10. Bright Stockholm Office Storage
$9.99 to $12.99; containerstore.com
Professional Tips
McLean-based interior designer Shanon Munn, who helped outfit sister Sandy Grabowski in her fashionable one-bedroom Rosslyn condo, shares some of her favorite tips for making the most out of small space living.
Keep clear sight lines between each room. Do not block the visual flow with “separating” furniture pieces. Instead of using my sister’s sofa as a divider between the living room and the dining room, the spaces open to each other.
The closet in the bedroom was too small so there is a free standing elfa unit in the bedroom that goes floor-to-ceiling. There is a sliding (fabric) panel that slides in front of the unit to hide it from the rest of the bedroom.
Munn hung off-the-rack silk draperies floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall in the living room, creating unity between the dining and living areas and making the entire space brighter.
The leaning office shelf incorporates a desk to create a work area that doesn’t look “office-y.” When a chair is removed from the workspace, the unit is simply a wall-length decorative shelf. Munn adds that when you can see the wall show through a piece of furniture, a room instantly feels larger.
Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors! They make any space brighter and larger, and an architectural piece can add style and dimension.
photos: courtesy of creative classics (Bar cabinet/sideboard, Edward Sofa, sarah secretary desk, avery ottoman); courtesy of Lee Industries (5008-01 Chair); courtesy of World Market (Raveena Chair); courtesy the container store (elfa shelving, leaning desk, stockholm storage boxes, sapien bookshelf)
(April 2013)
DIY: Paper Flowers and Painted Tacks
Photos and copy courtesy of Decor8
If you are looking for an easy and budget-friendly way to redecorate for spring this DIY should do the trick. Design diva and best-selling author, Holly Becker shows you how to add some much needed floral flair to any room.
Supplies Needed: Origami paper, metal tacks, nail polish
Tools Needed: Scissors, cardboard petal templates (various sizes)
photo courtesy of decor8blog.com
Step 1: Grab some metal tacks and paint the tops with 2-3 coats of your favorite nail polish color – let dry – I left mine out overnight.
Step 2: Fold origami paper (or paper that is perfectly square) in half, then half again so you have a small square. Cut into the square to create your flower using scissors. Petals do not need to be perfect, have fun and experiment. You can also free hand flowers if you like or you can cut out some cardboard templates in various sizes, trace around them and cut out your flowers. This works if you want to create larger blooms as well.
Step 3: Cut into the paper to create different sizes of petals and mix different papers and patterns, too. I use 4-5 layers to create my flowers. You can even mix up texture – try incorporating newspaper (I love the look of Japanese and Chinese newspapers), crepe paper and tissue paper for some layers along with paper.
Step 4: Stack your petals to see how they look and rearrange or cut new ones as needed.
Step 5: Grab your thumb tack and stick it through the center! Now you can tack anywhere you’d like! You can also glue the petals in the center as you layer them and top it with a button or a circle you’ve cut using paper and add them to gifts, lamp shades or where you think you could add a little flower power in your home!
photo courtesy of decor8blog.com
Don’t hesitate to get creative, and eco-friendly, by using old magazines and comic strips from newspapers. This is a simple spring upgrade for any home! You can find other great DIYs on Holly’s website Décor8.
DC Design House Bear Bones Tour 2013
By Tasnim Eboo
Ever seen a $14.9 million dollar house? I didn’t think so. The 2013 DC Design House Bear Bones Tour is just around the corner and will provide you with a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the newly built $14.9 million dollar home in Washington,DC.
The DC Design House Bear Bones Tour gives the public a chance to view the home before the rooms undergo dramatic changes and transformations by the area’s top design teams from Washington,DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and New York. Five of the boutiques participating are donating 20 percent of their sales to Children’s National Medical Center: For Ewe by Edie Adelston, Ibhana Creations by Meena Tharmaratnam, Jeff L. Designs by Jeff LiaBraaten, Whyte House Monograms by Debbie McCarthy Whyte and Coco Blanca. Sponsors for the event include Angir Seckinger Photography, Child Health Center Board, DC Living Real Estate, Farrow & Ball, Foxcraft Design Group, Home & Design, Horizon Houseworks, Loft at AI, MoKi Media, PhRMA, Supon Creative, Tobin O’Connor and Ewing and William John Gardner Design Studio.
$14.9 Wesley Heights home (Photo courtesy Ken Wyner)
By Lauren Clement
Many of our family rooms boast a fireplace with a mantle as a focal point. What is above your mantle? These days a lot of people would answer, “The flat screen TV that my husband just had to mount up there.” Well men, in some cases, you are right! There are certain rooms that have the structural make up to warrant hanging your TV above your fireplace and that is great! It is a nice clean look and eliminates the need for a large piece of furniture in the room to house the television. But in other cases, where the television is not above the mantle, what do you do with such a space?
Sometimes this big open space can feel like an overwhelming challenge but I like to look at it as an opportunity to wow your room with great style. Some ideas for design elements are:
Family portrait or family pictures hanging, not in frames on the mantle as those will not be large enough to make the necessary impact
Artwork, hanging or leaning, but scale appropriate: GO BIG!
A mirror is always a good option but be aware of what it will reflect. And try a round mirror!
Any of the above can be the centerpieces on the mantle and then you can use accessories such as candlesticks, hurricanes, vases, lanterns, etc. to flank the art or mirror to provide balance and visual interest
Height: play it up! If you have a tall room and a tall fireplace, fill up that space with some cool artwork or wall accessories.
There are also times when no mantle exists due to stone work or some kind of design element that provides the attention and eliminates the need for a mantle. In the case of one of my client’s rooms, we actually eliminated the mantle! Check out the before:
The mantle was too high above the fireplace that made for an awkward design and was truly just a place to put things. And the stone of the entire structure was not exactly what my clients were looking for so we drywall-ed over the old stone and retiled with a much more updated and interesting stone. And voila!
What a difference! And now the mantle is completely unnecessary but the pieces on the hearth become the supporting acts of the fireplace. The stone work is incredibly and gives the entire room a new vibe.
The above room particular exemplifies how our family/living rooms truly are the hearts of our homes. In this room a family of three boys gathers to play the piano, their guitars, and sing and laugh the night away together. The fireplace adds physical and designer warmth to the space and has now become a key player in this room.
Now I hope you can see why I said that your fireplace and mantle are areas of great opportunity to add tremendous style and warmth to your space. How will you address your mantle? By painting it a different color from what it currently is? Adding stone? Adorning it with artwork, family pictures and scale appropriate accessories? Send in your before and after mantle pictures. And as always, please write in with any thoughts or questions that you may be having as a result of reading this highly motivating post!
Photos Courtesy of Lauren Clement
Your Style created in Your Home. I am busy being a full time everything- national award winning interior designer, author, mom, wife, friend, sister, and lover of all things beautiful and functional. Follow me to see it all! Whether you need one window dressed or an entire room designed, I can help you accomplish your decorating goals and have fun at the same time. Let’s get started!
Lauren Riddiough Clement
laurennicoleinc.com
Men’s Magic: Tysons Opens ZILLI, Bonobos Goes Brick & Mortar
Posted by Tasnim Eboo / Wednesday, January 30th, 2013
It’s time to give the gents a chance, don’t you think? Men, prepare yourselves for the newest high-end, 2,000-square-foot addition to Tysons Galleria that’s mainly focused on the fellas, ZILLI. The men’s clothing atelier based in Lyon, France, has been designed by streetsense. Streetsense, established in 2001, is an integrated brokerage, architecture, design, branding and development company that specializes in retail, hospitality, restaurants and real estate. This is the second store in the U.S. that streetsense has designed, the first being the flagship store in New York City.
Alexandar Crawford, director of interior architecture at streetsense, states, “ZILLI’s Washington, D.C. client is highly refined, powerful and in control. Therefore, the space is reflective of their luxurious and contemporary lifestyle.” The design is chic and modern with deep and heavy textures including glass, mahogany, brass, granite and gold to create a rich feel to the space.
ZILLI Tysons Galleria (Photo courtesy of Abby Greenawalt)
An Interview with Interior Designer Lauren Clement
By Arienne M. Gascon
If you are a fan of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Abode Obsessions section, then you’ve probably become familiar with the name Lauren Clement over the past few seasons. Through her monthly articles, she offers NVM readers her fabulous interior design trends and tips for your NoVA home. But if you’ve ever wondered who is the woman behind those amazing style tips, then we have a treat for you! We recently sat down with Clement to get an inside scoop on how she got into the interior design business, what she thinks are the common misconceptions of her profession, what her future goals are for her company, and how she balances it all while still being a dedicated wife and mother.
To say full-time interior designer Lauren Clement has her hands full would be an understatement, but her passion for interior design makes her job a labor of love. Clement was first introduced to the world of interior design through her mother who started her interior design business when Clement was only 2. Initially, never considering it as the profession for her when she was younger, her other passions included showing horses competitively and being a dedicated student. But now looking back she can remember how she enjoyed changing her room around and organizing it just for fun routinely. She now realizes that through watching her mother, inadvertently she picked up a passion, as well as an eye for interior design.
Lauren Clement puts her passion for design into every project she does., turning every house into a home. (Photo courtesy Lauren Nicole Designs)
In fact, if it weren’t for Clement’s strong passion in her dreams, she may have ended up in another field. It wasn’t until she was starting her first semester of graduate school to become a clinical psychologist that she realized psychology was not her path. She says, “I had to follow my gut and my heart of becoming an interior designer.” That’s when she set out to establish her business, Lauren Nicole Designs, in 2006. While working independently from her mother (who is also her best friend), she continued to look to her as a mentor and as her source of inspiration.
(Photo courtesy Lauren Nicole Designs)
Clement’s job changes day-to-day and that’s what she says she loves most about it. Her clients range from growing families who are just starting out to couples with grown children, wanting to make their home more adult now that they have the space.
When asked what she saw as some of the biggest misconceptions she faces with her business, Clement candidly says that it would have to be that “They are afraid I won’t listen to them and what they want, as well as come in and take over without their consent. It definitely is not how you see on the shows with a big reveal. It is a process.”
She also explains that you don’t have to have a ridiculous amount of money to make your home beautiful, which is another common misconception she runs into. “You don’t have to spend $3,000 on a coffee table. I mean, if you want to, by all means, but you don’t have to.”
She balances between listening and adding her professional expertise, to take what the ‘now’ trends are and dissects them to find what will create a timeless look.
So, what’s her advice for up and coming designers? “Getting a good idea of what you specifically want to do in interior design is a must. Then immerse yourself in the field as much as possible.” She also explains there is no one correct avenue to take. “Some people go to school and get a degree in interior design and that’s great; I didn’t. But experience is key to finding out if this is the career path for you.”
Though she enjoys her job tremendously, it isn’t all fun all the time. “I don’t get to just put fun things together everyday,” she says. “It is very analytical, which, I get that side from my dad. And you have to have that balance between the two: design and business.” Balance is the key to Clement’s success. Being a wife and also a mother of two girls under the age of 3, she admits to having a lot on her plate, but makes sure her family always comes first.
Designs by Lauren Nicole Designs. (Photo courtesy Lauren Nicole Designs)
Clement’s company has continued to build success throughout the years. Lauren Nicole Designs has recently expanded from her home office to her new location in Ashburn. She has now incorporated her mother’s accessory and home décor gift shop, The Lila Home. The name is taken from her mothers’ first name, Linda, and hers’,Lauren. Like a kid in a candy store, she now has her own array of pieces to pick from to add those finishing touches to any room. She feels extremely lucky that they are able to do what they love and work together.
So, what’s next for this enthusiastic designer? Not being one to sit still for very long, she’s always looking to grow. Her love of writing and the desire to expand on a national level has opened the possibility of writing her own home décor design book, dedicated to people who may not be able to hire a designer or motivating individuals who need a few tips to make their home come alive. Whatever it may be, we are sure to follow her closely as she continues to design her own wonderful fate!
Shopping Simplified: Do Good With Sevenly
Posted by Kelly Hwu / Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
If you’ve ever felt guilty about buying a shirt, you might want to head to Sevenly.org. Sevenly is an organization that raises money for the world’s most vital causes by selling T-shirts to people like you. By buying a shirt, you’re not only raising awareness by wearing it, but a $7 donation from every purchase will go towards that charity.
Each week, Sevenly chooses a different cause to support (having partnered with 52 various charities during the year to come up with its T-shirt campaigns), so the designs for that particular cause will only be available for that week. Rather than supporting just one cause, Sevenly is known for supporting all seven; slavery, water, hunger, aid, poverty, medical and disaster!
One of the t-shirt designs for this week's charity: Feed My Starving Children (Photo: Sevenly.org)
Sevenly’s interactive, eye-catching website displays four designs on various shirt styles (tanks, T-shirts, long sleeve shirts and hoodies/zip-ups for girls and guys), with prices ranging from $22 to $35. And, a timer on the right counts down how long the shirts will be available.
The small, yet creative selection of shirts will benefit those indecisive shoppers out there who get caught up browsing the dozen or so pages on shopping websites. Buy a T-shirt and it’ll be like killing two birds with one stone. You get to look cute and change the world – what could be better?
Happy shopping!
-Kelly Hwu