Stuart, Florida, Treasure Coast, Fort Lauderdale interior designer- South Florida- Tamara Dalton Design Studios

This is a piece of art made by my 8 year old daughter a few weeks ago.  It’s her artistic rendition of the Earth.  Thinking she had tried to cover up a mistake, I asked her, “Honey, what’s that big dark blob there on the right?”

She said, “That’s the oil spill.”

I began writing this post with the intention of explaining why and when someone should hire an interior designer (and so help me God, I will write it!).  It struck me, however, that most people in the general populace really don’t understand what interior design is or what exactly interior designers do.  We are perpetually downgraded with the moniker of decorator, and some people (even some in this field!) think that’s A-okay.  I do not.  There are many misconceptions and bad information flying around out there.

Here are some of the things I have heard after telling people I’m an interior designer, as well as statements I’ve heard made about interior designers:

“That’s cool.  Do you get to, like, draw a lot?”

“I always wanted to do that!”

“You mean, you’re a decorator?”

“Oh, an inferior desecrator!”  (contractors are particularly fond of that one)

“Oh!  You need to watch HGTV!”

“Interior design?  That’s for faggots and cheerleaders.” (seriously, someone actually said that to me)

“What’s your signature style?  Do you like shabby chic?”

“I just LOVE interior design!  It’s a hobby of mine.”

“Don’t you just love shopping all day?!”

“Oh, so you mean you pick out colors for people?”

“You tell people what kind of furniture to buy?”

“So let me ask you a question.  Is it still in style to use carpeted toilet seat lid covers?  Do people still do that?”

“Why do you have to do drawings for that?”

“Wow, you know how to measure a room?  And you have your own tape measure too?”

“You should see my house.  I built all the cabinets myself.”

“I’m going to buy all my own fabric from (insert fabric retailer here) myself, but I’ll show them to you and you just let me know if they’re okay.”

“I studied that in school, but when I realized how much paperwork was involved I decided to become a personal trainer instead.”

“With the existence of Pottery Barn, there is no excuse for anyone to live in an ugly house anymore.”

Allow me a moment to muster up my dignity. (Takes deep breath, smoothes shirt, has a glass of water…)

You can see I have my work cut out for me. 

When I discovered the field of interior design in college, there were many aspects of design that appealed to me and ultimately lead to my decision to make it my life’s pursuit.

Interior design combines the technical, analytical, and scientific skills and knowledge of architecture with creativity, art, and the pursuit of beauty.  It’s a practical and useful art form, and it’s also a science.  It works in tandem with the grand “macro” scale of architecture by focusing on the “micro” details of human scale and how actual human beings relate to and function within their built environment.  Every project, every space, every person using a space is different, so every project is a unique three-dimensional puzzle with many right answers and very few absolutes.  Good design makes people’s lives better, whether it’s furniture design, product design, architecture, landscape design, urban planning and design, or interior design which draws from all of these disciplines to create unified, holistic environments that inspire, comfort, nurture, heal, uplift and delight people.  It is beyond simply decorating.

First of all, I learned the science of interior design in college.  Space planning, architectural drafting, the history of furniture and art and architectural design movements, color theory, lighting, how things are built and made, the elements and principles of design that are universal to all things that human beings create, and textiles.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (which celebrates its 20^th anniversary today) had just been passed while I was in design school, so we learned how to incorporate universal design and accessibility for all into every space we designed, and how the structure of the human body dictates how buildings get built, furniture designed, and tools made.  We learned that there is power in the built environment: the power to improve and enhance peoples’ lives as well as the power to make it difficult, unsympathetic, and a misery for people if spaces are not designed well. 

Beyond school, I worked for experienced licensed professionals until I was eligible to take the qualifying exam (called the NCIDQ) and apply for my own license.  It was a grueling, difficult, and extremely rewarding mark of achievement when I finally passed that exam, and as a regulated professional I take continuing education classes on an ongoing basis to stay current with this ever-changing industry.  I take the professional part of my profession very seriously, and consumers of design services should care whether the designers they hire have the education and credentialing to go along with their style-sense.  It can be the difference between a snake-oil salesman and a doctor.

So, in a very practical, boots-on-the-ground kind of way, what does this all mean?

Diagnose and analyze, examine and research, think critically and act creatively, and execute, all the while making the process for the client smooth, as hassle-free as possible, and thrilled with the results.

Diagnose and Analyze

In a nutshell: listening.  I listen to the needs and desires of my clients.  Reading between the lines and hearing the things that get left unsaid are important components of listening too.  Designers have to “condense fact from the vapor of nuance.” (Thank you, Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash)

Examine and Research

Searching for products that fit the needs of the people that will use them, reviewing case studies, code compliance, watching, learning, sourcing, and investigating.  The industry has (finally!) evolved to incorporate sustainability into this process as well. 

Thinking Critically and Acting Creatively

This is a big one.  This is where hands and pencils meet paper, and drawing things with precision and technical skill will reveal whether an idea in my head will actually work in real life.  It’s about looking for new ways to solve problems, and being open to new ideas.  It’s about critically thinking about how to solve a problem and projecting out the possible consequences of every design choice I make to make sure that potential hiccups are headed off at the pass.

Execute

Yes, there is a lot of paperwork involved in what I do.  I take copious notes.  Specifying products requires writing down every single detail that goes into a completed item and how it integrates with the whole design, noting every person I speak to in the supply chain, and following up regularly to make sure critical steps aren’t missed and that everyone responsible for their portion of the puzzle does what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to do it.  Execution is the leadership position that coordinates all the players on a project to work together as a team, and solves problems when things go wrong.  Organizational skills are imperative, and people in the building trades appreciate it.

Does any of this process involve decorating?  Yes, of course it does, and if I’ve done my job as a designer well, beauty is a natural result.  Decorating is certainly fun.  It’s the icing on the cake, but it’s not the cake itself, and if the cake itself is no good, then the best looking icing in the world isn’t going to make it good.  Do I sometimes get asked to select paint colors and provide decorating services only?  Yes, occasionally, and that’s okay- I like the decorating aspect of design too, just don’t call me a decorator.

I love opening a new bottle of wine.  In particular, I appreciate now more than ever, wine bottles corked with actual cork.  Cork, that fabulous stuff that’s peeled from the outer layers of the cork oak tree, is so ubiquitous in our world that it’s actually become a verb.  Besides the actual wine, the cork stopper is a vital part of the wine experience.  I love how it’s kind of springy and soft, and the bottom end of it becomes stained with and smells like the wine you’re about to drink.  The printed name or picture of the vineyard on the cork makes it looks old and worn, like a treasured object from the past.

A few years ago, I had my first rude awakening that something was amiss in the wine industry.  I unwrapped a bottle of wine and saw…..plastic; a plastic stopper masquerading as a cork!  I thought, Huh!  What is this?  I thought I bought a nice bottle of wine.  And more and more, many of the bottles of wine I open have these horrible plastic stoppers.  I’ve since learned a few things about cork and why the wine industry is moving away from cork, and mostly it’s because the plastic stoppers are cheaper.  And also some blah blah blah excuse about the remote possibility that the cork stopper has the potential to taint the wine with an unwanted funky smell and taste.  I’m also seeing more and more wine bottles with screw-caps.  Screw-caps?!  Ugh, really?

Why is the wine industry growing so anti-cork?  No matter what kind of marketing blitz I’m faced with, I still associate screw-cap wine with the horrible swill we consumed in high school college, even if the wine tastes fine.

Perhaps it’s a generational thing.  It’s all relative, and it’s all about what you were exposed to from a young age.  I’ve come across many people in the course of my design work that harbor an unfair bias against furniture made of plastic.  They think it’s cheap, cheesy and low-quality.  Nevermind the many big name designers that created fantastic and well-made stuff out of plastic (like Verner Panton and Phillippe Starck to name a couple), some with price tags to curl your hair.

“But it’s just plastic.”

Just plastic indeed.

Well, my friends, plastic just may prove to be one of the most expensive materials out there from here on in, and I’m not talking about money.  Plastic, as we all know (or should know) is petroleum-based. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love plastic.  Plastic is a wonderful thing.  Every time I drop something on the floor, I do a little happy dance for plastic.  As I said before, there are beautiful, well-constructed pieces of furniture made of plastics that will, literally, last forever, and there are many plastics that can be recycled.  Our modern lives couldn’t exist without plastic.  I’ve just had enough of cheap, single-use, non-recyclable plastic.  Just take a look at the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, and the plastic soup found in the Pacific Garbage Patch, the Atlantic Garbage Patch, and the stomachs of seabirds.  Mmmmmm, so many plastic bottle stoppers, plastic shopping bags, plastic wrap, cheap crappy toys….I swear if my pharmacist gives me one more plastic dosing cup with every prescription I fill, I’m going to throw it at him.   

To have the specter of an entire industry, a whole country’s economy (Portugal), an ecological wonder like the cork oak forests that can actually support both human needs and the natural environment, just disappearing to save a few cents per wine bottle, is very sad. 

So what happens if we believe the bologna sandwich being fed to us that the demand for cork is declining?  Ooh, maybe they’ll clear all that forest land to make room for more cattle-grazing, so we can stuff ourselves with more hamburgers!  Hey, what a super idea.  (Not.)

Here’s my homage to the lovely cork:

1. It’s impervious to gases and liquids
2. It’s also a little bit absorbent, which makes it great for coasters & trivets
3. It’s lightweight
4. It floats
5. It resists rotting
6. It looks great
7. It absorbs sound
8. It’s good for thermal insulation too
9. It can be made into flooring and wallcoverings
10. It’s soft and cushy on your feet, and it’s used to make shoes
11. Not only shoes, but now clothing! Yes, clothing: http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cork-clothing-gets-fashionable
12. It’s renewable (they just shave it off the trees and it grows back, over and over again)
13. It’s biodegradable
14. It’s flexible and durable
15. It’s fire-resistant
16. You can save your corks and make something crafty with them
17. Check out these great little tables designed by Jasper Morrison made of cork by Vitra: 

But for all the really incredible uses there are for cork, the vast majority of it is used for wine bottle stoppers.  If the wine industry says bye bye to cork stoppers, it’s bye bye cork.

Here’s some more info on the mighty cork: http://www.cork.pt/   http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/green-myth-buster-1-cork-endangered  and of course: http://www.wwf.panda.org/

So, wine industry, spare me the bullshit that no one wants cork anymore.  You made that up to save a few bucks.  And stop trying to tell me that plastic stoppers and screw-caps are better for the wine.  What I want is a list of winemakers that only use cork stoppers, so I can consciously choose to support the cork industry, otherwise, I might have to start ripping the foil off the bottles to check first before I buy.  I really don’t want to have to do that.

My Interview with Linda Murillo- founder of Lilypads Creations

Area rugs have always been an important element within the interiors I design.  They bring color, pattern, texture, and warmth to a room.  They anchor and provide grounding for furniture groupings, which helps to define large, open plan spaces.  An area rug can be the focal point of a room or the perfect background piece upon which other furnishings shine.  There are many different materials and weaving methods for rugs, but my favorites are always visually lush, soft and squishy on the feet, and invite you to sit on the floor.  It’s my fervent professional opinion that every home should have spaces where you can comfortably sit and hang out on the floor.

Whenever I’m working on an interiors project and it comes time to design and select the area rugs, I call Linda Murillo of Lilypads Creations in Miami, Florida.  She specializes in designing and creating area rugs, and graciously answered all of the questions I threw at her.

TJD:   Hi Linda! Please give me the Lilypads Creations backstory.  What is your background and how did you get started producing area rugs?

LM: I have been interested in textiles and fibers since I can remember.  I studied commercial art in college and worked in other creative venues for many years.  I had an opportunity to live in Costa Rica and needed area rugs in my home.  An artist friend introduced me to a hand-tufted manufacturer who took my paintings and turned them into area rugs.  When I moved to Miami, the rugs became a visual focal point in my home and often the center of conversation.  At that point, I decided to pursue a business designing and offering my custom area rugs to the interior design industry.

TJD:   What are the most common area rug constructions and rug materials?

LM: It depends very much on where the rugs are going.  Hand-knotted wool and wool and silk are very popular for residences and commercial lobby areas. They have a great look and feel.  Hand-tufted wool rugs remain popular as well, and are often used for high traffic commercial spaces, children’s and family rooms.  They are great looking, durable, and easy to maintain.  For contemporary spaces we produce endless types of textures.  From chunky felted wools to delicate handwovens.

TJD:   What are some of the more unusual or little known materials that are being used for rugs today and what are their properties?

LM:  Some of the new materials are banana silk, aloe, linen, and alpaca.  These are not necessarily new materials, but old materials used in a new way in area rugs.  Surprisingly, most of the materials we use at Lilypads are the traditional materials which have been used in textiles for centuries.  They tend to be the ones which are the most beautiful and practical.  An example is the wool which is used in Nepalese rugs.  The sheep are grazed at such a high altitude that the wool has a high percentage of lanolin.  This lanolin is a natural stain guard and fire protector.

TJD:   Padding vs. No Padding- When is it appropriate to not use padding and when is it definitely recommended?

 LM:  I always recommend using padding on thin pile rugs to add softness and small size rugs so they do not move. Thick shags usually do not need a pad as they are soft and heavy enough not to move. 

TJD:  What types of padding are best for stone floors, wood floors, and tile floors?

LM:  We recommend the same “natural” latex padding for most projects because it is good for various floor surfaces and rugs and the least synthetic in its production.

TJD:  Shag rugs are still so popular.  They’re fun and inviting, but how do you clean a shag rug?

LM:  Yes, shags give a great look.  Usually a shag gives a field of color with subtle texture.  This look works great for many design styles.  Cleaning depends on the type of shag.  Routine cleaning is usually done with the beater bar of the vacuum turned off so you get a suction pulling dirt from the rug. You do not want a vacuum which rotates on top of the shag.  It will shred it.  Any rug should be periodically professionally cleaned by a recommended rug cleaner.

TJD:  Which rug materials are best suited to the heavy abuse and wear dished out by kids and pets?

LM:  Wool is one of the most durable fibers.  People often come to me looking for a nylon or a sisal rug which they perceive to be more practical.  I am not a big fan of sisals, although I love the natural look.  They feel hard on bare feet to walk and sit on, and absorb rather than repel stains, making spills impossible to get out. How a rug looks and how long it lasts usually comes down to the care of the rug.  Whether a rug is nylon or silk, if your child drops a juice box on the rug, you need to get it up right away. 

TJD:  The commercial carpet industry has done a lot to move carpet manufacturing closer to a closed loop system of recycling old materials to make new carpets, lowering VOC’s with different dyes and adhesives, and having carpets recycled again at the end of their life span.  What are you seeing happen (if anything) in the residential area rug industry to make rugs more “green” in terms of earth-friendly materials and social/corporate responsibility for the people that actually make the rugs?  Is there a “fair trade” movement going on in the rug business (similar to fair trade coffee and other artisanal trades)?

LM:  At Lilypads we have focused on the aspect of fair labor practices in our manufacturing. Many of our manufacturers are in third world countries.  There are various organizations which oversee the rug industry to use good employment policies, such as not employing children and regulating the hours people work.  Several of our manufacturers have schools which are incorporated into the factories for the children of the employees.

As far as materials go, we use mostly natural materials.  Our manufacturers in South and Central America work with local indigenous tribes to source and process materials in a way which is beneficial to them and their environments.   We are always striving for the most effective methods of processing for our planet.

TJD:  What is the most important thing people should consider when buying area rugs?

LM:  Machine-tufted rugs can be a great alternative for custom area rugs.  They tend to be less expensive because the rugs are made by a machine rather than by hand.  Often machine-tufted rugs are overall textures or designs rather than free-hand designs. They can be custom-colored and sized so you have the advantage of getting what is needed for the space, great quality, great pricing, and sometimes in less time. 

You have to get the size and design right, but if the color is not correct with the other design elements in the room, the rug will not add to the feeling of the room.  Color is key!

TJD:  Thank you, Linda! Check out the great color combinations of these rugs Linda and I worked on together.