What are some of the trends and considerations in office design that are evident today?

Space considerations have always been a priority of all business owners and always will be. Shared positions have demanded mobile workstations for office users. Flexible work schedules have given rise to the demand for new amenity areas such as relaxation areas or exercise areas. The changes in computer technologies have created new configurations of workstations. Ergonomics issues are prevalent. Generally, there are numerous and often complex issues that must be considered when planning for client moves or expansions. Growth in some industries has been exponential and therefore planning considerations are not always well defined. In short there a growing number of challenges for all designers to take into effect.

How much does it cost to hire an interior designer?

All interior designers use different billing methods. At Design International, interior designers are retained on an hourly basis. Hourly charges are dependant upon the specific requirements of each project.

What makes you different from traditional interior decorators?

The Changing Spaces concept is quite different from traditional interior design practice. We do not try to sell you anything. The basic idea is that we come into your space and work with the things that you already own. When we do recommend new purchases we provide you with a resource list and specifications regarding color, size, fabric, etc., which is part of the written design plan at the end of the consultation.

How do you charge for your design work?

There are a number of ways that a designer and a client can agree to work together. The most common method we use is to charge a design fee. The design fee amount is determined after the designer has had an opportunity to meet with the client to fully understand the scope of services needed. Hourly consultation is also available for small design projects such as color consultations or small furniture purchases.

What is Faux Finishing?

Faux means to “fool the eye,” so a faux finish is a technique that fools the onlooker to think they are looking at something else other than what they really are looking at. An example is a wooden column painted to look like marble, or a steel door painted to look like wood. Other samples are Formica countertops painted to look like granite, or walls painted to look like wallpaper. Sample wallpaper techniques can be sponging, ragging, color washing, combing, striping, and many others.

Can I add on to my house?

 Any addition and remodeling first requires approval by the Planning Services Division prior to issuance of building permits. If a proposed improvement is determined to be minor in nature and would not cause a significant visual impact, an Administrative Architectural Review will be completed by the Planning Services Division along with the building permit review process. If a proposed improvement were determined to be significant and has the potential to cause a significant visual impact or a second story addition to a single story home is proposed, then review by the City’s Architectural Review Board would be required. The Architectural Review Board (ARB) is a group of appointed professionals. The ARB would provide comments to the applicant and make recommendation to the Zoning Administrator for final approval.