Kathy's Design Blog

“Hang art in surprising locations, like over a door or above a tall cabinet or on the pilasters of a bookcase.” -Nancy Boszhardt

My creativity increases as the deadline approaches. It also increases with the ‘impossibility’ of the project. I’m creative all day, and into the night.

An extreme example: I designed and built sets for a fashion show. The second show was out-of-town, and I needed to assemble and customize the sets the day of the show (7pm). No big deal, I was thinking, ‘cause it was a repeat of a show already designed.

I got to the out-of-town location the night before, and toured the room. Oh-my-goodness! The ceilings weren’t high enough for the catwalk AND the sets!!! That was frustrating because, I had specifically asked this question when I was designing the sets. I got wrong info.

OK….the catwalk had to stay so people could see the clothes.

That meant, I had to re-design and build the sets in 20 hours, out-of-town, without my major power tools. The sets were mechanized, which added to the complexity. And, the re-design had to be similar to the original so the nervous models wouldn’t have to learn new choreography on the day of the show. Oh my.

Rather than stay up late re-designing, I slept on it. I did that for 3 reasons.

1) There was no quick and dirty solution, so sleeping gave my mind time to work.

2) I was the head stagehand during the show. I still had several hours of work once the sets were finished, so I’d be sunk if I didn’t rest the night before.

3) My turbo creative juices would already be kicking in as I woke up.

I woke up renewed, with several ideas to bat around. Got to know the local hardware store manager and the maintenance guys on site really well. Ended up buying a new compound miter chop saw.

It took me 12 hours to re-built the sets. The touch-up paint was still drying when the show started (on time).

My fuel: doughnuts, and fear. -Kathy

I just did a web search of interior designers/decorators in Eugene, Oregon.

It was dismal.

I personally know several of these local designers/decorators, and I know ‘of’ many more. The independent designers/decorators are missing the boat. Most of their websites (if they have one at all) don’t do them justice. Because it’s never been easier to have a good website, I think the designers who don’t, end up appearing more fuddy-duddy than they probably are.

So, I’m ‘shaking my finger’ at local design professionals.

This is a friendly reminder to get in the game.

It’s increasingly difficult for young people to break into the interior design business because there’s less business, and clients prefer experience over education. -Kathy

“The single cheapest makeover I know is a dimmer, a new CD, and some flowers.” -Glenn Gissler

My favorite mortgage lender, Colleen Leer, tells me there are a couple of lending programs out there to help renovators.

One is a loan program called “HomeStyle Renovation”. Colleen says it allows you to combine the cost of the home (if you’re buying) or the cost of the refinance with renovation/remodeling costs and finance it all in one loan. You’ll have 6 months to complete the work, and any remaining funds would go to pay down the principle of your loan.

The second renovation loan program is specifically for borrowers purchasing a FNMA-owned property and funding moderate renovations. They’re calling it a “HomePath Renovation Mortgage”. You can use this loan on either a primary residence, or an investment property.

As I look out there, I see some people looking to move. The ‘movers’ are looking for ways to bring their new home up to snuff.

Trending, perhaps a little stronger, is the tendency to stay in your home for now.

This might be different information than what you’re hearing, but there loans out there to help. I’m no expert, but Colleen is!

There are some great deals on distressed properties right now, and many need renovations! I hope the information contained here helps you find a way to finance your home improvements. -Kathy

Things have changed in the past couple of years. It’s still a good idea to spiffy up your home before you sell it. It might be more important now, than it’s ever been. Here are some tips so your home-for-sale smokes the competition.

1) Tour with a buyer’s eye-This means, basically de-clutter the place. Be brutal. I suggest you try this: when you come home, park out front, walk in the front door, and pretend you’re seeing it for the first time. Really look at the place.

2) Edit furnishings-It’s so important, number 1 and 2 are the same thing said a different way.

3) Think about the paint colors-Lots of people suggest you repaint with neutral colors. I simply don’t agree with this. The objective is to show off the home the best possible way. Paint can highlight great features of the home, and minimize any weirdness. A neutral paint is not always the answer. Use paint as a tool. If color is necessary, don’t shy away, but choose wisely.

4) Clean, clean, clean-Including odors!

5) Work the details-Spit and polish.

6) Re-accessorize with care-This is what will make the home look special. Don’t overdo it. If it’s not the perfect accessory, don’t use it. Fresh flowers look great in the kitchen, and on the nightstand next to the bed.

7) The garage-In a perfect world, the garage should be spotless. If you can’t stage the garage because you’ve paired down, and you’re storing items you’ve removed from inside the house, it’s forgivable. People will understand if you have boxes stacked in the garage. Just be tidy about it.

8) Create curb appeal-The yard needs to be trimmed and groomed.

9) Backyard-If you have patio furniture, clean it, and use it. Set up the furniture so it looks inviting when viewed from inside the home. Add a potted/flowering plant on the table.

10) Make a grand entry-Wash windows, power wash the house, clean light fixtures, put some blooming plants near the front door. And get a new welcome mat!

Spend a couple of weekends dialing in the decor. You only get one chance to make a first impression.

And best of luck selling your home!-Kathy

“Consider setting the furniture — and the carpet — on an angle. It will change the whole dynamic of a room.” -Vicente Wolf

Yes indeed! This is an oldy but a goody.-Kathy

“If your bookshelves look bland, paint the back and sides a contrasting color. Pick up the color across the room with an accent pillow or a throw.” -Connie Beale

You know what was fun today? Shopping, that’s what.

One of the coolest parts of my job is helping my clients spend money!

Honestly, the only reason it’s fun is because I’m helping my clients get what they want in home or office decor. I could never do this if it was about sticking it to someone.

-Kathy

There are some remarkable tools out there to build your own website. I’d never done this before, but that didn’t slow me down too much.

I used Sandvox for Mac, and in an evening, I pretty much had the site built. Cost me $57 bucks. (I kinda feel bad for the talented people in the business of building websites-how can you compete?)

Going forward, I’ll occasionally tweak it a little. Now that I know how, it’s no big deal. Love that!

Here’s my profile from Sandvox: Kathy Hanson & Assoc., Innovative Interior Design

-Kathy

Wicked problems, a term used in planning since the late 1960s, describes seemingly unsolvable problems. It’s also something interior designers deal with every day.

Comparing 2010 to 2011: There are fewer new listings, but more closed sales year-to-date (this year).

Average sale price is down 12.2% year-to-date.

Total time on the market has increased 17.6% year-to-date.

Inventory: the number of listings has decreased to almost half over the last 3 years.

• 2009-20.6 months of inventory in January.
• 2011-12.4 months of inventory in January.

(source: RMLS Market Action. A monthly review of real estate statistics and trends)