October 28th, 2009 | Interior Design
Many people think that obtaining interior design services is an extravagance they can’t afford. Andie Day tells us why hiring a professional designer should not be considered a luxury purchase, but rather, a wise investment that actually saves clients money.
Get the look you want the first time.
It’s about doing it right the first time. The collaborative design process creates an environment that is reflective of each client’s individual style. Homeowners with do-it-yourself design projects rarely end up with the anticipated outcomes they hoped for. Hiring a professional with years of education and experience will give the client the look they’re trying to achieve.
Avoid dangerous mistakes.
Without the expertise, many mistakes are going to be made and some can even lead to hazardous living situations. For example, I know a woman who installed a high-polished marble tile in her home. It was so slippery that she fell and snapped her ankle. She’ll be out for months now and won’t be able to do many of her daily activities. A professional designer would have creative solutions for obtaining that high-polished look without it being a safety hazard in the home.
… And costly mistakes.
Often we meet with new clients where the entire contents of their home make them feel badly. For example, they may have purchased a dining set that doesn’t turn out to be what they really wanted. So then they might go out and buy a sideboard hoping that that piece will make it better. When it doesn’t they might buy a piece of art etc. They are hoping to marry all of the pieces together and are simply unable to do it. They are unhappy with the final outcome and feel badly that they have invested so much in furnishings that do not speak to their personal style. They don’t want to spend any more money, so they either have to live in a home that doesn’t make them happy or spend even more to get the look they were trying to achieve in the first place.
Have access to the latest trends and technology.
Designers make it their job to stay on top of the latest trends and technology. Aging-in-place and sustainable design are big trends right now, and both play critical roles in my design philosophy. If we go back to the clients with a house full of furniture they hate … what do you do with all of it? Probably either throw it away or donate it. By hiring a professional, clients’ homes can be filled with furnishings and fixtures they love that will work for them through all stages of their lives.
The same goes for the latest in technology. For example, Robern makes medicine cabinets and they have just come out with a beautiful new design where the cabinet door actually rolls up instead of swings out. This is a great safety feature as it decreases the chances of getting hit in the face with the door. They also have a cabinet that includes a cold storage shelf for medicines that must be refrigerated. These are simple advances that can make a big difference in people’s day-to-day lives. A professional would know about these things but I’m not sure the average client would.
Have a more enjoyable experience.
Attempting a do-it-yourself design project can be very time consuming and stressful. Not only does it require a lot of time and effort but it can also cause conflicts with family members who have different styles or ideas about what should happen. Hiring a professional designer allows you to continue to live your life while getting a design that you love. Designers are also equipped to work through conflicts among family members in order to find solutions that make everyone happy. These solutions could also include planning ahead for an aging parent that might live in the home or finding creative ways to help ease some stress for a family with young children.
Have expertise and a professional network at your disposal.
Designers are experts at knowing what materials and products are the best and where to go for these products. We have a network of connections for all layers of a project and can select the best quality materials that are long lasting and cost efficient.
The vast majority of people would never try to build a house on their own – they would hire an architect and a builder. The same goes for hiring electricians and plumbers – experts in their fields. Hiring a professional designer should be no different. Let us create a home that is beautiful, functional and filled with comfort.
~Blog authored by Andie Day & Sabrina Velandry of Sabrina, Inc
October 26th, 2009 | Company Press
Jim Raftus of Clarke Distribution Corp, Susan Howell of Howell Custom Building Group, Rob Day, Sean Clarke of Clarke Distribution Corp, Andie Day, Steve Howell of Howell Custom Building Group and our publicist Sabrina Velandry of Sabrina Inc.
Andie with Deb Burke and Joe Tanguay of Clarke Distribution Corp.
Andie and her husband Rob, catching their breath after receiving a Gold!
Michael Kim, architect, took home 3 (4?) awards!
Sabrina Velandry of Sabrina, Inc, Andie Day and Andie's daughter; nurse and mentor for AIP, Melissa Cummings
Daniel Flynn, Master of Ceremonies & Deb Burke, PRISM Awards Chairwoman
Last night was a spectacular event for us. Andie Day, LLC was awarded a Silver and a Gold at the Builders Association of Greater Boston PRISM awards. We were awarded a Silver in best whole-house renovation under 250K. The Gold was for best kitchen remodel under 75K.
Honestly, both awards came as a complete shock. Of course, this was a welcome shock.
BAGB put on a great show. The PRISM awards (Prestigious Results in Sales and Marketing) are considered to be the Academy Awards of home design. Chairwoman, Debra Burke of Clarke Distribution Corp, and the rest of the committee definitely did it up right.
Upon arrival, guests were tickled to walk over a boardwalk of stars with the names of various contestants and sponsors. The committee decided to do-away with the fancy sit-down meal that is usually the norm for this event. Rather, heavy hors d'oeuvres were passed and the guests were invited to choose from three food stations. Most of us stood around tall cocktail tables, which was perfect for mixing and mingling. No one stood at a table for very long - just long enough to enjoy roast beef with horseradish before someone else swooped in to enjoy food and cheer. This kept the tables dynamic and the conversation movin'.
The entries were stunning. We were so proud to be up there with the winners including, Leslie Fine, Howell Custom Building Group and Abode Green Build. The biggest winner of the night was Michael Kim, a reputable and inspirational Boston architect.
Master of Ceremonies, Daniel Flynn, was hilarious and kept the awards hopping with jokes and laughter. When presenting one very gorgeous and very large Balinese bathroom, he exclaimed, "Look at the size of that bathroom! I grew up with 6 older sisters and, for me, the bathroom was the key to the Merit mart." Hey, just because we're designers doesn't mean we're immune to a good joke - even if it does involve a bathroom!
Thanks to everyone at BAGB for making the PRISM Awards extra special for all of us. And a special thanks to all our friends at Clarke. We believe all of life's achievements are a collaboration, and we would not be writing this if it weren't for the support of Deb Burke, Sean Clarke, Jim Raftus and Joe Tanguay-thanks guys! It truly was a night to remember.
~Blog authored by Andie Day & Sabrina Velandry of Sabrina, Inc
October 8th, 2009 | Design Philosophy
Interview conducted by Jenny Bagan of Sabrina, Inc.
Where do you draw your design inspirations from?
I work hard to block images right away. I need to hear about a client’s lifestyle, what do they need now and what in the coming years? It depends on each client – 100%. I do try to educate them on current trends – maybe new technologies that will help them. Technology is the greatest advance. How can technology help them? It might also be keeping it as simple as possible for some people. I find out what they need and what they can easily adapt to, so each project is different.
What are your favorite brands, products and design sources?
I love Sub-Zero/Wolf. They not only have great products but I love the way they treat their clients. They really work to support clients after the purchase. It’s not just about the product, but how they treat the end-user after they buy.
Some other products and lines I absolutely love:
- Ann Sacks - manufacturer and vendor of beautiful tile
- New Ravenna - manufacturer of breathtaking tile and mosaics
- Blanco - manufacturer of kitchen sinks
- Danze - manufacturer of hands-free kitchen faucets
- Hans Grohe - manufacturer of hands-free bath faucets and ADA compliant hand shower systems. It's an adjustable system and the hand shower can easily replace a fixed shower head where most shower heads are very lacking.
- Kohler - manufacturer of very sleek plumbing fixtures and many are ADA compliant. They are a huge proponent of the Aging-in-Place philosophy.
- Boyd Lighting - manufacturer of beautiful lighting
Some vendors I love:
- Urban Archaeology
- Waterworks
- Tile Showcase
What are you currently working on?
Work is busy, which is great! Some of my current projects are:
- I'm working on a brownstone renovation in Boston's Backbay. It's for a single woman who wants to give it a fresh style update and make it more functional for long-term living.
- I’m working on a property in the financial district in San Francisco. It’s for a professional couple in their mid-20s, their first property and it’s one-floor living. They have a low design budget so we're refinishing existing furniture and working with bold paint colors (great visual impact for low investment). They’re also thinking of having children within the next couple of years so we’re addressing that – thinking about the future.
- I also have a young family moving into a new home – they have a timeless but fun aesthetic with functionality being key.
- We’re working on a transgenerational design where a retired urban professional is moving into a new home with his parents. We’re addressing both sets of needs.
- I also have an aging-in-place couple in their late 70s moving into a small, one-level cottage. So we’re making that work for them.
Thanks so much, Andie!
