It's Official! We are now Maxwell House of Design.

After months of preparation, we are pleased to announce our new name, Maxwell House of Design.  This change came as a result of series of discussions with my friend Dianne Stewart, owner of BSA Public Relations.  Dianne asked me why I had named my firm By Design Interiors.  The story behind the name goes back to the time when I first decided to launch a business.  The initial business plan was to be a staging company for real estate,  therefore, the first name of my company was Sold By Design.  This decision was made because I felt like the staging business was a relatively wide open field and that it would be easier  to establish than an interior design company.  As more and more of the homeowners, for which I did staging work, asked me to help them in their new home, the scope of my services changed.  Quickly, my business become more about what happens after the move than before it.  I found myself with an developing interior design business!  After about a year of the design side growing and the staging side staying static, I dropped Sold from the By Design name and became By Design.  Because there is a contemporary furniture store with that name, I added a word and became By Design Interiors.  Over the next several years, I began to realize that my name, the design of my logo, and my overall brand really didn't reflect where I am in business now.  Enter the brilliant Dianne Stewart and Digital Trooper, web design company extraordinaire, and now we have a new name, a new website and brand that reflects our current business direction.  For those of you that have followed me for years, thank you for your loyalty and friendship.  To those new to the blog, I welcome you to this exciting new phase of my business life.

Doll Houses and Dreams...

Most young girls enjoy playing with dollhouses.  I know I sure did!  Dollhouses are a charming way for little girls to set up their own household and be masters of a domain that is theirs alone.  I wonder how many designers were hooked on interior design from childhood?

I am in the process of setting up a new "house" of my own, a new website that will feature a re-launch of my business under a new name, Maxwell House of Design.  This process is much like furnishing your home, each catagory of information requires thought and design.  The process has been seemless with the Morphogine platfrom and the tireless help of Dianne Stewart of BSA Public Relations.  I look forward to having you visit the site once it goes "live" by the end of the month.
To celebrate the process of evolution, I am going to share some dollhouses that really go beyond the ordinary to the extra-ordinary.  These exquisite miniatures are the adult version of our childhood dream worlds.  Enjoy the pictures and for more information on these check out the website at http://www.mulvanyandrogers.com/.

Fantasy Bathtubs

Winter time equals bath time at my house!  Cold winter days and early darkness beg to be answered with a long soak in a warm bath.  While this is more a fantasy than a reality these days, it is fun to daydream.  I decided to post photos of some drool worthy bathtubs.  No longer are five star hotels and spa's the only ones that can offer these magnificent fixtures, homeowner can have them too!
The first photo is from Sun Rising, a Chinese company.  Duravit offers the tub turned fountain in the second picutre. Aqua Prestige is the maker of the vintage tub shown in the third image. The final bathtub is from Stone Forest.  Enjoy!

Why Interior Design Associations Matter...

Recently a I shared with a Charlotte client that I was a professional member of the Association of Interior Design Professionals.  His response was interesting.  He thought that it was no big deal and that any business association is willing to take on members that are willing to pay their dues!  He didn't believe that there was any credibility added to my professional status by the fact that I was a member.  This guy needed an education and I was glad to oblige.

Nationally recognized Interior Design Associations have high standards for membership.  Whether it is AIDP, IDS, ASID or any of the many other professional associations, each group vets it's members as to their education, experience and business ethics.  You don't just automatically receive professional status.  You have to submit your resume, letters of reference, client testimonials and prove your business integrity and longevity!  If you choosing an interior designer, a way to make sure you are finding a true professional is to make sure they are involved with a professional association.

Yesterday, I met with a potential out-of-town client.  She told a harrowing story about a "designer/decorator" that had tried to sell her all kinds of things.  This person did not measure the client's home, but, tried to sell her a sofa that was way too large for the space.  She tried to pass off dated fabric as new, and, she had questionable business practices to boot.  I asked this client if this "diva" was involved in any professional design organizations and it was no surprise to me that she was not.  Whether this client and I will try to work long distance is still under consideration.  That she will use a member of an professional design organization is no longer an issue.  

If you want to learn more about the organization with which I am aligned, the Association of Interior Design Professionals, log onto the National website at http://www.aidponline.com/.  Our local chapter information can be found at http://www.aidpcharlottechapter.com/ and from there you can go to our blog, Facebook page and Twitter account.

Sylish Office Organization

People from all over my area, Charlotte, NC, Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Lake Wylie, SC are talking about getting the home office organized for the New Year.  I am no exception.  In order to get inspired for the task at hand, I went online looking for fun, stylish organizational tools.  The site at See Jane Work offered just what I was looking for.  So as you go through old files, start new ones and get rid of the endless supply of paper clutter, check out ways to brighten the space and add fun to the task!