design i interiors

illuminate, inspire, invite, invigorate, impress, impact, imagine, innovate

a fresh, accessible and affordable approach to interior design.

identity / about

Welcome and thanks for visiting design i. I established my Chicago-based business to offer a fresh approach to interior design that caters to what I believe to be an underserved group: design-conscious yet budget-savvy homeowners. Although they recognize and appreciate the importance of a home that reflects their lifestyle and individuality, these homeowners likely don’t seek help in the process of putting it all together, concerned that it would be cost-prohibitive. Too many people seem to be waiting to transform their current spaces from uninspiring collections of furniture into unique havens that feel ‘right’ and bring them joy. Because I believe that our homes act as a backdrop to the story of our lives, I feel that we owe it to ourselves to make our spaces beautiful in a way that makes sense for the way we live – not because it is de rigueur. Working outside of the traditional design model, I have created client-oriented service offerings. These offerings allow you the flexibility of varying degrees of involvement in the project’s execution, as well as the freedom to shop for your home in quality stores that are not exclusive to design professionals. My goal is to help my clients discover their own style through a little ‘design psychology’ and to educate them on key design principles so that they can make better future decisions. I invite you to spend a little time perusing the package offerings and to think about what your goals are for your home and your lifestyle. How do you want to be living in your space? What would it take for you to love your space now instead of five years from now? Thank you for your interest in design i. I would love to hear about your thoughts for a project and hope that my passion for designing beautiful individual spaces can help you create a place that feels like home.

ideas / services

intro

As part of all services, I help my clients cultivate their own style, mix their existing things with new items and learn key design principles (along with common mistakes) so that they can make better future choices. Prior to each project, we will determine together which service best suits your design goals and you will receive a quote for the proposed work. Prices listed here are given as a starting point. They will adjust based on the size of the space and/or by your desired level of involvement in the execution. Should you wish to propose a unique project that is outside of the bounds of the services listed, please contact me to discuss your needs.

THE GIFT OF DESIGN.

Are you looking for a unique gift idea? Consider a design i gift certificate as a creative way to mark that next special occasion such as a wedding, a housewarming, a baby on the way or for the holidays.

iNSPIRE design consultation

A good choice for you if... You need help with a certain item, a particular room or even thoughts on your entire home, but want suggestions only. A consultation can help if you are overwhelmed by myriad choices and ideas and would like someone to interpret or define your particular style. It is also a great choice if you want to do the work yourself, but you need some initial direction and a specific plan for moving forward.

Depending on your goals for the consultation, at the conclusion of our meeting, you will have definitive suggestions on:

color scheme
paint or wall coverings
floor coverings
textile and accessory choices
furniture selection and placement
window treatments
lighting
storage and organization

Starting at $300 for up to 2 hours

iNVIGORATE room rejuvenation

A good choice for you if... You are looking to breathe new life into your space. Perhaps it has been a while since you’ve updated your look – or – maybe you and your significant other merged residences and you just haven’t gotten around to making it all work together? Often what is most difficult about a project is finding those elusive finishing touches that make a space reflect your individual style and give it a polished and complete look. iNVIGORATE involves rearranging your current layout, using what you have and adding those unique new items to tie it all together. After answering a questionnaire to determine your design goals, personal style, likes and dislikes, inspiration and budget, we will meet in your space to discuss your answers and to devise a plan for completion. Then, depending on whether you want to do the legwork or if you want design i to purchase and arrange all items in your home, we will have our second meeting to review the proposed design. If you elect to do the work on your own, you will receive a detailed plan of exactly what to purchase, where to find it and where to ultimately put it in your home. If design i is doing this for you, we will together come up with a schedule for implementation. Information on recommended service providers is available should you need it.

Starting at $650/room

iMPACT room makeover

A good choice for you if... You are ready to take the plunge and go for a whole new look. Have you been staring at your white walls in your new home for too many months, unable to commit to a color scheme? Have you been flipping through magazines, earmarking pages but continue to file it in your ‘to do’ folder? Or, have you never defined your own style, but are pretty sure your current look isn’t it? The iMPACT room makeover is a complete from-scratch design plan that works well for both new homeowners as well as those who are looking to give their old space a well-need overhaul. It is best suited for you if you are thinking of purchasing new furnishings and accessories and wish to go beyond just ‘sprucing up’ your space. If you want a totally new feel to the room and some of that ‘wow’ factor, this is likely the choice for you. The implementation of iMPACT is similar to iNVIGORATE, but is more involved in its level of detail in the final plan. After the initial assessment of your space in which we take into consideration its intended use, your style and hopes for its transformation, you will determine how involved you would like to be in the execution of the project. Then, you will either receive a written plan of what and where to purchase all needed items, or I will purchase items on your behalf while you sit back and watch your new space come to life.

Starting at $950/room

images / portfolio

STREETERVILLE HIGH RISE

AFTER: Building from a few pieces of furniture the owner wanted to keep, we created an inviting space for lounging and entertaining small groups. Personal touches like album art from a recent production had meaning for the owner, but didn’t appear overly sentimental or divert from the desired look.

BEFORE: Downsizing from a large suburban home to a downtown condo made sense for this busy music producer. Accustomed to spending many of his days in hip urban hotels, he was searching for a similar vibe for his home that incorporated a personal feel.

LAKEVIEW BATH REHAB

AFTER: A soothing earth-toned palette coupled with spa-like features –a large soaking tub, rain shower and heated floors - are more in keeping with the adjacent rooms and give the couple a well-deserved relaxing retreat.

BEFORE: After investing much time, money and energy into sprucing up the rest of their Lakeview home, the owners felt their master bath needed an overhaul to match the more refined style found throughout the rest of the space.

LINCOLN PARK PHOTOGRAPHER’S STUDIO

BEFORE: Balancing the hectic schedule of a professional wedding photographer and the busy social life of a thirty-something woman is difficult enough let alone when you are trying to do it all under one roof, in one large room! The owner of this spacious Lincoln Park studio decided that not only did she need a place that reflected her thriving business (prospective clients view her work in her at-home studio), but she needed clearly divided spaces so that she could separate her work life from her personal life.

AFTER: Transposing the location of the living room and home office allowed the owner and her guests to enter her home instead of walking directly into a crowded workspace. The airy divider between ‘rooms’ creates two distinct spaces without losing the architectural interest and openness of living in a historical converted loft. Other small but impactful changes were done in the bath and bedroom to create a home more reflective of its owner.

LAKEVIEW CONDO

BEFORE: Moving from a converted loft in Wicker Park, the new owners of this Lakeview condo were attracted to the space it offered and to the vibrant neighborhood. Although the home had some interesting details like 22-foot ceilings in the great room, they felt it lacked the character and ‘funkiness’ of their former space.

AFTER: Pairing clean-lined contemporary pieces with inherited and acquired antique ones helped to create the more up-to-date eclectic look the couple was seeking. Vibrant color was used throughout the home to add visual interest and to make some of the larger rooms feel cozier. Easy updates in the kitchen and in the home’s lighting made a big impact on its visual appeal and created the relaxed entertaining space its owners desired.

BUCKTOWN BACHELOR'S LOFT

BEFORE: Both the great location and general layout of this one bedroom loft were a perfect fit for its new owner. What it lacked, he felt, were the details to make it reflect his individual style without looking overdone or over-stylized.

AFTER: Both the fresh color scheme and the addition of just a few new pieces of furniture had a big impact on the space. Interspersing many of the owner’s personal items, such as his snowboard hung over the fireplace, allowed the space to evolve into one as unique as its owner – a blend of raw and edgy unconventionality combined with urban sophistication.