Elevating Your Space: How Hiring an Interior Designer Can Make Your Home More Elegant

Your home is a reflection of your personality and style, and every detail matters when it comes to creating a space that truly speaks to you. While DIY home decor projects can be enjoyable, there's an art to crafting a cohesive and elegant look that goes beyond arranging furniture and picking paint colors. This is where the expertise of an interior designer comes into play. Hiring an interior designer can transform your space into an oasis of elegance, combining functionality with aesthetics in a way that captures the essence of your vision. In this blog, we'll explore how the guidance of a professional interior designer can elevate your home's elegance to a whole new level.

1. Personalized Aesthetic

Interior designers possess a unique ability to translate your personal preferences into tangible design elements. By working closely with you, they can understand your style, preferences, and the atmosphere you want to create. Whether your taste is contemporary, traditional, minimalist, or eclectic, an interior designer can curate every aspect of your home to align with your aesthetic vision.

2. Fusion of Beauty and Functionality

Elegance is not just about aesthetics; it's about creating a space that is not only visually appealing but also functional and practical for everyday living. This is where the expertise of an interior designer truly shines. By deeply understanding your aesthetic preferences and how you intend to use each space, a skilled designer ensures that every layout decision, from furniture placement to traffic flow, maximizes the potential of your space and strikes the delicate balance between aesthetics and usability. This craftsmanship culminates in spaces that not only looks stunning but also enhances your daily life.

3. Attention to Detail

Elegance often lies in the details. Interior designers have an eye for detail and pay extra attention to aspects of the home that a homeowner may not. With their keen eye for selecting the right accessories, finishes, and textures, they can enhance the overall ambiance of a room. From choosing the perfect lighting fixtures to selecting fabrics that complement each other, their attention to detail elevates your home's atmosphere from ordinary to extraordinary.

4. Customization and Uniqueness

Cookie-cutter designs can't match the exclusivity that an interior designer can bring to your home. With an interior designer, You’ll take more risks (in all the right ways). They can suggest custom-made furniture, unique decor pieces, and one-of-a-kind artwork that align with your vision. This level of customization adds an air of sophistication that is hard to achieve through mass-produced items.

5.Access to Reliable Contractors and Tradesmen

One of the often-overlooked benefits of hiring an interior designer is the network of professionals they bring to the table. From skilled contractors to experienced tradesmen, interior designers have established connections with reliable professionals in the industry. This competent craftsmen that they can recommend and oversee during the project ensures that any renovation or remodeling work is executed with precision and quality.

6. Time and Cost Efficiency

One of the biggest myths is that hiring an interior designer costs more, whereas professional help can actually help you save money. While it might seem counterintuitive, hiring an interior designer can actually save you time and money in the long run. Their industry connections and knowledge of local suppliers can lead to cost-effective solutions, preventing you from making expensive design mistakes. By streamlining the decision-making process, they can help you avoid common pitfalls that lead to wasted time and resources, particularly if you’re renovating or building a new home where you need to make some pretty permanent design decisions.

7. Stylistic Balance

Achieving a balanced look that marries different design elements is an art form. Interior designers possess a knack for mixing various styles, textures, and patterns in a way that results in a cohesive and elegant space. They can help you strike the right balance between minimalism and opulence, creating a home that feels effortlessly sophisticated.

8. Cohesive Flow Between Diverse Spaces

One of the remarkable skills of an interior designer lies in their ability to establish a cohesive flow even when transitioning between rooms with varying moods and vibes. While each room may have a distinct personality, an expert designer can introduce subtle elements that tie them together. This could be through consistent color accents, shared design motifs, or the careful placement of complementary decor. The result is a home that feels harmonious and connected, despite the diversity of its spaces.

Hiring an interior designer is an investment in not just your home's appearance, but also in the quality of your daily life. By infusing their expertise into your design journey, you can transform your living spaces into havens of elegance and refinement. The guidance of a professional interior designer allows you to focus on enjoying your home while they take care of the intricate details that make it a true masterpiece of design.

If you're ready to transform your home into a haven of elegance, we're here to help! Reach out to us today to discuss how our interior design services can bring your vision to life.

How Do You Know When You're Ready to Hire an Interior Designer?

When it comes to your upcoming home remodel, are you short on time? Do you feel lost or overwhelmed turning your personal style into a beautifully designed room? It may be time to tap out—and hire an interior designer! Working with an interior designer helps save you time and money, all while removing the stress, and putting the fun back into redecorating and remodeling your home. 

Whether you’re looking to Transform Your Average Kitchen into Luxury with 12 Stunning Remodel Must-Haves or you are ready to incorporate some of the Hottest New Interior Design Trends for Homes in Newport Beach in 2023, an interior designer will simplify the process and provide you with a home that’s both functional and beautiful. But, how do you know that you’re ready to hire an interior designer? [Hint hint: most of our client’s would have benefited from hiring us earlier.] Here are a few sure signs that it is time. 

1. You’re moving into a new home.

Even if you opted for a brand new or recently renovated house, in order to really get your new home “turnkey” ready for you to move in and start living your best life, you are bound to require some different furniture, area rugs, and decor than you had in your old home. Chances are you have increased or decreased square footage, have additional rooms or rooms that take a different shape, are working with a new layout, or may have moved to a different state with a more predominant design style than your old home’s location—all of which require you to determine what furniture should stay, and what new items you will need to purchase. Or perhaps you would like to add a more modern interior design style, smart technology, or organizational upgrades to your home. An interior designer can help you accomplish all of your goals (without the headache). 

On the flipside, maybe you bought a fixer-upper and some major renovations are in order. Choosing an interior designer who has relationships with contractors throughout the area is a must. Whenever you buy a new home, hiring an interior designer to help you assess the situation should be first on your to-do list!

Designed by Genevieve Chambliss while working at Dwellings Design Group

2. You are planning mid-sized to major renovations. 

Interior designers are responsible for coordinating and managing your home renovation projects from start to finish. Therefore, if you are planning mid-sized or major renovations, you should definitely be ready to hire an interior designer. In fact, that should be your first step. When it comes to remodels, many homeowners underestimate the time and energy needed for their project and quickly become overwhelmed when they try to do it on their own. Your general contractor will want plan and elevation drawings, and expect you to have all the details figured out from plumbing fixtures and tile to selecting door knobs and baseboards. Interior designers will tackle everything from conceptual design and space planning to the installation and styling—and all the details in between. 

When it comes to getting started, you’ll need an expert with great spacial skills to rework and re-envision your space to meet your needs and ultimately enhance how you live. Your interior designer will: 

• Define the design direction and palette 

• Improve flow patterns

• Add desired features

• Furniture space plan

• Incorporate existing furniture

During the next phase of your renovation, your interior designer will develop the design by addressing all the little details to create a cohesive look that evokes your personal style.  

• Develop a detailed set of plans and elevations to communicate the design to your contractor and tradesmen

• Select cabinet style, custom inserts and design bespoke millwork details

• Specify flooring finishes, countertops, tile, and paint colors

• Specify the plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, etc.

• Provide 3D renderings to help you envision your future dream home

Your interior designer will also lead you through furniture and accessory selections. They will purchase and procure all your items, communicate with vendors to track and expedite shipments, coordinate deliveries, and then install all furniture and style your home with artwork and home decor for a finished cohesive look. 

If you are in need of major renovations, check out these resources: 

• How the Interior Design Process can Improve Your Property Value

• The Comprehensive Home Remodel Planning Guide: a FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Remodel Your Home like a Pro

3. You feel lost or overwhelmed at the thought of “redecorating.”

One major indicator that you are ready to hire an interior designer is that you are overwhelmed. It is OK to ask for help and to opt out of DIY options when it comes to redecorating your home. Not everyone has a knack for marrying personal style with what’s on trend and what is functional. Quality interior designers have gone to design school, have a natural instinct for attention to detail coupled with an unparalleled technical edge, and have plenty of experience designing luxury spaces that are cohesive, polished, and tailored to each client. There is no need to rely on yourself if you don’t want to!  

Designed by Genevieve Chambliss while working at Dwellings Design Group

4. You have some idea of the design style you like—or don’t like. 

Before you are officially ready to hire an interior designer, it is a good idea to know what items or styles you are drawn to and/or what styles you definitely want to avoid. Try making a list of furniture or art pieces in your home that you can’t part with and/or start a Pinterest board where you can save images of entire rooms, specific design styles, furniture, art, colors, finishes, etc. that you can show your interior designer. 

5. You have a general idea of your timeline and know your budget.

We will get into this in greater detail a few points down, but you might not be ready to hire an interior designer if you have zero sense of what you’d like to accomplish in your home or how much you are willing to spend. These are two questions that you need to ask yourself before you are ready to start your project. You can always meet with an interior designer (or a few) to gain a better understanding of what home renovations cost these days, and a realistic idea of how long remodels take. Once you have some idea of what you want and what you are ready to invest in your home, an interior designer can help you determine if your project and budget are realistic or if you may need to phase it out to accomplish your goals. That way you can plan for the future and determine if you truly are ready to hire an interior designer. 

6. You are open to suggestions. 

Being open to suggestions is a big (and often overlooked) aspect of being ready to hire an interior designer. When you are working with someone to transform your home into your luxury dream home, you will need to be open to new ideas and, unfortunately, sometimes hearing that one of your ideas won’t work or be ideal for your space. If you can be open to feedback and suggestions, a good interior designer will help you find better solutions than you could have dreamed up so that you’re overjoyed with the outcome of your newly designed home. 

Designed by Genevieve Chambliss while working at Dwellings Design Group

7. You have a pretty good understanding of the interior design process. 

It is your interior designer’s job to make sure that you have a solid understanding of the interior design process you are about to embark on, and that all your questions have been answered. We touched on this process a bit when we discussed mid-sized to major home renovations, but for a more comprehensive overview of the interior design process, you can view this page.  

8. You’ve found an interior designer who fits your style, timeline and budget. 

Hopefully by now you have ended your search for the top interior designers from Newport Beach, CA (shameless plug: we made this list) and you have found someone who matches your style, and can work within your timeline and budget. To find someone who matches your style, you can review the interior designer’s portfolio. However, keep in mind that an interior designer’s job is to decipher your personal style and bring it to life. That means you don’t necessarily need to love the same design style or decor, but rather that your interior designer will listen to your ideas, pain points, functional needs, and goals, and has the eye for aesthetics, technical background, and plenty of experience to get the job done correctly.

Regarding timeline and budget? At this point, you should have gained a realistic idea of how long your project will take and how much it will cost. This will depend on the scope of your project. If you’re planning a major renovation, your home remodel could take up to a year! Make sure your interior designer is honest with you—delivery times are still slower and prices are still up. Don’t choose an interior designer who will compromise their integrity to get you to choose them, or someone who will compromise quality. Alternatively, a good interior designer will show you where you can save money and where you should put the majority of your budget to achieve your goals and get the best return on your investment.  

Check out 5 Things to Look for When Hiring an Interior Designer in Orange County for more information. 

9. You and your interior designer have decided what interior design services are best for your needs. 

There are many different ways to work with interior designers based on your specific needs. Here are a few of the ways you can work with us:

1. Full-Service Design: top-to-bottom service for your luxury remodel or new construction. This service includes a full custom design tailored to your style and the way you live. With this done-for-you service we also execute all purchasing and procurement, project management, as well as final styling so your new, beautiful home is turnkey ready for you to kick up your feet, relax, and enjoy.

2. Virtual or Design-Only Services: perfect if you have time to devote to your remodel or furnishing project but lack the expertise. In this case, we will select finishes, fixtures, furniture, and more and provide detailed drawings. Then you take it from there to execute the design. With this service, you are responsible for all purchasing  and procurement as well as project management. This service can be done locally with an initial on-site consultation or virtually with customer-provided dimensions.

3. Designer-On-Call Service: if you're unsure how much or how little help you need, or just have some small design details you'd like help with, then a Designer-on-Call package might be right for you. Get our expert design advice, paint color selection, art selection, or a professional floor plan or elevation drawing for your contractor at our hourly rates.

Designed by Genevieve Chambliss while working at Dwellings Design Group

Ready to schedule your discovery call? Contact us today! 

For more information on hiring the right interior designer for your project, check out these additional resources: 

• When To Hire an Interior Designer: Questions to ask Yourself

• 5 Things to look for when Hiring an Interior Designer in Orange County

How the Interior Design Process Can Improve your Property Value

Orange County real estate is a hot topic! Which is no surprise—given the beautiful beaches, quick drive to scenic mountains or desert landscape, the amazing food and entertainment…oh, and the almost-perfect-year-round weather! However, compared to last year, the housing market isn’t as booming, and doesn’t seem to favor the seller at the moment. 

That means that if you plan to sell your Orange County home, you have to beat the competition. One sure way to make your home stand out from your neighbor’s is to make home improvements. In fact, Forbes said this: "With a few strategic home improvement projects, you can not only increase your quality of life in the near-term future, but also add tremendous property value when you’re ready to sell."

We consulted top Orange County real estate agent Erica Hall of the Hall Group, on the subject. Here’s what she had to say. 

“In today’s real estate market, with 52% fewer sales than this time last year, homes must outshine the competition in order to win buyers. That’s why the smartest homeowners are investing wisely into home improvements and design. Not only are they seeing greater success in attracting buyers, but they’re seeing greater return on investment as well. In general, data shows a 70% ROI can be expected on home improvements. This can vary significantly depending on the type and scale of the improvement, but time after time, my experience as a realtor has shown me that my clients’ home equity, and ultimate bottom line in a sale, is much greater when they invest in interior design and home improvements. Even if you’re not planning to sell in the immediate future, you and your resale value will thank you later!”

To help you a) get the most out of your Orange County home while you’re living in it; b) attract more buyers when it comes time to sell; and c) achieve the greatest ROI, we’ve put together a list of the best interior design and home renovation decisions you can make!

1. Modernize and remodel your kitchen

The number one home renovation recommendation we get from real estate agents, financial publications, or housing market professionals is to remodel and modernize the kitchen first! I can’t count the number of times I have heard, “kitchens sell homes.” If you choose to upgrade only one room in your Orange County home before it goes on the market, we recommend that it be your kitchen. Need some ideas on how to modernize and remodel your kitchen? Check out Transform Your Average Kitchen into Luxury with 12 Stunning Remodel Must-Haves. 

2. Give your bathrooms an upgrade

Today’s Orange County homeowners are looking for a luxury bathroom that feels spacious, stylish and functional! If your bathrooms aren’t giving off that vibe, you may want to consider making some interior renovations to it before putting up that “for sale” sign. Upgrading old floors with fresh tile or stone, or swapping out old vanities for new ones, are great ways to give your bathroom a fresh look. Even minor renovations like updating fixtures and lighting, giving your cabinetry a new paint job, adding a larger mirror for a more spacious feel, or replacing your old tub with a stand-alone tub will boost your home’s value. In fact, HGTV says that you can get 102% average return at resale for a minor bathroom remodel. For more bathroom upgrade tips, check out Interior Design: Best Tips to Update Your Bathroom!

3. Make smart bedroom conversions

Have an unused room in your home? Stand out by turning wasted space into a luxury home gym, indoor spa or sauna, or functional home office. If you don’t have much space to spare, you can help potential home buyers in Orange County visualize what they can do with your home by turning the attic into an extra bedroom, or creating multi-use, multi-functional spaces in larger rooms of your home. Consider a home office that doubles as a craft room, school/study space tucked in a game room, or a reading nook or meditation/yoga space in a bedroom. These dual-use spaces are so important as want and need for multipurpose spaces in interior design continue to trend upwards! 

4. Wow them at first sight with an exterior facelift 

The exterior of your home should never look or feel neglected—it is the first opportunity you have to make a good first impression with your home. A well manicured lawn, clean facade, and fresh-looking paint job should be the bare minimum to attract Orange County home buyers. To really make your exterior look luxurious, pay attention to the details: replace old drains, remove non-load-bearing columns to opt for a more open modern look, repaint doors and trim (or the whole house if it's been a while), fix the cracks in your walkways and pool—you get the gist! And last, but certainly not least, update your landscaping for 100% average return at resale.  

5. Add some smart features and luxury touches to your home

Given that we’ve been discussing Orange County interior design, you’ll definitely want to add some pizazz with custom touches and smart features to your home. Keeping in mind that you still need to appeal to the average home buyer, add in the custom touches that everyone is talking about. Here’s a list of our favorite: 

• A smart hub that can manage thermostats, appliances, lighting, music, and more!

• Smart smoke detectors that will not only monitor smoke but also carbon dioxide and general air quality. 

• Smart shades or electronic blackout curtains in the master bedroom. 

• Dimmable LED tape lighting under upper kitchen cabinets or at the bathroom vanity toe-kick.

• Panel-ready appliances (like your dishwasher, wine fridge, or ice maker). 

• Counter-depth refrigerator and freezer combo. 

• A beverage cooler drawer. 

• Waterfall-edge slab countertops on your kitchen island. 

• Soft-close drawer glides and hinges throughout. 

• Epoxy flooring in your garage. 

For more home remodel tips, download our FREE comprehensive remodeling planning guide for remodeling success. This step-by-step guide will help you remodel your Orange County home like an interior design pro! 

Save this blog post for later on your Pinterest Home Renovation Ideas Board!

How to Decorate Your Orange County Home Using Masculine Interior Design Style

Bedroom designed and styled by Viève Interiors

If you’re anything like me, you’re following a slew of interior designers on social media and blogs who share images of airy designs with soft color pallets. But every now and then, you come across an image that’s strikingly different in the best way. It’s bold, it’s moody, it’s functional, it’s masculine interior design style. 

What is masculine interior design style? It encompasses simple lines, strong materials and comfort. It can even be elegant, industrial, modern, contemporary, or bright. But the best description we have heard of masculine interior design style is this: “a bold, yet functional [design] trend which takes inspiration from the lifestyle of a man”. As with women, no two men are the same, so masculine interior design style is definitely up for interpretation and personalization. But with all design styles, there are some characteristics that can help inspire you to create a space that has a masculine flare. 

Before we get into it, we wanted to point out that using masculine interior design style doesn’t necessarily mean you are decorating a bachelor pad. This dramatic design style is perfect for a game room, a sexy bar, or a cozy guest room. Even if you’re set on a more feminine feel, incorporating elements of masculine design is a good way to balance more feminine curves or floral patterns in your home for a look that feels right for all family and friends.

1. Choose rich, deep and dark room colors.

One of the most prominent aspects of a masculine room is the color scheme. Usually, masculine design style features darker hues of blue and green, plus varying shades of gray and brown, as well as black. The key is rich, deep, dark colors with decorative accents in lighter colors to create contrast. This creates a dramatic vibe. You can easily incorporate these colors using interior paint, decorating home fabrics or small accessories. 

Masculine office space designed by Viève Interiors

Photo credit: @masculine_interiors

Photo credit: @havendesignandconstruction

Photo Credit: @leahkoubainteriors

2. Accent the room with strong materials. 

Another key defining characteristic of masculine design style is to incorporate materials including metal, wood, stone and leather. These materials naturally exude a more masculine energy and also tend to come in more masculine and neutral colors. Focus on key pieces of furniture like a leather chair or sofa, the bed frame, or our personal favorite, an impressive, live-edge dining table. You could also consider adding these elements into other parts of your home like sky beams, light fixtures, and appliances.

Dining room designed by Viève Interiors

Photo credit: @jlv_creative

Photo credit: @havendesignandconstruction

3. Design for comfort and functionality. 

Any good interior designer will make sure to balance the aesthetics of a room with functionality. And when it comes to masculine interior design style, it is pretty evident that comfort and functionality are at the forefront. You won’t see a lot of wasted space or nick knacks in this design style—every desk, bookshelf, chair, sofa, bar cart, pool table, or decorative box, etc. has a purpose. 

Photo credit: @havendesignandconstruction

Photo credit: @havendesignandconstruction

4. Focus on simple and clean lines. 

Effortless simplicity is at the heart of this design trend. And clean, simple lines are the key. Masculine spaces have very clean, tailored lines.  In addition to using more linear and simplified furniture, you can tie a masculine room together with the clean lines of your flooring, drapery, bookcases, wall finishings, backsplashes, the tub or shower, and so much more.    

Photo credit: @masculine_interiors

Photo credit: @jlv_creative

5. Don’t forget the finishing touches. 

Along with tip number three, the finishing touches are really what make a space your own. Don’t forget to hang artwork, prints, mirrors and shelving that speaks to you. Fill in empty spaces with meaningful sculptures or oversized plants. With masculine interior design style, the finishing touches are often inspired by nature, so look for pieces like the matching bird photos we used in this Orange County bedroom! 

Bedroom designed and styled by Viève Interiors

Photo credit: @havendesignandconstruction

For more interior design inspiration and tips to decorate your Orange County home, be sure to sign up for our newsletter, here.

5 Things to look for when Hiring an Interior Designer in Orange County

Ready to make the jump into hiring someone to help you create your dream home in Orange County? Your space is intensely personal, so choosing the right person to work with needs to be equally so! Here are a few tips on how to hire the right interior designer for you!

1. Make Sure Your Orange County Interior Designer Matches Your Style!

Before anything, your interior designer has to be able to have the same vision as you. This doesn’t necessarily mean you two have to have the exact same personal style, but it does mean that your designer needs to: 

• Listen to your ideas, pain points, functional needs, and goals. 

• Add your personality into their design plans.

• Work within your timeline and budget.

• Not only have an eye for aesthetics, but also have a technical background and plenty of experience.

Some designers may specialize in only one “signature look”, but here at Viève Interiors, our portfolio spans a wide range of stylistic and aesthetic approaches! From Transitional to Traditional, and Modern to Minimalist, we have experience designing spaces in many different design styles. 

2. Get References & Credentials Before Selecting an OC Interior Design Company

Put your Orange County interior designer’s experience to the test! Remember, it is OK to ask your interior designer where they studied design, or how they got their technical training. It is also recommended that you look at pedigree, past reviews, and previous projects, as well as speak with some of their previous clients. While pictures give you an idea of the final product, they don’t show your designer executing the interior design process itself. However, previous clients can provide you with insight into what it is like working with a specific designer! At Viève Interiors, clients and contractors love that we make the process of design easy.

3. How Does the Interior Designer Charge for Services?

It’s not just important to discuss how much a designer may charge, but how they charge as well! Some interior design companies may charge an hourly rate, while others charge a flat fee. If you want a high level of involvement every step of the way, then you may want a flat rate for full-service design, while someone who just needs to replace an item or two or even just a few hours of design consulting might do best with an hourly fee. At Viève Interiors, we offer either flat-fee or hourly design services to accommodate your needs no matter how big or small your project may be. 

Payment schedule is also an important thing to consider when looking at your budget. Whether your Orange County designer invoices on a monthly basis, requires an upfront retainer or regular installments, make sure to find what works for you and your plans. 

4. How Long Will Your Interior Design Project Take?

Of course, if you could hire the Mary Poppins of interior design in Orange County, and everything would be new at the snap of a finger, we would hire her too!. Unfortunately, the design process doesn’t work that way. The reality is that full home renovations take many months, even a year or more to complete. And, since the COVID pandemic, we are still seeing major delays in the shipment and delivery of materials and merchandise needed to complete your designs. 

Make sure to be realistic about the timeline of your project and ask your designer how long it might take. Also keep in mind, everything doesn’t have to be done at once. In fact, many homeowners break their project into phases or by room. If your timeline or budget is limited, consider focusing on the key areas of your home first. Whichever way you decide to go—room-by-room or full remodel—choose an interior designer that will be forthcoming about the timeline.

5. Does Your Interior Designer Have Relationships with Contractors in OC?

An interior designer can’t be successful without great, long-term, relationships with local contractors in Orange County. While the interior designer might be steering the ship, contractors are the engine that get the project to where it needs to go.  

A good contractor is worth their weight in gold, and a great interior designer has a solid rolodex of good contractors. After all, what good is the design if it never makes it off paper? 

We hope that you have gained a better understanding of what to look for when hiring an interior designer in Orange County! If you have questions, or would like to book a discovery call, call 949-610-7800 or fill out the contact form and we will reach out to you directly!  

At Viève Interiors, it is our mission to help homeowners love where they live because happy homes are the most beautiful homes!