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www.theconnectionsnj.com
D e s i g n C o n s u l t a n t s
Residential & Corporate Interiors
P.O. Box 252 • Route 202 North • Bedminster, NJ 07921
Tel: 908-781-2092 • Fax: 908-781-2410
ood design is to create warm,
comfortable and inviting spaces
through the interpretation of a
client’s unique lifestyle and desires,
while allowing for an element
of the unexpected.
ASID, CID
G
This interior designer, who custom built her own home emphatically says: “Yes!” For the homeowner floundering on their own it could be overwhelming, stressful, a nightmare. But fear not, the key is a team that listens, understands your needs, and supports you through the process, i.e. architect, interior designer, trades, and the end vision. I put the designer up first since they will interface with you to understand your needs and life styles so that all of you can go to the architect with a basic frame work of what you would like to accomplish with images for clarity. If you want to save yourself stress and expense, have a competent team that you can relate to, and feel they are looking out for the best result for you. The following are very important that one might not be aware of: 1. The positioning of the house to the land and the north south orientation. Feng Shui says NS is best, the reason is the sun is always going over your home as opposed to directly penetrating your home, which means good light all day. Size and placement of windows affect the light filtering. The interior function and flow are key. 2. Today buyers are looking for 1st floor master bedrooms, as our baby boomers age, but in reality it works well for all generations. 3. Laundry rooms should be by the bed- rooms where laundry is returned to, not in kitchens and basements. When the master bedroom is on the 1st floor and others on the second floor you can use old fashioned laundry shoots. 4. Family room/great rooms open and adja- cent to kitchens – very important. 5. Walk-in closets even if small for second- ary bedrooms function much better. These are just a few of the considerations when building the home of your choice. Be on top of what appliances you want and brands. The kitchen designer needs that first, get all your tile selections done and don’t forget the grout color. The professionals can lay out the design so you get a clear understanding of what it will look like and how it will function specif- ically for how your family lives in your home. Lighting is key, but to do it right and effec- tively you need to have the furniture layout complete so it relates to the ambience and task that you want to achieve – mixing var- ious light sources is key. Scale of molding is crucial to give volume to the space. Type of flooring, finishes, paint colors, fin- ishing details of windows, carpets and furniture. There is nothing more frustrating than to finish your home and then say “why didn’t I think of that?” Working with talented professionals will make the process of mak- ing decisions, including all the little details less stressful. So much is involved makes many say never again. However, as an interior designer I love being in the process and watching it come to fruition. Enjoy the process Gail Whiting, ASID, CID is the owner of Design Consultants in Bedminster, N.J. She values her clients and works closely with them while pay- ing attention to detail, creating a warm and inviting environment with sophistication and a touch of the unexpected. WOULD I EVER BUILD AGAIN? By: Gail Whiting, ASID, CIDPAGE 73