Open Door Design

I LOVE Interior Design, and I love the opportunity to co-create beautiful and functional spaces with home dwellers, while collaborating with artisans from fields of construction and design.

History of Open Door Design:

Interior Design has been a life long passion. As a second grader I couldn't get enough of the smell of fresh cut 2 x 4's and the thrill of watching our local contractor frame our new home. In High School, I would wallpaper, paint and sew pillows and window coverings and rearrange furniture and accessories for fun, probably to my mother's chagrin!
Upon high school graduation in 1975, I entered college at MSU-Bozeman, initially declaring Fine Arts as my major. Having come from a very small school, where art classes weren't offered, I decided to move towards a more familiar line of study...dress design and textiles. Later, my life took an interesting turn, and I felt led to continue my education by obtaining an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling. I spent the next 17 years walking alongside people in their interior worlds as a licensed counselor. A little over 4 years ago I decided to retire from that work, and took on the challenge of continuing my interior design education through the Interior Design Institute in San Fransisco. I am thrilled to have this part of my life to pursue this passion!

Goals and Values of Open Door Design:

Accessibility. As a designer, I long to see Interior Design available to all home dwellers and to raise the awareness of the value of well-designed spaces and to reduce a sense of intimidation re. the process. As a therapist I have seen how one's environment can emotionally, mentally and spiritually impact one's sense of value and motivation. With this goal in mind, I have structured Open Door Design to be affordable by having a simple fee structure, and I take a didactic approach to the design process.

Authenticity. In order for your space to be an accurate expression of who you are, it is important to take the time to build a good foundation, by understanding your values and goals. Time will be spent on a process of internal reflection and awareness. This can be very challenging, but I believe you will find it most gratifying.

Resilience. As in any process there can be delays, miscommunications, unspoken or unknown desires, and more. My commitment is to be resilient in those situations and to use those moments to create opportunities. Design is always an evolving process. Sometimes mistakes in the process produce the most memorable and insightful design solutions!

Meaningfulness. My desire is to provide structure through good design principals that allow for the freedom of expression of personal taste, style and needs. I want spaces to be a meaningful expression of the essence of the home dweller and their family members.

Services Provided:

New Construction Planning. Open Door Design will work with your architect or home builder to finalize plans before construction begins. Types of issues to be addressed include, but are not limited to, the design aesthetic, space planning, lighting, coloration, storage, balance, architectural details, and materials selection. I will be onsite through the entire building process as needed.

Re-construction. This is the re-design of an existing structure, and can include all or part of the above.

Color Scheme Development. Every design plan needs at it's foundation a color scheme. On this foundation fabrics, paint, furniture, lighting, hardware and accessories can be much more easily chosen! I will help you develop several options for a color scheme, suggest some possible fabrics to define the "mood" of your space, provide you with paint chips to help you confidently develop your space, and create a color plan for each room in your space. The development of the color scheme will include concerns re. the focal points, balance, proportion, and orientation of your spaces.

Design Consultation. Open Door Design offers up to two hours of consultation for furniture arrangement, accessorizing, or just a general walk through of your space for design ideas.

Fees:

One of my commitments is to take the mystery and possible apprehension out of hiring a designer when it comes to cost. On my side, part of the creative process is having time to mull over ideas. Not having an hourly fee removes the pressure of the time clock, and enhances the creative process. My fee structure is very simple.

Consultations: $75/hour up to 2 hours.

Color Consultation: $250

Re-construction: 15% of total project costs, including contract labor, supplies, and furnishings.

New Construction: $2.50/square foot of the project size.

Travel fees may apply. These fees subject to change.

I do offer a one hour free consult outside of your home for the initial conversation re. your project. This will be an opportunity to get to know each other and see if we will be a good match. After that a contract will be offered, that will include 4 scheduled payments throughout the project, with the first being a retainer at the time of signing.

I currently accept checks and cash for payment.

I look forward to working with you, and creating spaces that give you years of enjoyment and pride in your home!!