while I was OUT

I have totally been MIA for like the last two months.  I really apologize!  I have a TON of stuff to blog about.  I just spent the last half hour taking pictures of recent projects only to realize that my lap top is not compatible with my camera!  AWESOME!  So you will  have to see a few updates via  fancy i-phone pictures! 

While I was out, I was busy learning to sew.  And I LOVE it...with a capital L O V E!!!  However my first projects were all done on the down low as they were all for baby A. Rae.  I started with a blanket

this is my first row and the first thing I ever sewed!!  It turned out pretty darn cute, the finished project will have to be in another post.

Next I moved on to matching burp cloths. 

My machine really wanted to EAT the burp cloths but I was patient and was pleased witht the overall end result.  YES that is an A that I busted out freehand! HA! (loving my socks)

We (the dream daughter and I) were lucky enough to roll out and see Jacq and her baby bump.  We even made it to the shower.  It's so special to be able to share those 'moments' with your girlfriends. One of her good friends is a fab photographer and did some pics of the two of us for this here blog.  What a concept...pictures...of us...together...on OUR blog!  Can't wait to see them!!

So for now that's all I can share with you.  Hopefully soon I will have my desk top back and can share a few pictures and stories of the last two months!!! 

Oh and just so you know that I have been doing a few things around my own house.  Here is a picture of a really cute head band holder that I made for the dream daughter tonight! 

 Total cost $1!! That's right ONE DOLLAR...score!

-fd

A look back...

With tomorrow being the 1st day of the new year Two Thousand and Eleven, I wanted to take a look back on the past year because what a year it has been.  In '09, I was living in this 1 bedroom, 800 square foot apartment with my "boyfriend", Drew.  We were happy, but had big dreams that were about to come true.

 On June 10th 2009, my boyfriend--best friend--love of my life proposed to me in the top level of the parking garage at work.  I said "hell yea" and was off to plan a wedding.

We decided to look for a home of our own.  We were able to save a little bit of money from living in our little apartment for over two years and felt the time was right.  After almost a year of searching, we finally signed a contract to built our very first home!

Which brings me to

2010!

We rung in the new year with construction on our lot!  We visited our lot weekly to check out the house progress.

Trying to plan a wedding and built a house all at the same time was a wee bit stressful, but I did it and we had a great time!

My grandmother held a wonderful couples bridal shower for us.

Mother's Day was awesome this year with both of our families together.  I sure am a lucky girl with the best in-laws.

Christy hosted our rehearsal dinner and so many of our friends and family were there.  Perfect!

On April 3rd, we got hitched!

Some other highlights of this year include:

- My baby sister graduating  high school and leaving for college {on a scholarship!}

-Drew and I both turned 28 years old

-I got a new car {RIP silver bullet}

-Last, but not least...

We conceived a child! 

Whew, what a year.  I am so thankful for everything and everyone in my life.  I am looking forward to a bigger and better 2011.  You've got some stiff competition New Year!

Go out and Celebrate tonight!

-jd

What is an Interior Designer

There is a misconception about what an Interior Designer is exactly, what we do day to day, and why you would want to hire one.  Let me just take a second to give you my take.


My 8-5er is at a large architecture firm where I sit at a desk in a cubicle behind a computer and draft floor plans, design details, and custom millwork for large hospitals, corporate office buildings and laboratories about 75% of the time.  I spend about 15% of my time pulling fabrics, furniture, paint, carpet and doing "the fun stuff" and the remainder is spent in meetings with clients, consultants, engineers, etc.  Glamorous eh?  NOT.  Don't get my wrong, I do love my job, but the reason I started this blog with Fallon was to have a more creative outlet to express my love for the decorating aspect of design and expand my clientele into residential projects where I can really have some fun and flexibility in my career.


Now, contrary to popular belief, designers and decorators can be two different professions.  Wikipedia defines Interior Design as a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment.  The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis, and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.In jurisdictions where the profession is regulated by the government, designers must meet broad qualifications and show competency in the entire scope of the profession, not only in a specialty. Designers may elect to obtain specialist accreditation offered by private organizations. In the United States, interior designers who also possess environmental expertise in design solutions for sustainable construction can receive accreditation in this area by taking the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) examination.  (ps. I am a LEED accredited professional)  Not to be confused with interior decoration, interior design, which evolved from interior decoration, involves a multitude of technical, analytical, creative skills, and understandings of architectural elements. There is a wide range of disciplines within the career of interior design. Domestically the profession of interior design encompasses those designers who may specialize in residential and or commercial interior design.  Interior designers often work under stress to meet deadlines, stay on budget, and meet clients' needs. In some cases, licensed professionals (that would be me)  review the work and sign it before submitting the design for approval by clients or construction permitting. The need for licensed review and signature varies by locality and relevant legislation, and scope of work. Their work tends to involve a great deal of traveling to visit different locations, studios, or client's homes and offices.


An Interior Design degree includes instruction in architecture, structural systems design, heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, and professional responsibilities and standards." Interior Design stands at the intersection of architecture, design of the built environment, and conservation. A designer addresses the design issues intrinsic to the re-use and transformation of existing structures through both an innovative and progressive approach.  We work very closely with architects, contractors, engineers and different consultants.


The main difference between is designer and a decorator is that designers typically have a 4 year degree, additional accreditations, and require continuing education classes to keep their license active while decorators can get a certificate.  Depending on how and where you practice, design can certainly mean doing quite a bit of decorating (ie: pulling fabrics, designing window treatments, furniture placement, etc).


Now the important stuff: want to hire an Interior Designer?  Here are some things I think you should keep in mind.  We do this stuff day in and day out of a variety of different project types for a variety of different clients and end users.  We have experience in what looks good, what works, how you can get the most bang for your buck, and what will add value to your space.  Most designers work one of two ways: They charge for their service or they mark up merchandise.  I personally charge for my service only, which means I give a bulk rate to complete an entire job.  I believe it's more honest and easier for both parties to know exactly how much money is going towards design fees.  I still get all of the discounts that are 'To the Trade', but I pass them directly to my client.  I think that is one of the benefits of hiring a designer and sometimes, the discount on furnishings can help offset the costs of hiring a professional to help you.  Now some designers will mark up the merchandise they buy and make a little fee that way.  The problem I find with this is that sometimes it persuades the client where to and not to shop.  My end goal is to make my client happy, create a beautifully functional space, and hopefully spend their dollar wisely.  I want to be able to go to a garage sale and pick up a piece for $25 if that is what they want/need and I don't want to feel like I have to take them to a certain store to get my fee.  There are also designers that do a combo and will charge an hourly rate and make a bit of fee from merchandise mark up.  Other ways designers can make money include marking up window treatments or custom pieces or receiving kick-backs from certain contractors.  I do none of those.


Well, I know that was probably drawn out and pretty boring, but hopefully it helps you understand what I do and why we started O+P.  Design is what I love.  I'm good at it and have great passion towards it. 


-jd

The General Intro

OK, so I wanted to wait to do my first post until we had the blog to it's utmost cuteness in layout...but I can't wait.  For those of you that don't know us, let me take a second to tell you a little about us.  O+P is written by two women who became friends in college at the Art Institute of Atlanta.  We met in 2002 and have been besties ever since.  We've graduated college together, planned weddings, designed our dream houses, had babies (well one of us), and talk daily via e-mail about our lives (gray hairs, what color to paint to paint this or that, the dream daughter's dance costume, etc) and finally we decided to make our daily topics of conversation public on the world wide web for everyone's benefit...or just a good laugh!  We both lived in Atlanta while attending college, but since then I have moved away to Tampa, so most of my posts will be about things in the Tampa area.  I hope you find inspiration through our words and enjoy following along in our daily topics which will range from decorating to who will win dancing with the stars.  If you like what you read, comment--follow us.

Much Love,
JD

COMING SOON

more from O R A N G E + P E A C H coming soon!