Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Spotlight on: Isabel Dellinger Candelaria 

Isabel Dellinger Candelaria is the owner of Earth and Images, her home furnishings showroom, and IDID & Associates, her interior design firm. She holds a BS in Psychology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology and is a graduate of the American Institute of Interior Design. She consults regularly with design professionals as well as the general public on all matters of interior design. Prior to owning Earth and Images she managed a custom furniture and cabinet store and mastered retail merchandising.  Raised in northern New Mexico, Isabel has now lived in Scottsdale, AZ since the late 1990’s.

1) What is your personal style at home?
A good mixture of elegance and casual with a focus on entertaining since Mark and I both love to cook and have people over. Our place is real cozy, and kid friendly!

2) I noticed on your website you specialize in Investment Dressing.  What is Investment Dressing?Investment dressing for the home is acquiring timeless beauties that don't go out of style. We focus on offering collectables that will have as much presence and intrigue today as they will years from now. They remain relevant although time marches on.

3) Does your background in Psychology influence your Design choices?
My background in psychology is vital for my success with clients. It helps me lead them where they want to go, and helps me understand subtle clues and read between the lines to get them there.

4) What inspires you?
I look for inspiration everywhere so it always seems to find me. I love to see ordinary things in a new way so they become a surprise! My most satisfying design effects come from using art as inspiration.

5) Can you give us a simple design tip that we can use right away?
Store away clutter- edit something out to create more empty space...and then fill it back up with something that makes you happy.

Contact Isabel Dellinger Candelaria at (480) 596-0498, via email isabel@earthandimages.com and visit her website, Earth and Images.

Visit our Website at Shop.StatewideLighting.com or LookatMyFire.com

Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Spotlight on Local Designer, Tamara Johnson of Together Interiors, LLC

1) It seems your passion in Design flourishes in Fabrics. How did your love and expertise in Fabrics emerge?

I started out in the furniture industry over 20 years ago and just loved working with fabrics putting together fun palates with mixed patterns, textures, colors, etc.   I then expanded my practice to be an expert window treatment design to include custom bedding and furniture.  I have one of the largest private fabric/trim libraries in the Scottsdale area which allows me to help client’s find the perfect fabric for any application.

2) What’s new for fall with Textiles in Design?

Large Ikat, stripes, and bold colors continue to be a huge success.

Black/Greys blended with Citron, Orange, and Cobalt Blues are really fun for the pop that every space needs.

3) What are your thoughts about Fabric as Wallpaper?

I grew up with my mother using fabric as wallpaper so I think it is really cool.  It adds another dimension to a wall treatment that Faux just can’t do.  Also adds some sound absorption so it is great for bedrooms and entertainment spaces.

 4) What inspires you?

Every day as I go into client’s homes and then go out shopping – the combinations are endless and exciting. I just love finding new things and creating unique arrangements in client’s home.  Sometimes it is just the smallest thing that I find can be the center of a space.   

5) Can you give us a quick Design tip that we can implement right away?

Placing furniture or an area rug on an angle to give the room a fresh perspective is just a simple way to make a huge change by simple moving something on an angle.

Contact Tamara Johnson at (480) 595-1010 or via her website, Together Interiors, LLC 

Visit our Website at Shop.StatewideLighting.com or LookatMyFire.com

Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Spotlight on Lori Carroll of Lori Carroll and Associates

1)Your designs seem to make each space look expansive.  What is your technique?    My technique for making a space seem larger is using subtle, tone on tone patterns and colors.  Keeping the color scheme continuous from floor to walls to ceiling gives the illusion of more space. Using texture and bright pops of color in artwork and accessories personalizes the room. 

2) Is there a particular room you like designing more than any other? Why?

My absolute favorite room to design is the powder room.  One reason; you can splurge in a powder room. Since the space is smaller, you need less material which means you can budget for items that might be too costly for a master bathroom.  In a powder room color and texture both make a big impact; so it’s fun to mix and match finishes. 

3) I've been reading about ‘Reconnecting with our Home’.  Do you have any thoughts on how we can do this?

You can reconnect with your home by doing simple updates like changing out hardware on your cabinets; bringing in some fresh accessories or adding new lighting.  

4) What inspires you?

I use anything and everything around me for inspiration.  It might be as simple as a fabric swatch or as complex as a unique piece of furniture.

5) Can you give us a quick Design tip that we can implement right away?

One of my favorite design tricks is to expand a frameless piece of art by painting around the canvas, adding depth to the art and the room.

Contact Lori Carroll at (520) 886-3443 or via her website, Lori Carroll and Associates. Visit our Shop.StatewideLighting.com or LookatMyFire.com

Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Spotlight on Designer: 
Suzanne Lasky, S Interior Design

1) What is your personal design style at home? (I read your article ‘What is your Design Style’ and I really want to share with our readers your personal preferences, especially as it relates to your affinity for our four legged friends)

My personal design style is what I call warm contemporary.  Clean lines, with modern organic materials such as cork flooring, recycled woods, linens, woven shades, bright whimsical art and accessories.  My four legged family members are always kept in mind when selection of materials and finishes are made.  The cork flooring hides scratch marks and masks noise from little nails clip clopping about.  The cat’s scratching area in the great room is a modern design that almost looks like an accessory item.  The sheepskin ‘throws’ on the leather dining chairs provide comfort for the people and a great nesting option for the cat.  So the pets can look out one of the windows in the great room, the woven shade is raised 30”.  This way they can look out without potentially destroying the shade.  There is a small wool rug placed in front of the window too.

2) What parts of the home are most challenging for you and why?

The open area that often is above the top of the kitchen cabinets is the most challenging.  When I first began my design career people were fond of filling them with lots of faux foliage (what I call dust collectors) and other objects. Most of the time the scale and proportion of the items were too small. When tasked with accessorizing  this area , I choose well scaled accessory items that are carefully grouped and not over done.

3) How do you overcome those challenges for a clients’ successful experience?
For this challenge the best way to address it is by selecting and placing the accessories so they can see in real time, in the actual spaces.

4) What inspires you?
The world around us is inspiration!  Nature is a great teacher of how different colors and textures work together.  I am an avid reader of trade magazines, blogs, and  design related web sites.

5) Can you give us a quick design tip that we can implement right away?
Change out your accent pillows or add some .  This can be done in common living spaces such as the great room, as well as in the bedrooms.   New sizes, shapes, fabrics and colors on the accent pillows can give a space an entirely new look and feel for a minimal investment.

Contact Suzanne Lasky (480) 220-4659 or via S Interior Design. You can view more of her work on Houzz or her Interior Design Gallery

Visit our website at Shop.StatewideLighting.com or LookatMyFire.com

Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Spotlight on local Designer Tanya Shively, ASID and LEED AP
Sesshu Design Associates

"Live in an eco-friendly home without sacrificing style, comfort or convenience. You can have the beautiful and luxurious eco-friendly interior you deserve."

Based in Scottsdale, AZ, Sesshu Design Associates, are 'passionate about bringing beauty into the world by creating a sense of place through quiet, elegant details' and 'inspired by the natural beauty of each site, actively seeking ways to protect our environment by incorporating sustainable and green interior design' into their projects. Offering both Interior Design and Green Design options, Sesshu Design is making a long term impact with their compelling ideas and innovative designs.

We asked Five Questions of Tanya Shively, Principle Interior and Owner of Sesshu Design Associates:

1) What is your personal design style at home?
My personal home is contemporary but not cold- warm colors, comfortable seating and a bit of eclectic sentimental pieces mixed in as well.

2) I notice you liked Composite Countertops. What’s another recent Green innovation that is exciting to you?
LED lighting is probably the most exciting thing to come along- with new technology in bulbs that can go into any fixture, we now can make any style more efficient.

3) Is there anything that you steer clients away from in Green Technologies in relationship to design?
I think the direction clients need to focus on depends on their personal priorities.  For instance, if health is critical, then we focus on clean air, daylight, access to nature, etc.  OR if energy efficiency is a priority, then we focus on technology, climate control through window coverings, home automation and lighting control systems, etc.

4) What inspires you?
I am inspired by great design in all forms- artwork, beautiful cars (especially the new electric and fuel cell models coming out), architecture, and the work of other amazing designers.

5) Can you give us a quick design tip that we can implement right away?
My favorite design tip is to not be afraid of color.  So many people shy away from using color in their home and stick with "safe" neutrals to the extent that their home becomes boring and lacks personality. So choose color(s) that you love, and find a way to incorporate it into you rooms- in a pillow, in paint, in accessories, etc.

Contact Tanya Shively at Sesshu Design Associates, (480) 275-2968 and visit our website at Shop.StatewideLighting.com or LookatMyFire.com

Home Decor: Five Questions with Top Designers

Welcome Back to the Statewide Lighting Blog!  In this series, we'll be asking five questions of top designers and remodelers locally, nationally and from all over the world to bring you the best insights for creating an interior/exterior design that you will love.  Each Designer will also provide a simple design tip that you can use right away.

Spotlight on VITA BURDI, Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer Remodeler, DJ's Home Improvements

1) What is your design style? Whatever style helps my clients to fall in love with their homes again... 2) How do you access/interpret a Clients interior style? Reviewing their home, "LISTENING" to their hopes and dreams for the rooms they want to create. 3) What are the most important factors in creating a compelling design? Color plays a huge part in any design it is the touch and sensation that wooes you and beckons you to enter... 4) What inspires you? Life itself is a palette of excitement, I love to play with lighting, to give a pop of color where none was expected, to introduce a prism to reflect light....awe inspiring lighting is the crowning touch for most rooms 5) Can you provide a simple design tip that someone can implement right away? Yes, only fill your room with items that sparkle and give you great pleasure to look at. A vintage find at a garage sale can be as charming as an original masterpiece, so have fun with the design.

Contact Ms. Burdi at (516) 775-8696

Visit our website at Shop.Statewidelighting.com or Lookatmyfire.com

Photos by Matthew Burdi