What's been up? Besides lacking in the blog business...

So I know I have been kind of a stink at staying on the blogging train, but I totally have great excuses like I have been busy working, preparing for the recitals the next couple of weeks, working on projects, scouting out more junk, and plan spending time to myself when I have that spare moment. Maybe not great excuses, but a reason ;)

In the time since my last post I have been working on something completely new to me...sewing! Not in my wildest dream would I even think I would take this up. In school we never did the whole home ec. thing of 'learning to sew' and I didn't care back in my childhood, just whip the hole-y shirt at moms and she would sew it up and fix the problem. Then I went to college and met my husband and he would fix things for me, but whine at me that I needed to learn. Well my time has come and my mom gave me her old sewing machine and I have slowly been learning how to do so. In our house our old cabinets have fabric fronts on a few so that was my first project--still unfinished. In the past few days I have sewed up a few pillows to sell at Water Tower Festival, it is insane for me to think that come a month-ish from now I am going to be selling these pillow that I sewed together! They are adorable and I wish I could keep them all to myself. That is the hardest part about this kind of business, you want to keep all the awesome things you find or create and trust me a few things I do and just make multiples so I can. 



What else has happened since the last post? 

 I attended at community meeting about reusing the Masonic Lodge space downtown historic Pipestone. The meeting was a room full of people who have lived in Pipestone probably most of their lives, some of that equaling probably 50+ years. Then there was me, 24 years old and living in the town for 2 years. I decided that when the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) asked, ' What do you see to be a use for the space, what do you want to see happen?' I would pipe up. Boy did I hear the whole room turn and look at me and listen when I said ' I have a bachelors in interior design and worked for AcV2 architecture, a company who specialize in adaptively reusing and renovating buildings, some being historic, LEED certified, commercial and residential. I told them what I thought would work in the space and listened to the silence of the room besides the sound of my voice shaking. Afterwards I took a huge breathe and said to myself 'Man I am glad that's over, haha!' So afterwards I had PAM approach me asking if I had written down my ideas and gave them my card, which is always a cool feeling. I had so many people approaching me thanking me for my ideas and so glad that I am in the community. The next day I went to my typical part-time job at the retail store and I got a phone call at lunch from the museum saying that PAM wanted them to get into contact with me to meet with the interior finishes consultant and see if I could help them out, catch was I got off at 5:30 and they were going to be gone at 4. So I asked my manager if I could go and I went! I got to see the building and talk about the future hopes of the building. It was mind blowing! I cannot believe that sits in our little town. 

Best thing from this. Finding my worth to my little town. I've been here 2 years and have thought some days, 'If I would have known I was moving here I would have changed my degree to fit the the place I live' or that some days I wasted my money on an education I can't even use in the place I live. This meeting showed me people do want to know more, see where I fit in, and how I can help. This all helps to motivate me even more to work my tail off and become the small business I have dreamt to be. 

Also it's made me find more reasons why I love being a new, young, small business entrepreneur in a small community. 

1. Passion -- No one is more passionate about what I do than myself. In order to push that passion and express it more I must be able to speak up and let people know my presence. 
2. Sincerity -- Nothing makes me more sincere and passionate than sharing my knowledge. Since starting my small business I have discovered that engaging in conversations with other small business owners and potential customers, you never find anyone/yourself more sincere. You love what you make/do and want to be sincere in the success and failure of it. Other people want to see you succeed and want to help you in anyway. 
3. Caring -- As a up and coming small business I care more than ever about what I do. More about the success and quality of product over if I am going to move up a cooperate ladder or that the big man watching what I am doing every second. If I want a drink, I can have one...but know not to use power tools. ;) 
4. Hours -- You decide when you want to work and when you don't want to. But you do see the time management importance and you set those deadlines. I don't believe that something is just going to finish itself or someone will do it for me, it is me and my husband, that is it. 
5. Decisions -- I make those. Design decisions I get to make them and implement them with help or not. Don't have run those ideas or plans by anyone, but myself. 
6. Community -- This is a big one for me. I have always said since moving here and to the blog audience, I am here because I want to be part of my community. Nothing feels better than being a part of the community, people in your community watching you grow, supporting you, and being your biggest fans. I love going out and people knowing my name and wanting to chat, it is more welcoming than showing up at my door with a hot dish and welcoming me into the neighborhood. 

Until next time...

Early Bird Gets the Junk.

This past weekend I attending my 3rd Junk Bonanza Market. Junk Bonanza is a HUGE market full of items that are already upcycled, pieces to use to do your own projects, vintage pieces, and full of inspiring upcycling designs. It is a market done by Ki Nassauer, who is one awesome chick who is a junker, editor, author, retailer, entrepreneur, mostly known in my book for Flea Market Design magazines.  Most people think flea markets mean cheap stuff, but it is far beyond that. A lot of people cringe at prices but most is pretty reasonable when you think of the creativity and then the time spent actually putting that design to action. 

A lot have been asking for pictures from the market, I did take some photos of some fun things, though it makes me cringe when people take photos and use it to their advantage. I am all about people channeling there inner creative design folder, but when it comes to copying piece by piece it makes my heart just wrench. We are all guilty of it, but it is more fun when you add your own piece of flair, trust me! 

Before I post of pictures though let me just say we came back with some awesome pieces/projects and I am so stinking excited to get rolling on them! 

Also I started my Facebook page literally 5 minutes ago! Be sure to like and share! I will be posting blog posts, fun pictures, announcement, silliness and selling a lot from there...when it is time :) LC Design Facebook

Here are some Junk Bonanza pictures. 

Also while we were up in the area we decided to hit up Architectural Antiques, which if you watch Rehab Addict on HGTV, Nicole Curtis is always hitting this place up for pieces 'new' old pieces for her projects. The place was AMAZING! When I have a few thousand dollars just hanging around I'm going to buy up everything I can :) Here are some photos! 

And on that note...time to get busy! 

So you must be really good at picking paint colors, can you help me with my living room?.....

That really great statement/question interior designers get. If you are a student in interior design or a graduate of an interior design program, you probably despise it. 

But you are an interior designer, why?

Because I am not an interior decorator. 

I always got this when I told people what I was going to school for, after I graduated, and at my current job. In the past I actually was terrible and did not really care at the beginning of my projects what the paint color was going to be. There is so much in between finding that perfect color swatch and the beginning of the project. Ultimately the final colors aren't decided until after the walls are actually up and it isn't just a figment of our imagination.

Another way I can put this into comparison is by giving other examples like how a doctor gets a called a nurse, a farmer gets called a rancher, an EMT gets called an ambulance driver (that one is for you mom :)), a master sergeant gets called an airman (air force baby roots), an interior designer gets called an interior decorator....We have all worked very hard to earn that title or that degree.  

So here is where I clear it up since a lot of people assume what it means or just are really unsure and have questions. 

According to the NCIDQ Exam website the definition is a lengthy one, but it does give a peek to others to what it actually means to be an interior designer.

'Definition of Interior Design

Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. 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.

Interior design includes a scope of services performed by a professional design practitioner, qualified by means of education, experience and examination, to protect and enhance the health, life safety and welfare of the public. These services may include any or all of the following tasks:

• Research and analysis of the client's goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs.
• Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client's program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior.
• Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines.
• Selection of colors, materials and finishes to appropriately convey the design concept and to meet socio-psychological, functional, maintenance, life cycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture.
• Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules.
• Preparation of construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications, to illustrate non-structural and/or non-seismic partition layouts; power and communications locations; reflected ceiling plans and lighting designs; materials and finishes; and furniture layouts.
• Preparation of construction documents to adhere to regional building and fire codes, municipal codes, and any other jurisdictional statutes, regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space.
• Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants.
• Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials.
• Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent.
• Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.'

NCIDQ Exam - What is an Interior Designer?

Told you it was lengthy! Some people probably just scanned it. Just by seeing how long it is just to explain what it is, imagine how long a project takes!?

My experience as a student story:

So in 2008 I went to college in the fall for athletic training and pre-physical therapy, but after going to human anatomy and dissecting a human cadaver for about a month I dropped that class and decided following a different dream path would probably be better. So not long after I visited the Interior Design program and the next fall started my journey. It is ENTIRELY different than what 90% of students starting in it think it is. We went from filling two rooms of students to having a graduating class of 6. I think that the first two years weed out the students who can't really handle it and realize you are not playing HGTV Design Stars. I didn't feel like students started to get a grasp of real designing until spring of sophomore year. Spring of sophomore year students started doing models, construction documents, research binders, and working together. Between my junior and senior year I did go on my travel study to New York and then on to my practicum aka: internship at an amazing architecture company, AcV2 architecture, that did residential and commercial design. The architecture firm was just two others; the owner/architect and the interior designer. We worked on a unfinished door held up by two saw horses and in an open office floor plan with the arts center where the office was located.  I got to go to every meeting held from clients to construction which let me be a real part of the firm, which a lot of students don't get to experience  It was by far one of my most influential parts of my student career. I remember after I left they predicted my future, I think I am about to make their predictions come true :). Anyway! Next came my senior year where we did our cultural study at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation then onto our thesis project (yup, designers do thesis') that would take us to graduation. It was a long process with many sleepless nights. Research, research, research, infographics, preliminary design, research, inspiration, research, graphics, sketching, annotation, research, drawings, research, presentations, construction documents, more construction documents, research, construction documents, two research binders, 6 presentations boards, a stack of construction documents of details, floor plans, lighting plans, and HVAC and electrical plans later.... FINALLY graduation! I graduated Spring 2013 from an accredited school (meaning that the students are up to standards that are relevant, valid, and reliable that make them prepared for entry-level practice, not all universities are accredited programs other include:  the Art Institutes, California State University, Florida State, Sanford Brown, Iowa State, Boston Architectural College, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, University of Nebraska, Cornell, Syracuse, Texas State, and the list goes on of  very credible colleges, which is so cool) in South Dakota with a Bachelors in Interior Design. 

Now?

Well my computer is still clogged up with Google SketchUp, Revit Architecture, Adobe, and I can run both Mac OS and Windows 7. I treasure this bad boy, it holds everything that makes interior design what it is; like construction documents I spent hours, days, months, and many tears shed over, research from the smallest details to the big picture, literally, drawings I have done and all the little annotations that go along with them. Maybe one day I will use all these things again everyday, all day. 

Right RIGHT now? 

I use Adobe a lot when it comes to designing graphics for fliers, newsletters, and such for the dance studio I teach dance at. Every once and awhile I use Sketchup for people to give them an idea what something could look like or if AcV2 calls me up and asks for a small project to be done. All of my building codes, lighting design, space planning, and resource books sit on my bookshelf, but get pulled and dusted off more often than you'd think. 

In one of my prior posts I said I felt like my creativeness was kind of pushed aside, but at least this new journey that I am slowly jumping into lets me express it in some way. Being able to upcycle, recycle, reuse, and redesign decor gives me that outlet I needed. It gives me a new challenge every time I find a new piece to reconfigure and redesign.  

Unorganized thoughts spilled onto a blog post, complete. I promise I'm more organized in my life, sometimes :) But that is that, hopefully you have a new little insight, if not feel free to ask or search for yourselves what an interior designer actually does. 

On a much (probably) more exciting note! Last week I received my Minnestoa State Tax Identification Number from the IRS, which means I am pretty much almost real :) and this week is Junk Bonanza which will probably be the next weeks post! 

*Below are some renderings, wire framings, and project completions from when I was in school. Some done at AcV2 architecture (AcV2 architecture) where I interned, some from partner collaboration projects, and individual projects.