Inside the Designers Eye

Our first interior designer interview of 2015 is with Beth Starnes.

Beth Starnes is a born and raised Floridian.  She and her husband Jim designed and renovated over 48 single family homes.  Beth had always  wanted to open an upscale consignment furniture store and in mid 2014 she and a friend from the business, Paul Scrogham, opened a 6500 sf store in Bonita Springs. Consign & Design Home Furnishings is located 2.3 miles north of Bonita Beach Road across from Bonita Bay. Beth still works with clients and has design projects outside of the store.  (info@consigndesignbonitasprings.com)

1.  What is the most essential element of a room?

The most essential element in a room  for me is the visual focal point.   Whether it is the view outside, for example an ocean, lake or a fireplace.  Once the visual is set the room evolves around it,  so there is flow to and around it. Colors in the room can also play off of this element

 2.  What is the most important thing you have learned about your craft and your business?              I have learned to be a great listener and an observer of body language, If I listen to what my client is wanting to create and more importantly not wanting for their new design concept , I can tune into their vision and give it great design. I rarely return any furniture or accessories I buy, because I have listened and created a vision prior to purchasing. 

3. What technology has been incorporated into the way you work?

My smartphone hands down, has changed my work with clients.  With a quick photo sent, the client can approve or disapprove a suggested piece in no time!  Instant design, no more long meeting going over pics and such.  Its amazing how it speeds up the design process.

So as we begin the new year looking for fresh inspiration for our homes, perhaps now you can look at your room and decide what you want the focal point of the room to be...and it will all fall into place.  Well, thats the theory!  Our homes, very much like ourselves, are a work in progress!

Worth mentioning again, Houzz is a wonderful website to stimulate ideas for your projects.  Just feed the specifics into the search and be prepared to have a lot to choose from.  The more details you give your design consultants (architects, kitchen & landscape designers) the higher the probability of a successful outcome.  

If anyone want to share their design project, good or bad, we would love to hear it!