Faiella Design

I started my remodeling project with a vague idea of what I wanted, little knowledge of the process for finding and working with an interior designer and, thanks to viewing too many HGTV shows, completely unrealistic budget and time line expectations. Fortunately, Anastasia Faiella was patient and knowledgeable enough to work with me and create a loft that has been (and continues to be) featured in several print magazines and interior design sites. Aside from working with a clueless client, my project came with a few other challenges: • Little storage space. (Just one tiny storage room. No closets in either bedroom. Not even a medicine cabinet in either of the bathrooms.) • Surprisingly few 90 degree angles. (I sometimes compare my loft to a fun house. There are odd corners, rounded walls and a general layout that makes it cool, but difficult to decorate with standard size furniture pieces.) • Ten-foot high windows. (The views and the light were what sold me on the unit, but I knew drapery was going to cost a small fortune.) • Square footage spread over three levels. (For you HGTV aficionados, think ‘Small Space, Big Style’) Thanks to Anastasia, the mustard yellow walls were replaced with a gorgeous color palette, empty rooms were filled custom and store-bought pieces, all of which were accented with a blend of unique textures, tones and textiles that never fail to solicit a “wow” when guests come to my home for the first time. (Check out her website and the work she did on the 2009 and 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase houses and you’ll see what I mean.) As an avid hiker and camper, one of the things that I appreciate most about Anastasia’s work is that she was able to turn an industrial, modern space into a warm, cozy one that clearly illustrates my love of nature. Getting to the finished project with Anastasia was a fun journey. Here are a few of the I lessons learned along the way: 1. An interior decorator should be creative, collaborative and communicative. Anastasia has all of these qualities. I was already impressed with her work when I hired her, but I appreciate that she listened to my ideas and that she was straight-forward and patient enough to tell me when and why what I wanted to do doesn’t fit with the overall aesthetics. I grew to trust her judgment when I was having doubts and she was persuasive enough to push me out of my comfort zone. For example, the draperies in my bedroom are bright and busy (in a whimsical way). They’re something I would have never picked on my own. Ever. And they are fabulous! They were the right choice for the room and the perfect example of why having an interior decorator makes a difference. I especially appreciate that in all of the design conversations, Anastasia fully understood the need to be practical and that in addition to looking great, I have to live in a functional space. We talked a lot about functionality, which led to some unique and gorgeous storage solutions. I actually have storage space that I haven’t filled to the brim yet. This is remarkable given that there was only one tiny little storage closet in the entire loft. In addition to the collaborative relationship that we had, Anastasia was great about working with contractors that I found to handle other jobs during the remodel. I gave her their names and contact information and she made sure that all the paint colors matched and that everything they did fit into the overall design plan. Anastasia also introduced me to some of her own vendors and contractors that truly made the entire design come together. (Props to: Doreen Leong of Leong Interiors for the drapery; Ted Somogy of Probert Art for all of the painting; Jim Misner of Jim Misner Light Designs for all the lighting; and Jason Lees of Jason Lees Design for the coffee table and an island that doubles as my kitchen table.) 2. Budget matters. Anastasia gave me gave me a sense of what I could expect for my money. She stayed within the agreed upon budget and worked out some great deals for me on rugs and other decorative items. She taught me to look at budget as a whole and focus my spending on items that will make a big impact. By working with her on what was realistic for the scope of work being done, we were able to prioritize the most important elements of the design and then determine where to invest in high-end pieces, where we could look at more affordable options from retail stores, and what projects (bathroom remodel) would need to be put on hold. 3. It’s probably going to take longer than you think. Ten months after what I thought was going to be a two month project, I was stunned at how amazing the place turned out. It’s a fact: Parts will be back-ordered. Shipments will be delayed. Custom pieces take time. Roll with it. If I had been rigid about the timeline, I would not have had the benefit of a richly layered space that feels complete. I still get a kick out of seeing my loft in fancy magazines. To me, it’s just the cozy place I call home. It turned out better than I could have imagined thanks to Anastasia Faiella. She is a creative, resourceful, extremely talented, collaborative, top-notch interior designer who charges reasonable rates. Hire her. I did and I could not be happier with the outcome.

When Anastasia enter the picture - eveything changed! She listened to my concernes and came up with a number of great colors which gave me that "Designer Look" that I could never achieve myself. What I liked most was how she worked, it started with large color samples, then mock ups, then painter recommnedations, eveything went smoothly. And I love all the "oohs" and ahhs" I get from visitors and friends.