InFocus Designs

I saw Susan give a talk on interior design at my local libray. I was impressed with the fact she claimed she could use all my own furniture, and stuff and give me a whole new look to my home. She showed a lot of before & after pictures of work she had done for other people. I really liked what she had done for those other people. I called her a few weeks later - it took some nerve on my part to do it. I realized I was worried & embarrssed to have a 'professional' come over and 'judge' my home - basically my taste, but I've been unhappy & complaining about what my home looked like and I wanted a change - just like I saw on HGTV - so I called and made an appointment. Susan's in-home consultation fee was $150. After I hung up making the appointment I thought - OMG I just invited someone over and I'm going to pay them a lot of money to tell me everything was horrible and it all had to go! My first inclination was to call and cancel, but I didn't and I'm so glad! The first thing Susan did upon entering my home was to pay compliments to my house (outside) and point out two immediate positives likes before she even completely entered the house. She didn't even get to take off her shoes (I didn't ask, it was her first action!) when my lovable cat Merlin bounded in to greet the guest. I had forgotten about the cat! We are so used to him - I didn't even think to put him 'away' or warn Susan! Before I could utter a warning or a 'scat' to Merlin, she was bending over talking, cooing and greeting him like a long lost friend. Greetings aside, Susan quickly got down to business and asked for a tour of the rooms I wanted 'facelifted'. Room by room, with Merlin in tow, Susan spotted out my favorite peices & family treasures, and for every comment or I should say, correction to a problem she saw and gave, she gave me a compliment of what was working. I was at ease minutes into the consultation. After the walk through, she whipped out her color pallete and we went back into the rooms and this time she talked color & made suggestions. Oh no! not color - I am so afraid of it. I can never decied what is correct so I always settle for off white. Susan not only picked out colors for my rooms, but she explained why she chose them and then showed me how & why they would give my room a whole new look. I was sold, but I was still unsure about doing all her suggestions and I really didn't have the time or strength to do all that moving alone, so I asked Susan how long it would take to do those rooms herself (& with her team) and what the cost would be. Her fee was $150/hr and she said it would take about 5 hours to do all those rooms. That was her final price and she said if she went over that time, it was her problem not mine, the cost would stay the same. We made a date for the following week as I needed my rooms painted first. Because I do not do ladders, I hired a painter Susan recommended - she has a complete list a people she recommends for all types of remodeling and such, all local and all vetted by her. He was in and out in just three days, did a fantastic job and was a neat as could be. That's a story for another posting! After the paint was well dried, Susan came in with her team at 9 am sharp and they worked non stop until 3:30p.m. They gave me 5 hours of straight work their breaks and lunch was on them. When they were finished, Susan called me on my cell home for me to return. I was so scared & excited. My friends came with (we were out visiting & shopping while Susan and her team worked as the homeowner is asked not to be home during the design process - that was tough!) when I approached the front door Susan greeted me and made me close my eyes as I walked in. It's a good thing she was still holding onto my elbow as I almost fell over when I opened my eyes! I was speechless at the transformation! I did not believe it was the same house. It already looked different and better with the new paint colors, but this was unbelivable. I wandered from room to room trying to take it all in. The experience was just like the shows I watch on HGTV - but I couldn't believe it was happening to me and to my house. Unbelieveable. From start to finish it was a great experience working with Susan. She didn't tell me what she wanted - she showed and explained what she thought I would like. To me that was the biggest difference in her then other interior designers I had met and heard about. My husband was shocked and surprised too. He was skeptical from the start and couldn't understand why I would pay someone money to tell me what to do with the house -he didn't see anything wrong with it, but then again he's a man. I love my 'new' house and I am now using and enjoying rooms I never did before and it cost about the same as the new sofa that I didn't even have to buy! Before I called Susan I was going to go out and buy a bunch of new furniture thinking that was the problem. Glad I didn't as she used the old one and it looks fantastic! As a side note, since the rearrange, I have also used Susan to help me organize my home office and sewing room. An excellent and very worthwhile investment. In a few years we are planning to move to a warmer climate, at that time I will hire Susan again to come in and help organize and declutter the entire home and stage it. Since we will be downsizing, I know I will need her help in picking and choosing furniture, art & accessories to fit into my new home to be. I hope she likes to travel - because I can't see making the move without her help!