Design diaries

Happy Monday! Normally, it’s “manic, crazy, and anything but happy Monday”, but today is different. Today, kids are going back to in-person school. Having the mornings kid-free gives me the opportunity to start up my Blog again. As I’m sipping my coffee and writing this, I am thinking about all the things I need to do. And, it all begins in my office, which I love and designed to INSPIRE me.

Which brings me to my question - Do you have rooms that you LOVE or INSPIRE you?

If not, what is it that you are waiting for? Is it a vacation to escape from what you don’t like in your house? Are you waiting for the end of Covid to begin a project? Or are you perhaps stalling because you don’t know where to start? If you are waiting for a better (and later) time to start, I’m sorry to inform you that you may be waiting a lot longer than you think.

I’m sure you have all heard about the rising costs, shortages, and delays the housing industry is facing. The design industry has been very much impacted by delays, whereas the costs have only begun to be affected. This will continue in 2021 as 56% of Americans work from home in some capacity, which is prompting design updates. That being said, the best time to plan & start an interior design project is NOW before delays and costs continue to rise even further. Back ordered furnishings used to take an additional 4-6 weeks to but are now taking 16-20 week due to material shortages and supply chain issues all resulting from Covid.

Speaking of Covid...vaccines are scheduled to be distributed well into the 3rd quarter of 2021. I interpret it this to mean many households will be vaccinated by the end of the year prompting more gatherings during the holidays. Most of us can't wait to finally socialize, celebrate, and get together.

But…is your home ready for entertaining? Are you ready to bring friends and family back into those gathering spaces that you (kids, significant others, pets) have used/abused in the past year? Do your rooms reflect YOU? Or, are they a mishmash of furnishings that aren't inspiring and/or don’t work well together?

If you want to be ready for Thanksgiving/Holiday get togethers, start planning NOW. The process of meeting, collaboration, and design can take from 4-10 weeks before orders can be placed. Subsequently, it can take up to 6 months to receive furnishings, especially if ordering custom or back-ordered items. This is true whether I was purchasing or if you were buying the furnishings (design package). What that means is orders need to be placed in May to meet Thanksgiving deadlines! So, if you were always wanting to update a space in your home and want to have it ready by the holidays, start the process NOW.