Are you thinking about adding an accent wall to a room? Whether light and bright, or dark and dramatic, an accent wall is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to add a pop of colour, highlight a focal point, or to make a room feel more spacious and inviting.

Choosing your accent wall.

First, consider if there’s a focal point you want to accentuate (a fireplace, shelving, etc). The best wall to highlight is typically the “cleanest”, meaning it is the least amount of distractions.

Are paint or wallpaper my best options?

While paint and wallpaper are the most common ways to create an accent wall, there are plenty of other options. Decals, wall panelling, upholstered walls, accent lighting, and gallery walls also produce stunning results. In the end of the day, it really depends on your personal style, budget, and preferences.

Love the idea of an accent wall, but DIY’s not your thing? 

We can help! Give us a call at 604-674-8884 or email hello@flowsmartliving.com today. Get Started Now

You’ve read our latest blog post on the 10 Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer, but still have more questions about contractors, logistics, and more? We’ve got you covered!

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 from 5-7pm, we’ll be hosting a FREE information session right here at the Flow office (873 E Hastings St). If you’re planning a renovation but have no idea where to start, we encourage you to drop by.

Don’t worry – this will be a casual get-together (aka no boring PowerPoints). Elisa Fox, Flow’s interior designer, and Phil Van Drunen from Van Drunen Construction will be here to answer any questions you may have.

What are you waiting for? Click here to RSVP now! Drinks and light snacks will be provided.

If you’re reading this, you (or someone you know) are probably thinking about refreshing your space. Congratulations, you are one step closer to your dream home! That being said, selecting the perfect interior designer to bring your vision to life can be daunting… especially if you’ve never worked with an interior designer before. No worries — we’re here to help! Here are the 10 Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring an Interior Designer.

1. What is your signature style?

It’s important to do your own research ahead of time, and figure out what you want and don’t want. Browse though different designers’ portfolios and decide on which design styles you like before you even begin to “interview” designers. Your space will be a reflection of your unique style, so make sure you and your designer feel right together. 

2. What do you specialize in?

When meeting designers, describe briefly what your needs are and see how the designer can help. Some designers specialize in the construction part of design, such as permit drawings, selection of finishes, etc., while others are excellent at styling.

3. Do you have professional certifications?

Whether you choose to go with an up-and-coming interior designer, or one with extensive experience, it doesn’t hurt to ask about their professional certifications. Do they have a college degree with a major in Interior Design? Are they skilled in computer-aided-design (CAD) programs? These answers can help give you peace of mind.

4. What should I expect for the design process?

After initial contact (whether it’s over the phone, by email, etc.), most interior designers start the design process with a consultation. During the consultation, the interior designer will gather information, gather your wish list, and provide feedback and ideas on what you’re looking for. Design consultations are 1-2 hours long, and cost from $250-500 depending on the firm.

5. Can you work within my budget?

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to understand and be comfortable with your designer’s fees from the start. That way, you won’t run into any surprises down the road. As a general rule of thumb, design work is typically 10% of your overall cost for larger projects. Also, keep in mind that some designers charge a flat fee, while others charge by the hour.

6. Do you have a contract?

A contract is there to show you the proper steps and expectations, showcasing exactly what the designers can do for you. It’s all about being honest and transparent. Your interior designer (and other contractors) are working for you, so you should know exactly what’s going on with your project.

7. What does the timeline look like?

Consider a timeframe and time of year you’d like for project completion. Typically, your designer will present you with a scope of work after the initial consultation to highlight how they can help achieve your design goals. Make sure you both agree on the timeline so you’re not rushing your designer, and they know exactly what you expect from them. Design is a process — it takes time!

8. How involved should/will I be during the design process?

Some people prefer to have their interior designer take care of everything, while others like to be very involved. Discussing this with your designer upfront will help eliminate potential hurdles along the way.

9. Are there multiple ways to contact you?

This may sound silly, but how often they respond to phone calls or emails immediately, if they follow up on missed calls in a timely manner, etc., allows you to see your designer’s professionalism ahead of time. That being said, setting boundaries on when to be reached is also important for both parties.

10.  Do I have to find my own contractors, or are there contractors you prefer working with?

A part of your designer’s job is to help you understand how to interview and select a contractor. Most designers already have go-to contractors that they have established relationships with, but professional interior designers should be able to work with any certified contractors.

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These 10 questions should provide you with a good understanding of what to ask and expect from a potential interior designer. It’s important to know what your designers can do for you, and that he/she meets your needs. We recommend making your decisions based on the overall value, rather than just looking at their hourly rate. At the end of the day, good customer service is key to a positive, long-lasting relationship.

Still have questions, concerns, or want to learn more about Flow’s interior design services?

Give us a call at (604) 674-8884, or email hello@flowsmartliving.com.

Choosing to hire an interior designer to take your ideas and paint a cohesive picture for you is, ultimately, an investment with long-term returns. During the interior design process, our team works with you to determine the direction of your project and create a plan that is individualized to your specific needs.

One of the most important tools during the interior design process are mood boards. These are compositions that the designer creates to present concepts to the client. A mood board helps them to visualize an specific concept, but also understand the overall design process.

Our designers create different layouts on these mood boards, using their ideas and recommendations. In this way, the client can see how different elements will look together. This will help to make the interior design process smoother and more enjoyable for the client.

These are a few samples of the mood boards that our team put together for one of our most recent interior design projects.

Artwork Mood Board – Presentation 1

Artwork Mood Board – Presentation 2

Artwork Mood Board – Presentation 3

Benefits of using mood boards

Establish the basics – Mood boards help to establish all of the baselines that will eventually compose the final result: color palettes, layouts, finishes… They are a great tool to make these clear and help the interior design process run smoothly.

Conversations are easier – Mood boards make communication with clients easier and reduce wasted design time. If designer and client are on the same page and have a clear idea of the direction, the process will be much easier and enjoyable for both.

Do you have an idea in mind to re-design your home? We can help! Contact us today to discuss your upcoming renovation or design project. We would be delighted to work together to make your space a place you call home! Give us a call today at (604) 674-8884 or email us at hello@flowsmartliving.com

Brilliant!

Another stunning interior design project completed by our talented design team, Nicole Varga and Elisa Fox. This incredible condo design was a very unique and special project for the Flow Team.

This bachelorette unit belongs to our lovely client, a stylish 78-years-old woman. Nicole and Elisa had previously worked for this client’s daughter who hired them to transform the apartment for her mom.

This was a small condo with some particular features. A challenging layout was presented with a long, angled wall, completed with a dining area that was pretty much nonexistent and a complete lack of overhead lighting.

Nicole and Elisa added some molding details to create a feature wall that unites the living and dining areas to the office.

“We love the molding on the feature wall and fireplace because It is such a simple and cost-effective way to dress up a wall. This not only created great texture for that otherwise very plain wall but also allowed us to define a centre point for our dining space and bring continuity all the way into the office”.

The problem with the dining area was fixed by using a round dining table that helps to keep a good flow throughout this area and anchored it with a beautiful light fixture and custom over-sized framed mirror.“

The mirror was two-fold in creating a visual weight for our new dining center line as well as opening up and reflecting the entire space to make it feel bigger. The beautiful thing about the light fixture is that the wire it hangs on is so thin that it almost appears to be floating over the table.  Aside from providing much needed light it almost acts as an art piece in itself.”

And what about the master bedroom? The main requests for this space was to improve the function by sourcing properly scaled furniture and proper placement, getting a little more bedroom storage, improving the lighting and essentially create a beautiful space for her mother to enjoy and be blown away by.

And here comes one of our favourite details of this project!

The bedroom was covered with a beautiful floral wallpaper that you can stare at it for hours and never get enough of it. It added the perfect sense of femininity and power. We also love how you can see the wallpaper from almost every spot in the house because of where the mirror is placed it picks up the reflection. It definitely set the tone for the entire project! Click here to see more pictures about this project

Contact us today to discuss your upcoming renovation or design project. We would be delighted to work together to make your space a place you call home! Give us a call today at 604-674-8884 or email us at hello@flowsmartliving.com

When tackling a major home renovation, hiring an interior designer may feel like little more than an added cost. However, designers are a key player in making sure your project goes smoothly from the beginning. And here’s why…

• An interior designer takes the pressure off of your contractor for handling tasks such as materials selection, space planning and cosmetic decision making. This will ultimately save you time and money as these are a designer’s specific skill set, and their guidance can help whittle down an ocean’s worth of choices to a pool of your specific taste.
• What do you feel goes into planning a room? What should be ordered first, a sink or the tiles? Any idea looks great on paper, but what about the finer details as the project progresses? This is where an interior designer really saves the day. Working in tandem with your contractor, a designer can ensure that every stage of your renovation – from demolition to final styling – stays on time, on budget and on target.
• An interior designer can handle the preparation of construction drawings, both for tradespeople and for any necessary city permits, with a more immediate understanding of your project and the vision you have for your home.
• Interior designers are trained professionals who have a unique understanding of both the technical mechanics of renovation, as well as a creative eye for unique décor. Hiring an interior designer helps bridge the gap between the mechanics of a house and the beauty of a home.

The Flow Team would be happy to schedule a 1 hour consultation for you with one of our skilled interior designers. Call us today at 604-674-8884 or email hello@flowsmartliving.com.