FAQ's

    1.   What is online interior design?

    2.   Why would I need an interior designer?

    3.   How does online design work without you seeing the space in person?

    4.   How long does online design take?

    5.   Can you work with me online over a period of time?

    6.   How do I take accurate pictures and measurements?

    7.   How much does online design cost?

    8.   Why does it cost less to do design online than design in person?

    9.   Will you help me online with my whole house instead of just one room?

  10.   Do you give free advice?

  11.   Can different woods be used on furniture in the same room?

  12.   Should I reupholster a sofa or buy a new one?

  13.   I would like to paint one wall a different color to create a focal point.
How do I choose the colors, and which wall should I use?

  14.   Should a tiny room always be painted white to make it look bigger?

  15.   How high should I hang artwork?

  16.   I have a large collection to display. What is the best way?

  17.   Is the flow of color from one room to the next really important?

  18.   I'm not sure what my style is. How can I find out?

  19.   Can I combine moulding color, such as painted
white baseboards with natural stained windows?

  20.   How do I arrange furniture in a living room
that has hardly any wall space?

1.  What is online interior design?

At Interiors Alacarte, we believe the internet can be used to provide quality interior design services. Professional guidance to make the home a better place should be available to everyone. For those who do not have local design services readily available, or for those who just enjoy getting things done online, the internet can be a great resource. With detailed communication and through the use of furniture plans, color and style analysis, consultations and more, we can help you design a beautiful, unique space to call your own.

2.  Why would I need an interior designer?

If you have a room in your home that you want to redo, but don’t know how to get started or you have a specific design problem that requires some professional advice, then you can certainly benefit from a designer. A professional can send you in the right direction, give you new ideas,and help you get the job done without making costly mistakes.

3.  How does online design work without you seeing the space in person?

The internet provides a great source for just about anything, including personal services. With the right communication between us, you can help Interiors Alacarte to visualize the space and to offer great solutions. The online process involves your input, such as accurate photos and measurements. After questions are answered, photos and measurements taken, and the goal defined, we can be off to a successful design!

4.  How long does online design take?

Your first communication via an email and questionnaire will result in a reply from me within a couple of days. Then it depends on the service you need. If it is just a consultation, after a few emails, we can be done within a few days. If it involves space plan drawings or color palettes, these can be turned around within a couple of weeks.

5.  Can you work with me online over a period of time?

Yes, this can be done, it would be considered as an ongoing consultation. After the initial consultation is done (I limit it to 3 emails), I am certainly available for follow-up. Depending on how much time is involved, an hourly rate would apply. This is done on an individual basis.

6.  How do I take accurate pictures and measurements?

Interiors Alacarte will be providing instructions and tips on this website for taking indoor pictures and for providing accurate measurements. Any questions during the process are certainly welcome.

7.  How much does online design cost?

The fees charged will vary on the services provided. There will a fee page on this website soon, which will explain the basic fees charged. The fees will be on a 'per room' basis, but can be combined for multiple rooms. Since this is still in development, please email me for a quote on your specific situation.

8.  Why does it cost less to do design online than design in person?

The main reason is that you, the client, do some of the work yourself, such as taking measurements and pictures to help me to visualize the space. Another reason is that I am not driving to and from your home, and this saves a lot on time and driving expenses.

9.  Will you help me online with my whole house instead of just one room?

Of course I can help in as many areas of your home as needed. This is done on an individual basis. If you have two rooms to do or ten rooms, the prices can be combined to be more cost-effective to you.

10.  Do you give free advice?

Because of the time involved and the volume of requests, I cannot offer free advice as a service. This website does, however, have a number of FAQ’s to help you get answers, and these will be added to on an ongoing basis.

11. Can different woods be used on furniture in the same room?

As in nature, different colors of a natural substance can blend very easily. Wood is a finish that has so many variations, and most species act naturally together. In a room, different woods can certainly get along, but care should made in certain instances. In the case of a formal room, you may not want to add an old pine piece with formal mahogany. The wood should fit the style of the room, whether casual country or formal traditional or sleek modern. Beyond that, different color woods can certainly be used, and would be encouraged to create contrast and interest. For example, if you have a golden oak floor, do you try to match all of the furniture to ‘go with’ the floor? I hope not. The room would become very boring. If you do try to match any woods, though, they need to be very very close, not just ‘in the ballpark’ – then they look like they are trying too hard to be alike, and it becomes distracting.

12. Should I reupholster a sofa or buy a new one?

This is a question I have been asked many times, and I find the best way to answer it is to find out how valuable the piece is to you personally and financially. It usually costs about the same to reupholster as it would to buy new for an average quality piece. If it was expensive to buy in the first place and has high quality, you may want to consider reupholstery. Is it a treasured antique or a special family piece? In this case, I would say have it reupholstered. The piece means too much to you. If it is not of any personal value, and it is of average quality, replace it.

13. I would like to paint one wall a different color to create a focal point.
How do I choose the colors, and which wall should I use?

When painting a wall a different color, care needs to be used in choosing a color that blends with the other walls, obviously. The different wall is best done in a darker color to create a more dramatic effect and get the desired ‘focal point’. The eye will be drawn to the darker color first, thus getting the desired result.

The wall to choose depends on if there is already something that would draw the eye to the wall, such as a fireplace or special window. Choose the wall that is already most interesting, otherwise you will create two focal points that will fight with each other.

14. Should a tiny room always be painted white to make it look bigger?

I have always been a proponent of ‘doing it up’ in a tiny space to make it more interesting. Painting all the walls white to make it ‘appear larger’ in reality calls attention to the fact that it is a small space. The eye only sees the architectural features (which are small) done in white. True, the lighter color ‘recedes’ from the eye, and simplifies the space, but really, a darker, more colorful palette with different features and more accessories will make the eye notice all the little touches before it notices how small the space is. As a matter of fact, it makes it appear larger because the eye bounces from object to object rather than seeing the whole space at once, creating much more interest and the illusion the space contains more.

15. How high should I hang artwork?

Most artwork should be hung at eye level, as a general rule of thumb. Since everyone has a different eye level, a good average height is 60”, measured at the center of the artwork. If most people who will live with and enjoy the artwork are tall, you may want to raise this height a little. It really is just a guide. Keep all the artwork in the same room at the same level for consistency.

16. I have a large collection to display. What is the best way?

There are many ways to show off a collection, but the one thing to keep in mind is to keep it all together (or most of it) for impact! If you spread it out all over the house, you can’t see it as a collection. If you keep it in one place to make a visual statement, then visitors will notice the collection as a cohesive display.

17. Is the flow of color from one room to the next really important?

When walking from room to room in a home, the flow of color is very important since the eye gets used to seeing a certain palette in one room and wants it to continue on in the next room in order to feel comfortable. I have seen many designer showhouses, where a different designer does each room, with no consideration for flow from room to room, and I have to tell you, it is uncomfortable and takes some adjustment to go from one color palette to a totally different one. This doesn’t mean you have to just have one color palette for the entire house, however. If you do it right, you can continue a ‘main’ color to flow through, and use different touches in each room to give that room it’s own identity without disturbing the flow.

For example, if you have a sage green on the walls in the dining room, and want taupe in the living room, do so with touches of the same sage green in the living room, and touches of the taupe in the dining room, just to make them ‘talk’ to each other, without being exactly the same. If the kitchen is adjacent, and you want it painted yellow, you could still make it flow if you incorporate those same sages and taupes in accents in the kitchen.

18. I'm not sure what my style is. How can I find out?

Sometimes it is difficult to decide what you really like and feel comfortable with. To find your basic style, try our quiz on this website, Find Your Style. Look in magazines and online for pictures of rooms you really like. Keep a folder of tear sheets and print outs of these rooms, and you will soon see a pattern develop into your own style preference.

19. Can I combine moulding color, such as painted white baseboards
with natural stained windows?

Most homes look best with a consistent color that outlines the architecture, which is what mouldings basically do. You have to be careful with combining moulding color, though it can be done. I have seen some homes with a combination that I didn’t even realize until I looked closer. That is what you want to achieve – a combination that really isn’t noticeable. If it stands out, it may become disturbing to the eye. The example given above, of painted white mouldings and natural windows may work if there are not many windows in the room. One color should dominate – don’t have an equal amount of painted and stained – it may become too schizophrenic. One very common example of a successful combination is that of any traditional staircase – almost always you will see the upper banister stained and the lower posts painted white. And do you ever really notice it? So it is possible to combine, but be careful with it.

20. How do I arrange furniture in a living room that has hardly any wall space?

Without much wall space, the furniture will need to ‘float’ in the center of the room. I realize this is a hard concept for some to understand, but it really does work. Designers create rooms all the time with the furniture away from the walls, and it is the most interesting and versatile way to place furniture. Depending on the size of the room, hopefully there will be enough space to create the necessary amount of seating. Try different arrangements on a piece of paper first, thinking about what pieces are needed. Sometimes an angle will work for a seating arrangement, or two loveseats instead of a large sofa. Even using just a grouping of chairs instead of any sofas at all may fit into the space better and will provide more possibilities. Also, can any window seats be incorporated beneath the windows (either built-in, or maybe a movable bench)? Think of all possible solutions!

Email: Pam@interiorsalacarte.com

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