Teal Formica countertops, striped and flowered wallpaper and linoleum flooring all seemed like a good idea when Pat Irey had her Arlington bathroom decorated a decade ago.
“Over the years it wore on me,” said Irey, a secretary for a real estate office.
She needed a change. She needed luxury and relaxation and elegance from her master bathroom – not stripes and flowers.
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Photo Gallery“I didn’t want to go in the wrong direction like I did before,” Irey said. “I needed someone to keep me on track.”
So she hired Lynn Fitzpatrick, an interior designer from Arlington and owner of Dream Weaver Interiors.
It was the right move, Irey said.
Some balk at hiring a professional to design a space. Interior design services can run more than $100 an hour, depending on the designer’s experience and the locale. She charges $60 an hour for consultations.
Homeowners should consider that hiring a professional can sometimes save money because a good one can help avoid costly mistakes, Fitzpatrick said.
“Even if you shop directly from Costco, it still adds up,” she said. “People don’t realize how much they have invested in their home.”
Most interior designers have the expertise to plan and manage a project. They can work with vendors and contractors, and find materials, furniture, accessories and art, some of which isn’t available to the public, she said.
A designer can bring creative flair to a project and suggest solutions homeowners may not have considered.
In Irey’s case, she had collected a notebook full of ideas, and didn’t know how to pull it together.
Fitzpatrick helped pick various fixtures and finishes such as towel bars, tiles, custom window treatments and just the right granite slab for the countertop.
She suggested practical solutions, such as a custom piece on the counter for cosmetics and brushes; cabinet drawers that close with nothing more than a gentle nudge; and a raised countertop that’s easier on backs. She coordinated work with contractors.
Fitzpatrick has worked as a designer for more than two decades, first as a franchise owner of a local Decorating Den and later as a designer for Bruce and Becky’s Interiors. She started Dream Weavers more than year ago with daughter Krystal.
She recently purchased a 1955 Ford F-100 panel truck for the business. She’ll have it painted with the logo of her business and outfitted with baby-moon hub cabs so she can cart her fabric samples to customers in style.
The business was named after the 45-foot ketch she lived and sailed on for four years with husband, Mike. They now live in a cozy home he built in rural Arlington.
Fitzpatrick said she practices “lifestyle design” meaning she tries to give clients something that suits their tastes and life.
One of the most important things she can provide her clients with is her experience. Sometimes, that means firmly and frankly speaking up when a client is making a decor mistake. In one case, she chose not to work with a client who insisted on combining red velvet curtains and burnt orange carpet.
“She is such a professional,” Irey said. “A few times I had my vision of what I wanted and she would say, ‘Well, why don’t you think about this.’ And she was right.”
Now, the bathroom is a luxurious, spalike master bathroom that serves as a getaway for Irey. Everything except the soaking tub went.
Sophisticated, high-end fixtures and finishes replaced the old: a clear glass shower, a spacious granite slab countertop with two oval under-mount sinks, polished travertine tile and fixtures in brushed nickel.
A large picture window, which had been mostly covered by a curtain for privacy, was replaced with a bank of glass blocks. The blocks provide privacy and still let plenty of light in.
A small electric fireplace warms the room. A flat-screen television is mounted above the soaking tub. The bathroom is wrapped in soothing, muted paint tones.
“I’ve always dreamed of a luxurious, elegant bathroom, and that’s what Lynn has given me,” Irey said.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Fall home show
Interior Designer Lynn Fitzpatrick’s business will be one of dozens of exhibits at the Everett Fall Home Show, which begins Friday and ends Sunday at the Everett Events Center.
The public can find information on home improvement, remodeling and decorating. Arts and crafts booths will display wares and gardening personality Ed Hume will speak at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The first 1,000 at the show each day will get a free pumpkin.
The show runs Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets cost $8 for adults and $7.50 for seniors. Children 16 and under are admitted free. Purchase tickets at the box office.
Hire a designer
Hiring an interior designer can help homeowners solve problems, avoid costly mistakes and create an attractive space.
Most have the expertise to plan and manage a project. They can work with vendors and contractors. They can procure materials, furniture, accessories and art, some of which isn’t available to the public.
ASID, the largest professional organization for interior designers, recommends homeowners take these steps when hiring a designer:
Define the project: Before hiring a designer, consider who will use the space and how it will be used. Decide on a budget and timeframe. Think about the look you want and the changes that are most important. Collect paint swatches, fabric samples and pictures of rooms or styles that appeal from magazines.
Develop a list of suitable designers: Consult national or local referral services offered by professional organizations such as ASID. Some local designers may have Web sites that display work samples and design philosophy.
Interview several designers: Talk to three or four designers at least. Explain clearly what your needs are and tell the designer about your project ideas. You’ll be working with a designer so you’ll want to select someone who will take your ideas and concerns seriously.
Also ask designers about education, training and experience. Ask about the fee structure and any additional charges outside the estimate that might occur. Get an estimate for how long the project will take. Discuss how you will stay in contact and with what frequency you can expect project reports.
Check references: Always ask to see a designer’s portfolio and the names of three or four references. The references should be recent, within the last year.
Source: American Society of Interior Designers
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