Redesign Special 2009 - The Art of Redesign

It may seem odd to say there’s good news on the job front, especially for people who are self-employed. And yet, there is a niche developing in the design field that may prove a life-saver for designers and homeowners alike.

It’s called “redesign,” and it’s more than just another word for “re-decorating.” Rather, it’s a way of looking at design that can save the client money, keep the planet green, help real estate agents sell properties, and bring in jobs to the decorator’s business.

Redesign isn’t a concept of the moment, but has been steadily gaining followers for at least the past ten years; there is even a professional organization of redesigners, IRIS™, an international non-profit of professionally trained redesigners and real estate stagers.

“Redesign is a decorating process and philosophy that focuses on the use of existing furnishings in order to transform the look, feel and functionality of a space,” Sandy Dixon, executive director of IRIS, said.

Jennifer Ellen Frank, interior designer, Feng Shui consultant, and the Feng Shui advisor for the Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York City, sees redesign as a way for people to “transform their spaces, without the need to purchase new furniture.”

“After an interior redesign, the space becomes more functional and beautiful when the homeowner’s furnishings and accessories relate together in a more cohesive manner. This discipline recognizes the existing space and uses the architecture, furnishings and the accessories to create an attractive, engaging home,” Frank said.

For JoAnne Lenart-Weary, a redesign specialist who also calls herself a “professional brain stormer,” the definition of “redesign” is mostly about placement. “Redesign is capitalizing on the power of placement in a space. Placement is the key component in a beautifully designed room and begins with addressing the room size and shape,” she said.

And while redesign does often rely on using a clients’ current furnishings, even when one adds new items, it’s “truly the foundation of a room,” Lenart-Weary said.

Frank pointed out that sometimes this is called “a one-day room make-over.” Dixon agreed that it’s often a fairly quick process, relying on the skills and experience of the redesigner who can assess a room’s problems and come up with solutions in fairly short order.

“In the majority of cases this is accomplished within a day — depending on the size of the project — and without necessitating the purchase of additional items,” Dixon said.

All three women agreed that redesign is surging in popularity, primarily because it is such an economical approach to giving a home a face-lift.

“Interior redesign is an affordable, flat-rate one-day decorating makeover and consultation that will help you make the most of what you already own, and provide you with a plan that you can use to take your room to the next level,” Frank said.

Dixon added that it’s also popular because it grants immediate gratification to the client, and it’s “green” in that it uses items in different ways, rather than requiring the purchase of new items.

As the economy slows, people are spending more time at home, and “realizing that they deserve a beautiful home,” Lenart-Weary said.

But they want it quickly and on their budget. “We are a world in love with immediate gratification, and by beginning the decorating process with redesign, a client can have a space that feels wonderful in a day.”

There are challenges, of course, to working with furnishings, paint color, and accessories that may have been chosen haphazardly or on the cheap. But that’s what makes a good redesigner so valuable — the ability to make a silk couch out of a sow’s ear. Problems such as having mismatched or dated pieces or simply not enough to work with “can be creatively solved,” Dixon said.

As with any decorating, managing clients’ expectations is always a challenge, Lenart-Weary said, as well as “helping them to understand that although redesign can make a huge difference in a space, the room may still need the addition of color and/or a few new accessories or furniture pieces.”

Whatever the challenges, an increasing number of clients and decorators are finding that redesign more than meets their needs. Dixon pointed out several benefits to redesign:

Through redesign, the client ends up appreciating her things more, Lenart-Weary said. “The homeowner also gains new-found pride that they were wise enough to accumulate such wonderful things that they didn’t realize were so great to begin with, which a talented decorator can transform through the art of redesign.”

To be successful in redesign, a designer needs a solid base in the field of design, combined with the desire to really work with clients intimately. Frank advises those who want to specialize in redesign to “really listen to what clients are asking for.”

“If something isn’t on trend, be honest and tell them, and help them select something more on trend,” she said. “There is competition out there so make sure you bring something unique to the table.”

For Lenart-Weary, bringing a sense of fun to the work is crucial. “Play and move furniture in a variety of ways, and have fun with it,” she advises those new to the specialty. “Empty the room and begin with the largest piece of furniture first. Then build the room one piece at a time, like building a puzzle. Always strive to add the ‘I never would have thought of that’ element to the room.”

Redesign can help transform a home quickly from a jumble of unrelated furnishing and accessories to a place that feels calm and collected. “It’s about arrangement and placement to help you realize the dream you have for your home. We use your cherished possessions – inherited pieces, treasures collected over years, and all the things that make your home a reflection of you,” Frank said. “Redesign helps you to rethink how to use all these things in your home. In a day, your room is revitalized & fresh.”

By specializing in redesign at a time when everyone is cutting expenses, many designers are finding that they’re able to keep their business thriving while helping improve their clients’ lives.

Resources

Jennifer E. Frank, Feng Shui Consultations & Interior Residential/Commercial Styling
www.feng-shui-design-interiors.com
www.AnasaInteriors.com

Sandy Dixon, the Staging & Redesign Tutor
Published Author, Speaker, Trainer, Redesign & Staging Expert
Interior Arrangements, Inc.

JoAnne Lenart-Weary, Professional Brain Stormer & Master Professional Trainer
http://www.onedaydecorating.com
http://www.thedecoratingacademy.com

— Sarah Van Arsdale

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