As a child I remember “helping” my dad with a project. He asked me to stir the can of paint he just opened so I grabbed a nearby screwdriver and began to stir. My father (the left-brained engineer) was horrified and the look on his face was so dire that I jumped away from the […]
Easy New Year Menu
If one of your new year’s resolutions is to connect with family and friends more often, then January 1st is the PERFECT opportunity to start with this easy new year’s day menu. We just returned to Vermont so we’re unpacking, doing laundry and catching up. This year we’re going to enjoy a cozy and calm […]
3 ways to save yourself from holiday stress
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. If we’re honest, this time of year CAN be wonderful…but it frequently causes stress. Thanksgiving, parties, travel, planning, baking, shopping….they can wreck havoc on our schedules and our peace of mind, if we let them. For years my firm offered our Trees with Ease Christmas decorating services. […]
5 Tips to Decorate a Dining Room
Company is coming. Is your dining room ready? Football, family game night and fall entertaining are here! Get your dining room in shape for informal buffets and the grandmother of all holidays – Thanksgiving. Host Chairs My goal is to create dining rooms that look curated, not “designed.” Using a mix of finishes, fabrics and […]
Setting realistic deadlines for a renovation
Last month, I flew to Texas to surprise my Dad for his birthday. Due to a delayed flight, I missed my connection. I was extremely frustrated because I was basically his birthday present! In my business, I have learned that a party, wedding or holiday ISN’T a deadline. While I missed my Dad’s party, I […]
How to stretch your design dollar
Here at RHILLC we’ve been busy with a variety of projects. One of these jobs was incredibly robust. It involved a 10,000 sq ft home that had been neglected and was in such disrepair, the entire house had to be lifted and a new foundation constructed. The home needed to be gutted. Though starting from scratch may […]
Organizing your home through good design
We recently received a call inquiring about organizing services. What we design INVOLVES organizing but we do not offer traditional organizational services. Those services include taking a detailed inventory of your space (and the items in it), assist you in the purging process, provide storage containers and they organize, label and categorize everything for you. […]
Trends from High Point 2018 furniture market
When designers, decorators or furniture retailers talk about ‘market,’ they aren’t talking about their local farmer’s market or grocery store. They’re referring to High Point Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina. Earlier this month, when I journeyed to High Point, I had a shopping list for current projects, and I wanted to find new vendors […]
The importance of communication in a renovation or interior design project
I received a call earlier this month from someone who was extremely upset with her interior designer and inquired about the designer’s progress. “Is this normal?” she asked. No, I assured her, it was not normal. After listening to her concerns and frustrations, I realized the source of her problem: extremely poor communication. The designer did not explain the […]
Why I deleted our portfolio photos on Houzz
Why have we deleted our portfolio photos from Houzz? Quite simply, we love what we do. We combine our passion, professionalism, and experience to create homes where our clients say they feel happiest. Our 17 years of repeat and referral clients show our long track record of delivering projects on-time and on-budget. If you […]