Thoughts From Kaufman Homes

Being a good listener is hard work.  There is no way around it.  It takes more concentration and discipline than most things in life.  When it comes time to hire an interior decorator/designer, one of the most important things you should be looking for is someone who can listen well.  This hard to implement trait, combined with a good eye for design, will almost always get you what you are looking for.

The benefits of hiring a good listener are tremendous.  First of all, you will get the opportunity to express your true desires.  Whether you would like a traditional, conservative style all the way to a modern, contemporary style, or anything in between, you will most likely get the look you want when your designer/decorator knows how to listen.  In addition, good questioning and probing from a professional will prompt the creativity needed to come up with the look you want in your home.  Another positive thing that can happen is you actually enjoy the process. Anyone who feels respected in their ideas and desires will be more willing to share and explore the individual and often very personal decorating and design ideas they have. It can give you confidence and courage as you discover that you have an opinion and style all your own.

You are definitely a part of the process.  No one wants to live in a home, nothing like they pictured, influenced by a designer’s own style, even if it’s done well.  In the end, you have to dwell there….you have to like it…you have to live with it.  If it’s not what you like or where you can feel at home, you will never be satisfied.  So when it comes time to find the right designer/decorator to help you with your project, big or small, take the time to figure out if that person knows how to listen well.  It will make an amazing difference from beginning to end.

This is a question many people ask when it comes time to build their dream home, remodel an existing or simply add-on.  The answer is more straight-forward than one might think.

First of all, experience and knowledge, coupled with creativity, gives an interior decorator/designer the ability to help the client in the seemingly endless, often overwhelming process of decision making.  To tell the truth, the selection process can be an enjoyable experience that thoughtfully meets your desires and needs as well as creatively solves design and decorating dilemmas as they surface.

In addition, if price is an issue, oftentimes a good decorator/designer can help you save money while coming up with creative solutions.  On the other hand, if you have an endless budget (I’ve never really met anyone who does ;o), it can be incredibly difficult to make selections with so many products available.

Julie Vonflue has become our decorator, bringing years of experience working for Tim’s carpets, Style Craft Carpets and also as a freelance decorator.

Julie has a bachelor of fine arts degree, from Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, with an emphasis on design.

She has a great caring personality and is really good at connecting with the customer decorating for their needs and style.  We are really fortunate to have Julie working for us.