What makes a home, your home? It goes beyond the names on the deed, beyond the items that occupy a space, and sometimes even beyond the people who live there. That question is at the center of every home remodeling project, big or small. And the route to finding that answer starts with design.
We’re sitting down with our Interior Designer Steph Morris, to uncover how the design process from start to finish helps transform spaces into homes.
What inspired you to become an Interior Designer?
Steph: I love helping people through listening and watching the space. Designing a space that people live in and use every day is a challenge. I use a lot of problem-solving when space planning; incorporate their needs, codes, space requirements. I love the challenge and the end result – a happy client because they can function better than how they were.
I enjoy gearing my design toward the homeowner themselves, not necessarily the project type. This means serving clients based on their personality types and their experience in the process, all while learning their goals and to stay close to their budget.
What is your design philosophy?
Steph: I think of design in this order. Function first – space planning. Form – materials, fixtures, finishes. Feeling – how the space looks and feels when completed. Facts – costs, requirements, code.
The most important part when designing a home is how the space will function. Everything else should support that function.
What is function to you?
Steph: Function is how the space will be used. It’s both how a space is used right now and how we can make it better for the homeowners. It’s the entire philosophy of the design. Take a kitchen for example: the function of a kitchen for a homeowner who loves to cook and owns a lot of tools is different from a homeowner who looks for efficiency and wants a space that can easily double as a home office. Even if these two kitchens are the same size, the design approach will be completely different. This is true even if both homeowners have the same style preferences.
But function also might be the other rooms in the house, too. You can’t just look at one room when doing a remodel, even if you are only remodeling one room. How does the flow of the kitchen go through to the dining area? The living room? The entrance? A drastic mismatch between rooms disrupts the function of the entire home.
How do you consider the rest of the home, when remodeling just one room?
Steph: There are certain materials that I consider the ‘shell’ of the home – the floors, doors, and millwork. These items are consistent through the home and can be costly if they are changed. Therefore, you need to keep these in mind and look at everything. For instance, do we change the floor on the whole main level? Do we swap out furniture in another room to compliment the new design? It really depends on the specific home. If the homeowner phases the remodels or the rest of the home to remain as is, I like to use my ‘bridge’ material. I select a countertop, a tile, maybe it’s the homeowner’s art or rug, it’s an item thoughtfully selected that blends the new with the existing.
Also I have to look at traffic flow, balance, and safety. This goes back to the flow of room to room along with the many thoughts an experienced interior designer contributes.
How and where do you find inspiration?
Steph: Magazines, I like to hold things and study and of course social media because it is convenient. However, nature plays a lot into my mind, how things are made, how nature would build it, I like design with movement. I like to see what other true designers and homeowners do and what works well, but also look to the natural world. Nature is all about function. A flower is beautiful – and its design ensures pollination. There are also so many shapes in nature that flow well into home design.
What’s the most important thing to consider when designing a space?
Steph: It’s hard to say that there’s just one thing. I like to think the homeowners are my best friends. We get to the meat of your project – let’s get honest and discuss together to build that solution by establishing your true needs, priorities, realistic expectations, true budget, communication, and partnership with your building team. Are all important.
One of my many sayings, and I have many, when we are trying to decide what should stay or go due to budget is to identify: ‘do now, do later, do different, do never’. That helps keep budget in mind while planning, for both myself and the homeowners.
What’s one of your favorite projects you’ve worked on?
Steph: Titus offers commercial and residential projects, so my answer would be clinics and offices along with basement design. Lower level projects are fun, it’s to expand the home, entertain, a TV wall, great fireplace to keep warm, a wine room with special tile and lighting, an exercise room (Zumba would be my room), a spa bath, two-sided fireplace to connect to a new patio out back, etc.
You can explore some of Steph’s designs – along with our other interior designers – on our residential gallery and on our Houzz page.
Ready for your own project? Our first two meetings are complementary before you ever sign a contract with us. Email us at info@tituscontracing.com, call 952.746.7817, or fill out our contact us form to get started.
