Spring 2019

LUXLIFE MAGAZINE | 69 Spring 2019 eye-to-eye to help them to realise their vision. I offer redesign services (using what you already have to redecorate the space), paint colour consultations, room designs and whole house planning and installation. It’s really exciting to see a home – not just a house – emerge from studs and drywall.” “I guess I’m most proud of having a reputation for being down-to-earth. I get surprised looks when I start moving the furniture myself. I do a lot of my own installations, hanging artwork, placing accessories and rugs. I love to be hands- on. Spending time in a home helps me understand what it needs.” Dawn continues, detailing the types of clients she works with on a regular basis. “I work with all types of clients – mostly residential, but a nice handful of small businesses come to me to help create the right feel for their clientele. My clients all have the same thing in common – we all want our living and work spaces to be beautiful, accessible and comfortable. Finding the time and energy to focus on creating that space is tough – so they turn to me.” “I treat my clients the way I’d like to be treated. I’m transparent in my pricing, communications and bottom line, I feel it’s a privilege to be working with each of my clients. Each project is a collaboration. I like to say, ‘ you drive, I’ll navigate ’. Together, we wake up your home.” Eye to Eye’s success is due entirely to Dawn’s expertise and natural – and honed – talent for design. Though she hires virtual staff for her administration, everything else is managed by Dawn. No small feat indeed. “I have a great virtual staff to help with the administrative side of the business, but when it comes to design, I am the point of contact. If you’re my client, I get inspired by talking with you, visiting with you in your home or workspace, and seeing the things you’ve chosen to surround you. I do my best to get to know you, so I can help you create surroundings that feel completely yours. There’s a lot of ‘you’ in all of my designs.” Like most industries in this digital-first age, the design landscape has had to adapt to swift technological development. Most notable, the rise of the virtual design studio, who offer cheaper alternatives for clients looking to revive their living spaces on a budget. Dawn was quick to emphasise the differences between her services and those offered by this new breed of studio. “I’ve had quite a few clients find me after working with a ‘virtual’ design company – the kind that take photos of your room and create a 3D model complete with new furnishings and accessories. It’s a great concept and the 3D image is a useful tool to help visualise a space in a new way. What I’ve learned from seeing these designs in person is their designers exist to sell you their products, so the design you receive is entirely centred around the items they want to sell you. For certain, it’s helpful to see a new take on your home, and the $50 price tag has to be enticing. Occasionally, they hit the mark and that’s great. But, like I said, I’ve had more than a few clients hire me after not loving the results from a virtual design. Your home is personal, so the process should be too.” Equally, like fashion, design trends vary year on year. What was in vogue one year can fall out of favour the next – as such, timeless, personal design is the key to enduring success. “Sometimes people ask, ‘ What’s in right now ?’ I personally enjoy watching trends pop in and out of favour and seeing style elements reappear after being gone for a few decades. But, I rarely incorporate a trendy element into design, unless it’s one that has been so fully embraced by the industry that it’s impossible to avoid - the past few years of gold finishes, for instance. At the end of the day, my path is the one my client is on at the moment, so we incorporate elements that lead you to the right “feel” in your home. We’ll bring something in because you really want to see it in your home – not just because it happens to be ‘in’ right now.” In her closing comments, Dawn summarises her approach to design: “Whether you’re redesigning a room or starting from scratch, the process can be overwhelming. I take the pressure off. First, I learn how you want to feel in your home – that’s most important. Then I give you parameters to narrow the options. But I also broaden the view of what’s possible in your décor. I really enjoy hearing ‘ I never would have thought of that on my own, and I love it!’ ” Company: Eye to Eye Interiors, LLC Address: Downers Grove, llinois, United States Website: www.eyetoeyeinteriors.com Telephone: +1 773 350 7020