Talking Color with Interior Design Service Online
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Image courtesy of Interior Design Service Online
By Ashley Zimmermann, Creative Content Director for @designREMODEL featuring Lisa Davidson, Owner/Designer of Interior Design Service Online
February has arrived. I picture February in my mind’s eye as a forest of snowy birch trees; I can see and nearly feel the cold. This will be our month of color in the midst of the white winter. We are excited to feature Lisa Davidson, Owner and Designer of Interior Design Service Online, to kick off our color month. We found Interior Design Service Online’s Etsy store via Pinterest and reached out to learn about Lisa’s innovative e-consulting services. Over the past year, she has built up her Etsy store to focus on the paint colors consultations.
Creativity and an eye for art and design do not come easily to everyone. The barrier might be time (and energy); this is where an interior designer comes in. Hiring a professional can elevate your home by taking your preliminary ideas and enhancing them. If you have vague inklings of what you want, they can tease out more of your vision and create a well-rounded presentation and end result.
It is clear that Lisa has a true love of her craft, putting design and a happy customer as her main objectives. She pioneered the method of online consulting before it became the norm. In addition to being cost-effective and time-efficient, this option results in respect for the client’s time, budget, and even their personal, family space.
Akin to her e-consulting, Lisa and I corresponded electronically, so you can read our interview below!
Ashley: How did you get started? (In both interior design and online consulting)
Lisa: After graduating from college and then much soul-searching about what I wanted to do for a living, I knew two things. I needed to do something creative and wanted to be self-employed. Design checked both boxes!
I went back to school to obtain a degree in interior design as I knew that I needed the education to become a true professional. In school, I learned the ‘why’ behind the design. My instincts for color and design had always been natural, but finally, understanding why colors, shapes, and forms worked together was eye-opening.
After that, I sought work with designers I admired and wanted to learn from, starting with a designer specializing in boutique inns (bed and breakfast) and then moving to San Franciso for end-high residential design. Next, I worked with a woman in my hometown who had a successful business of her own. Along the way, I learned from each experience and honed my design style and business practices.
Ashley: What different services do you offer?
Lisa: Moving to online design was something I did well before online design was common. It made sense to me that working remotely was what would be next in design, and I wanted to be one of the first. I started my website for $500.00 and offered only one service – a single room design. It was like a recipe for a room: I provided the list of ingredients and instructions, and clients would then create it! This worked exceptionally well for many years, and I built a solid client base. As the online design field became increasingly popular, I noticed that the larger online companies were making money from selling products, and the design itself was becoming secondary. This was not the direction I wanted to go, so I shifted my focus to paint color.
I have begun online paint color consultation in the last few years, which is my passion! Color is overwhelming for homeowners, super complex, and something you instinctively know when it is right or wrong – even if you don’t understand why. Though paint color consulting has been my recent focus, I still offer services ranging from pre-made paint color palettes to custom paint color consultation to full room designs and interior à la carte type services such as furniture layouts.
Ashley: What makes your services different than working with a traditional interior designer?
Lisa: Cost, ease of use, and efficiency! Plus, it is easier for customers to dabble with design when it is one step removed. When I worked in-house, each time I met with a new client, I would hear, “I am sorry for the mess – I have kids” or, “I am so embarrassed for you to see the color I picked by mistake,” etc. People can now get a little help without feeling judged and without an in-house designer coming and ‘stamping’ the project with their look. I offer options, and the customer can then select what works best for them. This collaboration creates interiors that look like the hometown and not the designer. This is my goal and I honestly believe this is the best type of design! Design is about the person and what type of environment makes them happy, not the designer.
Ashley: How does your paint color consultation process work?
Lisa: The online paint color consultations start with photos of customers' homes along with a questionnaire and any inspiration images or products that are shared. I work to take into account the homeowner's preferences along with the house details. Additionally, I work to educate my clients on the ‘why’ behind my recommendations, especially when moving in a new direction. The ‘why’ I learned in school is what I like to share!
Ashley: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Lisa: When I was in school, a professor said “Mother Nature” is the best colorist in the world. This has stuck with me! Look outside for color inspiration. The mix of colors is always stunning and my best source of inspiration!
I could not agree more. Many thanks to Lisa for sharing your story with us! Please visit the Interior Design Service Online Etsy shop and website, found below:
Image courtesy of Interior Design Service Online