An Interview with BLEND Interior Design Studio's Michelle Dirkse

Hey there, Vamps!

Have you seen Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year Tangerine Tango everywhere but don't know how to mingle it with your home's palette? Ever wished you had the inside scoop on the design trends BEFORE being bombarded by them on Pinterest? 

Well, I recently had the opportunity to pick Interior Designer, Michelle Dirkse's (phonetically, people) brain and she's dishing on everything from how to use color, design trend predictions for 2012 and how to fix those god-awful mistakes that we tend to make (like that tricky line between good clutter & bad clutter.)  Michelle, like many of us, started out her adult-life in a career path that was lacking creatively, so back to school she went for a degree in interior design.  Fast forward a few years and she's started her own firm, BLEND Interior Design Studio, with partner Felicia Farrar.

BLEND Interior Design Studio, based out of Seattle, offers distinctive interior design both locally and nationwide and provides its clients with a multitude of service options.  While relatively new, this design firm rocks my socks!

Check out just a couple of their recent transformations.  I honestly had a hard time picking only two.

A Soldier's Den - Richardson Seattle Guest Condominium

Eastern Air - Vakharia New York Apartment

RH:  First off, thanks for saving me.  My lack of real design knowledge was soon to be revealed, but at least now, I can hide behind you. For a little while, at least...

So, what about interior design had you ditching your old career?
 
MD:  While I wanted my job to have meaning and to give back to the community, I thought I would regret not having tried design.  Having friends who had changed their own careers to pursue their passions helped me to build up the courage to attempt the same.  I've always loved to build things or find a new way of using or looking at something.  Like psychology, there are a lot of variables and no one right answer in design.  I like the endless possibilities within design and the challenge of finding the best solution through the best overall combination of choices.  Plus, I'm still able to give back to the community.  Last year Felicia and I donated design packages to a few local fundraisers.  We were able to raise money for a local school and for GAPPS, a non-profit organization that stimulates research and raises awareness about prematurity and stillbirth to improve maternal, newborn and child health worldwide.

RH:   Never one to shy away from bold colors, how do we introduce these colors into our homes without it looking like a circus tent?

MD:  Introduce bold colors (ones that you like, of course) through accessories.  A new pillow cover, a vase or a freshly painted chair from the thrift store isn't much of a commitment. If you find that you prefer a subtle monochromatic scheme despite your best attempt at adding a punch of color you'll only have wasted the time and money for this small accessory rather than an entire remodel. 

RH:  For those of us that are working on a limited budget or are DIYers, what are your tips for getting the biggest bang for your buck?

MD:  Paint.  Paint.  Paint.  I have a lot of tips and resources for DIYers on a budget, but painting is by far the most inexpensive way to make a big change.  By painting your walls, or even one wall, you can give your room a fresh new look without changing anything else.  Mismatched chairs can become a unique set once they're all painted the same color and your less than favorite hand-me-down can become your favorite statement piece once you've painted it with a great new accent color.  Typically it's best to stick with one color per piece and no faux finishes of any sort.  Keep an eye out for furniture that has a great shape, but a less than perfect finish, during your next estate sale or thrift store adventure.  

RH:  Let's face it.  We all make mistakes. What are the common decorating mistakes made by homeowners?  How do we fix/avoid them?

MD:  Interior design is the best solution to the bigger picture.  There aren't definitive "wrongs" but, these ideas can serve as general guidelines. 

1. Don't change paint colors in the middle of a wall.  An architectural element like molding or a corner is a good place to stop one color and begin another.  If a wall starts in the living room and continues into the kitchen, paint it all the same color. 
2. Find focus.  While you may have twenty beautiful accessories, if you display them all in the same place they lose impact.  Choose a few of your favorite pieces for your mantle, for example, and use the rest in other areas of your home. 
3. Think in terms of relationships.  Let's use art as an example. . . Hang three framed photos close to one another rather than several inches apart.  The three frames will read as a set rather than posters hung randomly in your college dorm.  Now make sure that the 3 frames are hung in relation to something else, like the center of the back of your sofa. 
4. The top of your art does not need to line up with the top of your door.  A lecture at the Bellevue Art Museum gave a numeric rule to what I'd eyeballed in the past: the center of your art should be 59" from the floor.  Rules can always be broken and if your art is hung above furniture, it will still need to maintain it's relationship with that piece (don't hang it too far from the furniture). 

While there are a lot of simple tips that I can pass on, I think that being mindful of Hierarchy within a room is a great way to check yourself.  Is everything in your room screaming for attention or quietly standing by?  Hopefully, the majority of what's in your room is setting the stage for one focal piece or focal area.
 
RH: Lastly, let's talk design trends.  In 2011, we were hit with chevron print after chevron print, what do you think the design trends will be in 2012?
 
MD:  I don't know that I can pretend to know the coming trends, but I can tell you what I'm excited about lately and what I'm over. 

• Yay! Undermount Sinks - Nay. Surface mount bowl sinks
• Yay! White marble, gray/taupe/blue limestone, solid color synthetic counter tops - Nay. Granite and tile counters.
• Yay! Rectangular tiles set in a horizontal brick pattern - Nay.  12x12 tile grids
• Yay! Steel, American walnut and concrete - Nay. Shiny gold and tumbled travertine
• Yay! High gloss lacquer furnishings - Nay. Blue frosted glass
• Yay! Slightly metallic paints in all colors and chalkboard paint - Nay. sponge painting or faux finishes
• Yay! Flat wall paint - Nay. Glossy textured walls (I'd love a high gloss wall if it was somehow perfectly smooth though- nearly impossible since almost all walls are at least slightly textured)
• Yay! Mixing crisp modern pieces with detailed antiques - Nay. Matching furniture sets

I'm also excited about some combinations that we've used on a few of our most recent projects:

• Soft teal blues with coral, rich taupe leathers and high gloss white lacquer
• Dark blue grays, rich taupe grays and crisp white with mohair, soft leather, distressed wood, steel and oil rubbed bronze finishes
• Tiffany blue, charcoal gray, magenta and white with steel, American walnut, concrete, white lacquer and chrome. 

 
Wish YOU could pick Michelle's brain?  Well, send in your design questions and one will lucky reader will get Michelle's full attention.  Submit your questions to revamphomegoods(at)gmail.com or in the comments section below by March 20th and you might be featured in our first monthly "Dear Michelle" post.

And for those of you needing more in-depth advice, Don't Miss This Amazing Deal via LivingSocial.  BLEND Interior Design Studio will be dropping a few deals for home design services, like Color Consultation for Up to 1,000 Square Feet ($69), Furnishing Renovation Package and Consultation for Up to 500 Square Feet ($99), or Concept Package for Up to 500 Square Feet ($199).  GET YOURS NOW at LivingSocial (available until March 13th.)  Say what?!  A deal for interior design services?  Now that's my kind of coupon!


Until next time,