For over 38 years I have been intrigued and challenged by the ways in which design and business intersect. One of our goals at Design Services, Ltd has been to assist our clients in understanding the value and power of design and its impact on building and reinforcing a company’s image.

Even though I have been in the interior design world for almost 40 years,when I get the urge to make significant changes to my home or office I have made it a practice to get a second opinion from another professional designer prior to proceeding with my project.

Often homeowners think that using a design service means that they are going to be deluged with a million confusing design decisions, while living in a state of construction chaos for months. Last, but certainly not least, they assume it will probably cost them a fortune. And at the end of the process, they worry: What if all these new changes don’t fit my lifestyle??

The economy has altered many things in our lives, not the least of which is how our clients approach a new design project. Prior to the recession… many of our clients would have picked up the phone to call, and the conversation would have gone something like this: “We just bought a new building/ house and we would love to have you design it for us. When can we meet so you can design it and get it done for us while we are in Florida.”

Take a look at the housing market today and you’ll see that lots of things have changed. Selling one’s home can be almost impossible; many home owners are opting to stay put and update or add newer amenities. Some seniors would prefer to stay in their homes (aging in place) instead of making the disruptive move to a retirement community. Some may be empty nesters or in the midst of downsizing to smaller homes. Maybe they are trying to blend two residences into one home that truly represents the best of both tastes.

By: Rita S. Wilkins
With the economy on everyone’s mind, the thought of spending money on a much needed renovation can be overwhelming. In actuality, a business owner on a tight budget is one who may actually have the greatest need and benefit the most from services from a design professional that can assist with not just the design and planning, but also propose options that will achieve the best design on a limited budget.

My passion for travel came at an early age when, as a child living in Germany, our “weekend trips” were to neighboring European countries where I was introduced to age-old cultures and people that I had never seen or experienced before.

Yet with the influence of this early travel and years of subsequent journeys around the world, it was my most recent trip to visit my son, who is serving with the Peace Corps in Senegal, that has had the most profound impact.

For those of you who have ever watched in wonder at the “transformations” that have occurred before your eyes on some of the design network programs, we recently had the opportunity to perform such a transformation for a high-end corporate apartment at the Watergate in Washington, D.C.

Why is it that what often seems like our most complicated and difficult times can actually turn into a rare opportunity for REINVENTION?

Our clients today are looking for a designer who also understands the challenges business owners face, as well as, an understanding of business trends and opportunities they might encounter in the future. They are looking for a trusted partner who can assist them with enhancing their brand, growing their business through good design that will help them stand out from their competition.