Q&A with our Designer Darrell

What inspires you as a designer?

I am inspired by color.

 What is your favorite room to design and why?

 What is the first room you see when walking into the home? Whatever it is dining  room, living room, great room, it is what sets the mood for who lives there and is the first thing company sees when they enter your home. The first thing I do when I meet any new client is stand in the front door and see where it leads me.

When did you start designing?

I had the “design” gene from an early age, constantly rearranging the bedroom I shared with my brother! But I officially started designing client’s homes about 12 years ago.

Where is your favorite store you like to shop and why? This would be giving my secrets away! I am inspired by Williams Sonoma Home and try to achieve the look without spending a fortune. What feature about Summit Custom Homes do you like best? I love an open floor plan concept and the homes we build that incorporate the look. How do you recommend designing a room from scratch – what steps do you take? A blank canvas…daunting! First thing is to have inspiration…shelter magazines, décor websites, the Pottery Barn catalog are good places to start. Next, come up with a space plan so that you can make your list of items needed. Don’t think that you have to purchase everything at once – start with some of the main larger pieces and fill in with the decorative touches that make the room feel personal and add color and texture. A sofa is just a sofa – add some cool pillows and the room will begin to take on some personality. Next start layering some of the functional items like sofa tables, lamps, and possibly blinds. What helps you design a room? When I am designing a home for Summit Custom Homes I am working with that blank canvas and NO client, so I make up a story for the people that will occupy the home. This helps me create a space that works with the imaginary family’s lifestyle and décor style. This is how I work with real clients too – I ask questions, find out who lives in the home and how they use it and hone in on their style and color preferences. What are the most popular colors to design with right now? Right now I love Mineral Blues and warm grays and adding bright aqua and sunny yellow pops of color. What is your most valuable piece of advice to a new home owner about to decorate their house? Take your time and don’t over think every decision. Think about how the home will grow with you and make sure that the larger item purchases are timeless. Colors come and you can change them inexpensively as your tastes and trends change. What is the hardest part about designing a home? Nobody ever said design is easy, ever! For my job, it is making sure that I am creating spaces that our clients can see themselves in – and everyone has their own idea of what their dream home will look like. Design is subjective, but I try to create homes that are inspiring and accessible.