No, as a matter of fact, toile and paisley don't make for a pleasing design combination. But had you the expertise of an interior designer, you'd know that and more.
The do-it-yourself craze has dominated the design scene of late, but interior designers are still in demand, particularly in the high-end residential and commercial areas.
Being an interior designer is about a lot more than the color wheel and pillow shopping. It's about conceptualizing with clients, carrying out a vision and creating beautiful (and livable) spaces.
And, as they say, the devil is in the details.
To learn a little more about the profession, we went to Tobi Wells Fairley, owner of T. Lamarr Interiors in Little Rock.
What drew you to this field?
As a child I was always rearranging my bedroom. My mom would come in to wake me up in the morning when I was 7 or 8, and I would have totally changed the furniture placement overnight. I also made "floor plans" out in my front yard using pine straw as my walls, and then I would drive my Big Wheel up to my pine straw house and take my baby dolls inside. When I was around 12 years old, I started visiting my great aunt and my cousin who were designers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so I guess that was my first exposure to design as a career.
Describe your educational path.
I have an accounting degree, an interior design degree and an MBA with emphasis in management, all from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. I also focused a good bit of my design coursework in the area of art history. I did my design internship at Yates-Silverman Casino Design Firm in Las Vegas. I elected to do a second internship, which I completed at Georg Andersen Associates in Conway.
What about licensing?
I passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam in October 2003, and I am state licensed and registered. I am a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
How important was it to have a business background?
Huge. My MBA has just been invaluable especially when dealing with human resources.
What intangible qualities must an interior designer have?
A designer must be flexible because when you are dealing with the public, things are constantly changing and challenging you. They must also be self-motivated and attentive to detail.
This is a business of deadlines, and the clients want everything done yesterday but done to perfection. So if you are not a structured, driven, and detail-oriented person, it is very easy to get behind.
What makes a top-notch interior designer?
I think having an eye for color is key and also a solid understanding of the major design elements of balance, scale, order and symmetry. Another quality that really sets a designer apart is the confidence to guide clients in the right direction even when it is not necessarily what the client thinks they want. One last thing that I think really makes a designer great is not being afraid to leave your "mark" on a project. In my experience, my clients hire me because they have seen my work and they want my look.
Do you watch any interior design shows? Which one is your favorite and why?
I love Divine Design with Candice Olson on HGTV, and I also like Kenneth Brown's show, also on HGTV. I really like both of the shows by the Designer Guys. My favorite design shows have realistic budgets. I work in upscale residential so I am not really interested in the lower budget shows.
What is your favorite part of the job?
The creative work. I love designing beautiful spaces, and I especially love the installations when the rooms turn out the way I envisioned them.