A lot of people would say something along the lines of:
“Interior Designer? That’s a nonsense fake job! I don’t need someone to decorate my house and tell me where to put furniture!!”
Then there are people who are working 50 hours a week: Trial Lawyers, Surgeons, Architects, Business Owners, etc. If you are working that many hours, and then add a commute on top of it: The last thing you want to do on your day off is have your spouse or partner drag you through a furniture showroom. Doesn’t matter if it’s; IKEA, Macy’s, or some high end family owned chain.
So these busy, successful people will instruct an Interior Designer like this: “Here is a pile of money, furnish and decorate my house, and when I have guests over…I want them to be envious…not laughing at me behind my back”.
That is a real thing. Most of us are not that rich. Some are.
A few years ago I started reaching out to Interior Designers I could find on the HOUZZ website for referral work. There is a lot of garbage. Posers, wanna-bees, bored rich housewives and trust fund babies who have the cash to set up nice websites, but probably aren’t even doing one Interior Design job a year.
The Interior Designers, Stagers & Organizers listed below are the real deal. They are out there, doing work.
Laura Design Company owned by Laura Peacock & Laura Irion
Michelle Glennon Interior Design, Inc. owned by Michelle Glennon
Clark Custom Interiors owned by Kristin Clark
Elizabeth Stamos Design owned by Elizabeth Stamos
Dezaar Interiors owned by Nicole Bostman
New Perspective Design, Inc. owned by Angie Gardeck
Mason & Brass owned by Elizabeth Smolcich
Deborah Silver Design owned by Deborah Silver
Four Sided Design owned by Becca Roseman
Soulsis Design Group owned by Nicole Miller & Stacy Mahoney
Swift Organizing owned by Nisha Karimi
DeCleene Creative owned by Jennifer DeCleene
Michelle Thill Interiors owned by Michelle Thill
Cynthia Brown Interior Design owned by Cynthia Brown
Berland's is a local chain of upscale tools (and expertise). I shop at the Palatine store. Their website does not allow for online shopping. You will have to call, email, or travel to the store. | |
Woodworker's Supply is a supplier of parts and tools that I use in my business. | |
Fastcap is a source of screws, magnets and other innovative tools that I use on a regular basis. | |
We use the WORX brand 4V cordless drills on many of our furniture assembly jobs. While not suitable for heavy duty construction jobs. These drills are well suited to the type of work we do. | |
Rockler is a resource for woodworkers, and carpenters. I shop at the Schaumburg store, and online. | |
Chad'stool box is a source of tools. They are a distributor of Bondhus bits (a USA manufacturer), and other tools not found at Big Box hardware stores. | |
I own a number of Milwaukee Tool products. | |
Little Giant Ladders: I own several products from them. | |
McMaster-Carr This company supplies hard to find fasteners. | |
I use the DeWalt lines of Tstak and ToughSystem cases, and other tool cases. Also some bits and blades. | |
I have a pair of folding sawhorses from Hide-a-horse. I've been very happy with them. I made the investment after a plastic horse collapsed in the middle of a job. | |
I use RIDGID brand cordless power tools. I like the Lifetime warranty. | |
Stabila makes high quality Levels. I own several. | |
KC TOOL This USA based company specializes in quality tools made in Germany. | |
Woodpeckers Unique, high precision woodworking tools. Made in the USA. | |
I own the Black and Decker Accu-Mark Level, very useful. | |
Frog Tape is used for picture hanging. | |
Gorilla Platforms are very useful | |
I use the Komelon brand of tape measure | |
I own a few of the VETO bags, very high quality | |
I have two of the Pearstone Ladder Kart stepladders, very useful | |
I own two STILETTO hammers, Very high quality | |
I own a number of pliers and wire cutters from KNIPEX | |
I have some drillbits and specialty screwdrivers from GREENLEE | |
I have drillbits and a Laser-measure device from BOSCH | |
I own several products (handtools, fishtape, tool pouch) from KLEIN | |
I own tools from GOLDBLATT USA | |
I go through several hundred OOK brand picture hangers each year | |
A number of products from Harbor Freight. Sledge hammer, storage, wrenches, etc. | |
Belts and pouches from OCCIDENTAL LEATHER | |
A high quality circular saw blade from TENRYU | |
Many clamps from IRWIN | |
Heavy duty drywall anchors from TOGGLER | |
Specialty SAVAGE brand level, magnetic. | |
Festool: Recently picked up a vacuum from them. | |
Wera: I own a number of Wera tools | |
Bentwrench: I own a few of these unique wrenches. |