As an artist I appreciate mock ups and new methods to present them. I know there are typically a lot of conceptual sketches that get drawn before the actual design gets produced and this takes a lot of time. Many fields require this creative process but up until recently there have not been sufficient tools to help in efficiency and decrease the time this process takes.
I was very impressed with Cheryl Howard’s solution when I saw her booth at High Point. Her company is E-Z Decorator™ – Design and Decorating System to help with interior design’s creative process. She has invented a way for professional interior designers as well as the creative decorator in all of us to view our interior design ideas before they are finalized. With a series of hand drawn templates, grids and removable and reusable furniture and accessory “overlays” and static cling stickers, one can easily visualize their project’s scope, change things around and alternate different wallcoverings or paint swatches with clear overlays. Although I’m all about drawing and illustration has been the foundation for all my artwork, this gets the concept “down on paper” quickly and easier than drawing. Her designs come in Custom 3-ring binder sets with over 5,500 illustrations from which to choose. A Standard E-Z Decorator™ System costs $299 plus shipping and includes 1,600 hand drawn ilustrations in a 3-ring binder. Additional systems and supplement sets can be ordered.
Now granted, Cheryl already has a lovely line of fabrics and wallcoverings created for her by Rasa Arbas that can be used with her decorating system; however, there are no decorative finishes from which to choose. Voila, therein comes Casart Coverings. We not only have decorative wallfinishes as removable and reusable wallcoverings but also murals and patterns — one of the largest collections of repostionable, temporary or long-lasting wallpaper — and everything can be customized to personalized color choices. We also have the exclusive Mary Douglas Drysdale Signature Color Collection. One can easily order some of our samples to view as backdrops for the E-Z Decorator™ System. This is a new method for sampling Casart wallcoverings not just for conceptual interior designs.
Cheryl makes the point that her design system is also faster than designing on a computer, which may be true but the advantage of a computer based system is that it is in digital format and can be sent to clients or shared easily. Studio by Minutes Matter has this type of software solution. Prices are determined by what software package you purchase from Studio M Wall Templates ($32.25) – The Design Solution (entire package bundle for $1,558). Debbie Green also has great business solutions as a CRM (Client Management System) to Measuring System to a Design and Directory of Windows +. These could be very helpful for the business of interior design. She also has a great blog and mentions that she saw tufted headboards all over High Point. We did too and since we sell a Casart Faux Padded Headboard, we were happy to notice this as well.
If I was an interior designer, I would investigate both of these types of business solutions. Presently we use Olioboard and like it very much for mood boards but this is time consuming to upload and create and gives one a very rudimentary mood board concept; whereas Cheryl’s solution is more realistic in scope and Studio is more technical in presentation. You can choose which style or combine versions of these new methods that you like or what suits your work and clients best. The point is, there are finally some great variety of tools to the trade that make the business of design a whole lot easier and fun while creating.
— Ashley
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