Editors Note: Stacey Riley is a West Seattle Interior Design consultant. She brings her training, taste and common sense to the questions that interior design presents. This is her first column for the Herald.

by Stacey Riley

The West Seattle Herald has decided to add an interior design column to their paper and website and they have asked me to do it. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to share my style and ideas with you!

Let’s begin by putting aside common misconceptions about Interior Design. It’s not just for bored housewives or indifferent wealthy professionals. Design is for everyone! All of us have a space we inhabit, so why not make it reflective of who we are as individuals or as family? We often downplay the benefits a well-designed space can provide. It’s dismissed as unnecessary luxury or frivolity. When our home reflects us we feel an extension of self-expression and pride. A well designed space affects our mood.

Have you considered working with a designer but shy away because you worry your project isn’t big enough? Do you feel concerned your ideas and personal style will be ignored (or worse) patronized by a supposed ‘expert?’ Design should be a fun process, so make sure you share a connection and can easily trade ideas with your designer. This should feel like sitting around over a cup of coffee with close friend, not a boorish one way street.

Your personal style informs the practicalities of daily life. Has your designer considered your kids and pets? Your specific lifestyle? Finding a designer that shares your experiences will yield a better project. Also, consider where your designer is located. With traffic getting worse everyday, how easy will it be for you to meet? You can save money on your project by considering these factors ahead of time.

I hope to bring something fun to this column for The West Seattle Herald. My personal style is Eclectic Modern Transitionalism—in short, fun clean-line design. But we’ll talk more about that soon.

Design questions? Need help with making a room work? Want to re-do your living room? Stacey Riley can be reached through her website www.staceyrileyinteriors.com