I.N.T.E.R.I.O.R.S by Karen

Monday, July 11, 2011

Charleston Contemporary Condo

This condo is in the heart of downtown Charleston. The client is a very busy person and wanted a contemporary look with a soothing and comfortable feel at the end of the day. We used grey, creams and lavenders to achieve a very soft yet sophisticated look.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Historic Downtown Charleston Home with Contemporary Interior Design

This home was built in the 1800’s and is located in Charleston, SC. My client had a vision for the interior space to be a surprise or an “out of the box” experience when their guests entered this home. They love a contemporary look, so we made the decision to move forward with contemporary flair in mind for the interior. Please take a look at the other photo’s of this home in my portfolio to the right indicated by Historic home.

Transitional Design for Dunes West Client

We added interest to the Dining Room by faux finishing the ceiling, adding an octagon rug, and using local artwork. The ruched window treatment finished the elegant look of the room. (See photo's in Karen's Portfolio to right)

The client's vision for the living room was inviting, comfortable with a soothing effect. We accomplished that with neutral colors and muted fabrics which gave the room warmth. The swivel chairs are easy for conversation purposes and convenient for watching TV. The sofa has a chaise added for comfort.

Welcome to I.N.T.E.R.I.O.R.S by Karen - IDS Member

Thank you for visiting my Blog. My name is Karen Caldeira and I am an Interior Designer in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Interiors by Karen opened in 2005 in Mount Pleasant. I work with a wide variety of styles and price points. My projects range from small downtown condo's to 6000 square foot luxury homes. I believe the human environment and our experience of life is greatly influenced by the design of spaces you live and work in. You know that good design is more than a question of good taste and appearance. Interiors by Karen focuses on creating environments to meet your needs for productivity, for beauty, for efficiency, for comfort and most importantly, for safety. They make an environmental difference by creating design solutions and selecting products sensitive to the ecosphere. To meet the functional and aesthetic demands of every client, the interior designer works with your budgets and your deadlines.

Client Comments

Dear Karen,

I just wanted to drop you a note to say how much my husband and I appreciated working with you while we were building our new home.

Your assistance with choosing the tiles, flooring, paint colors, cabinetry and furnishings was so helpful. We really appreciated the fact that you were able to stay within our budget!

We were a little nervous about doing this long distance since we live in Tennessee and you are in Charleston, SC – but it couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Your space plans were right on the money and all the furniture and rugs fit like a glove.

We are thrilled with the outcome and when we move on to the downstairs area you’ll be the first person we call.

Shirley and Jerry King
Dandridge, TN

“Karen, just a note to tell you how much we appreciated your help in getting our dining room, kitchen and living room updated. We absolutely love everything you did and are so happy you pulled everything together for us. Your attention to detail and ability to choose just the right fabrics and paint colors was right on the money! Our home is not only beautiful, it is inviting and comfortable. You were great to work with and we appreciate the fact that you stayed within our budget.”

Art and Kathy DeGiovine
Hamlin Plantation
Mount Pleasant, SC

"When we relocated to Mount Pleasant South Carolina last year, the prospect of decorating our new home seemed overwhelming. We were concerned that we could make a lot of expensive choices and still not achieve the look and feel we wanted. Our decision to work with Karen Caldeira/Interiors by Karen was one of the best investments of time and money we made in our new home.

The entire experience from planning and selections to installations and invoices was handled in a first class manner. Karen is one of those designers who can keep the whole picture in her mind’s eye at all times even if the project has to be done in stages. From our standpoint she is a rare find and a joy to work with. Her integrity, creativity, and knowledge are exceptional. She kept us involved throughout the project discussing each and every component, listened to our likes and dislikes, and developed them into something beyond our expectations while always finding ways to stay within our budgetary constraints.

Karen was able to manage the efforts of everyone involved to be sure things were done to the highest standards and in an organized, timely manner. Her network of resources proved to be as professional, talented, and reliable as she herself. Karen even had several pieces of custom artwork created for our home by wonderfully talented local artists.

Thanks to Karen’s unique abilities and talent our house was transformed into a functional, warm, and comfortable home which reflects our tastes and personalities We love our home and enjoy sharing it with friends and family.

We have and will continue to use Interiors by Karen whenever the need arises. As a matter of fact when selecting anything for the house, my husband always asks, “Did you run this by my decorator?”

We unequivocally and enthusiastically recommend the talents of Karen Caldeira/Interiors by Karen to others."

Elaine and Paul Lombardino
Dunes West
Mount Pleasant, SC

What are the benefits of interior design?

Good design has its rewards. Think of interior design as an extension of yourself and your image. Interior designers help us create and define identities through our living, working and playing environments. Their responsibilities can include specific needs assessment, schematic design, space planning, final design with specifications and working drawings, project supervision, and postoccupancy review. Interior design services improve the quality of life for residential, corporate, hospitality and healthcare clients. Interior designers create comfortable home living environments which reflect your personal tastes and preferences, yet provide stability and transition for growing and maturing individual and family needs. Designers create and specify ergonomic work places for corporate offices. They develop corporate identities to support and enhance employee productivity. Designers create images that truly enhance products, yet extend the marketing concepts of retail stores to make shopping a pleasurable experience and entice consumers to buy. Designers produce ambiances for restaurants that make the diner come back for more. They choose appealing, yet durable furnishings that observe fire codes and flammability ratings to encourage public safety. How should you prepare yourself for interior design services?

Before Contacting an Interior Designer

Before contacting an interior designer, outline your expectations and determine your needs. For instance, what are your expectations of the completed project? For whom is the space to be designed? For what activities will it be used? What’s your time frame? What’s your budget? The more precisely you describe your interior design needs and desires, the more successful your interior designer will be in meeting them. After you have contacted the designer of your choice, the interview is the opportunity to present your project, listen to the designer’s observations and insights, and examine the designer’s work. What determines a successful interview? Important interview items include checking the designer’s references and education, reviewing their portfolios, confirming the scope of designer services, developing a working schedule, assessing compatibility and discussing budget. The interview is the appropriate time to discuss compensation. No matter what compensation method you choose, ask that written agreement be prepared. The contract or letter of agreement clarifies your understanding of the exact nature of work to be performed. Creativity, innovation, new ideas and design solutions, exposure to products and services not conventionally available, are all part of the design process. Your partnership with a professional interior designer can take you far beyond “decorating.” By education, training and experience, professional interior designers are able to change the dimensions of interior space, to custom design precisely to your requirements and to call upon resources that are literally worldwide in origin.