Here’s what our designers have been working on Interior Design with family in mind Your home must be comfortable and functional. Let's get real for a minute, shall we? What you see below is my most recent family photo.... Light & Bright Contemporary Remodel My client, Nancy, recently purchased a new home. She completely remodeled the the home to give it a much needed contemporary update. All the... Old Friends - New Spaces Sometimes clients are like old friends. You feel like you have known them for a long time. Rosa & Mel would certainly fall into... Sweeter the Second Time Around Better relationships lead to better design The Kaden Style - Angela's Pick Product Angela falls for the Kaden group - a BD favorite from American Leather New Classics Dining Room Style Board Take a look at Jessica's Style Board featuring New Classics design style Transforming From Traditional to Modern Changing tastes reflect a changing life Classic Neutrals Are Forever! Great design choices years ago yield a wonderful upgrade today. Mid Century Living Room Makeover Tracy stopped in to BY DESIGN with a mission to refurnish her living room - she is working on remodeling projects through out... Sunny Lower Level Refresh Kaden Sectional, Stephanie Swivel Gliders, Lilly Ottoman and Oona Rug When Jayne stopped into BY DESIGN she was looking for comfortable furniture to refurnish and... It's all about Designer - Client Affinity Rapport makes the difference in creating your perfect room When I first met Linda in the store we connected right away. She had told me... Small Space Gets Custom Look My recent client, Tammy, had shopped at BY DESIGN a few years ago and purchased a recliner that she loves. So when she recently... Informed by Art Deborah teaches art at Iowa State University. That could be daunting for a designer. Or... you could choose to look at it as a... You Don't Have to Choose Between Style and Comfort MODERN... BUT COMFORTABLE. It's really not too much to ask, is it? A room with modern lines, colors and textures that is so visually inviting... Warm & Comfy Living Room Update Here's a new twist on furnishing around that fireplace with the shelves on both sides. Laura's longtime client Shelly wanted a different look to her... Tess's Dining Room Makeover Tess came into the store to browse and fell in love with a white ceramic marble table for her dining room. Understandable - it... Calligaris Dining - Entertaining at it's Finest! The first rule when it comes to decorating & furnishing your home is... Can your home be more than beautiful? Absolutely. It can be healthy. At BY DESIGN we truly care about our customers. We take the time to ensure your experience is exceptional. When... From Shabby Chic to Transitional Style Mary and I first met in 2003 when I designed her great room the first time. Although she loved that design, as years went by... A Returning Client's Colorful Sun Room A colorful sunroom for returning clients Trust built over time John and Beth have been loyal clients since the Woodstock days - even though they live over an hour away! These are the kind... Get Ready for Fall Well, it’s officially fall! If you’re like me, the season brings thoughts of cool, crisp air, warm sweaters and cozying up at home with... Sherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Year As I’m sure many of you design aficionados are already aware, Sherwin Williams announced their 2019 color of the year last week. If you’re... What Are Performance Fabrics? They're designed to be easy-to-clean and long-wearing. But there are differences Super modern and neutral My client Amy was looking to solve three problems...she needed a new rug that would compliment her desk, not take away from it; shades... A Light and Bright New Look I was so excited to work with my client Wendy on designing her new home...I had helped her furnish her last home so we... A New Room Means New Design Challenges Josh and Jaycie took on a large project of tearing down a wall and opening up their living space. They quickly realized that it... A client looking for a modern, relaxing style. Amy came to me looking for a sectional that would accommodate a large space in her lower level. She wanted to maximize seating and... Cool, One of a Kind Sitting Area My latest design installation proves that furniture doesn't have to be boring! White Glove Delivery We are so happy to announce White Glove Delivery service is now available to our clients around the United States! Making a modern statement My client Nancy came to me looking for a couple of gorgeous occasional chairs for her living room. Maximum seating with minimum space This was a unique project in a very unique space! My client Julie wanted to have maximum seating in her small living room to... Re-Vamped Dining Room My clients wanted to "re-vamp" their dining room into a place they would enjoy and use more! Creating a warm and inviting condo Cheryl's goals for the space were to make it an inviting, cozy place for her family to enjoy. Second generation by Design customer I loved working with Ashley's mom...and now I've had the pleasure of designing Ashley's front room too! How to decorate tricky spaces Do you have any spaces in your home that you're just not sure what to do with? A Design Completed...The Lower Level edition I was thrilled to help Kim and Todd Madden with another project in their home - the lower level! How To Design Your Room Around Your Bold Area Rug Designing a room around a bold area rug is a great way to start. Timeless Neutrals The Second Time Around I am lucky enough to have loyal, long-term clients that allow me to re-design their rooms over again when they need refreshing! A Different Take on a Hearth Room Laura's unique take on a hearth room with gorgeous custom pieces. Design Challenge: A room with two focal points Judy and Kent needed furniture that could face both sides of the room since they had two focal points....a design challenge! Making an Old House New Again My client Sheri was so much fun to work with! New and Neutral Design Project My first major project at by Design was updating a living room for a really great client. Meeting New People, Solving New Design Problems One of the reasons I love my job so much is that I get to meet new people all the time who then invite... Good Interior Design Begins With Your Point of View You don't need all of the details - but a vision - a dream - is the perfect place to start your design. An Apartment with Big Potential An apartment in West Des Moines is the challenge of this latest project post from Elissa. Contemporary Interior Design and a Large Living Space A large, low-slung contemporary sofa and matching sectional create a great vibe in this large room. A Wonderful Home and an Incredible Client Wonderful room, wonderful client. This big two-room project was amazing fun. Custom Furniture is All About What YOU Want Walking in your client's shoes brings new appreciation for the difficult choices she faces. A New Twist on Tradition Your sense of style will inevitably change and evolve over time. A great relationship... Interior Design Ties It Together Tying old, loved items in with new selections and designs to create a functional and fun space. Using Great Design in a Small Space This downsizing project didn't mean giving up design or options. Just the opposite in fact. A Mother, a Daughter and Their Homes Laura works with Mom & Daughter to create a room that is an oasis. An Interior Project Rooted in Color and Comfort Elissa and the Kruegers collaborate for a beautiful new West Des Moines home. Leather Chesterfield Sofa Combined with Vibrant Color Anything but traditional, neutral but lush leather and vibrant colors bring this room alive. Your Interior Design - for Social Space or Privacy? Using interior design to help clients create the social and private spaces they want in their new home. It's why Sherri loves the work. Beautiful Rooms Benefit from Refreshed Design Elissa and Jackie refresh a beautiful room - and add today's style - to make it great. Why I Love Calligaris I love our new Calligaris collection. In fact, I found the perfect piece to put in my own kitchen. You Should Consider C.O.M. Fabric There are some great reasons you should consider C.O.M. fabric in your interior design plan. Elissa demonstrates why. Euro Contemporary Design in Des Moines We have a beautiful new contemporary furniture line and gallery at by Design store in Clive. Come in and see what "Italian Smart... One-of-a-Kind Customization Creates a Unique Room Late last fall, we were introduced to one of our newest vendors: Oios Metals. Ever since then, the company and their products have... The New Modern Luxury Look and You. The modern home is always evolving. And, to get an idea of what that direction is -- look no further than our new Modern... Big Interior Design Project - Team Up! A Brand New Home in a beautiful setting! We had the privilege to help Christine and Lee design their beautiful new home in the country... No Interior Project Too Small You'll be amazed at the impact of fixing one small problem in your room! Is something nagging you about your room? Is is really good,... Fixing Your Interior Design Small Space Problem Seven ways to get the most out of small spaces. Most of us face some kind of space constraint. But, good design and thoughtful choices can... What Can You Add to Your Room to Make it Sing? New Interior Accents Lead to a Fresh, Cohesive Look I had the pleasure of working with a couple to add the finishing touches to their living... Have You Neglected Your Front Entry Design? Every room needs a focal point. Need I say it? You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your home's first impression:... Why would you want your room to be boring? When Gaming and Interior Design Collide Yes, you read correctly, gaming. It’s happening! Finally, a concept that can bridge the gap between stylish interior design... Color of the Year 2016 : Rose Quartz and Serenity by Elissa Wiley As the new year is approaching, it’s interesting to see what will be the trending colors for interior design. For the first... Private Transformation A Small Project With Big Impact This was a recent installation of a custom cushion and pillows in a drop zone area just off the... Patterns in Your Room Design Are You Ready for the Return of Patterns in Interior Design? Do you like a lot patterns? Well so do I! Sometimes it’s hard to decide... The Most Wonderful Time of the Year... ...to buy new furniture?? It may be the perfect time. Sometimes it seems as though the second Halloween is over, the Christmas season begins. Now don’t get... New Floor Leads to a Whole New Room Creating a whole new comfortable look! I had the pleasure of working with Jan and Bob Prosperi on this project. They had just gotten a... 7 Tips on Mixing Wood and Metal Finishes No Fear! Show your creative side! Is it OK to mix different colors of woods and metals together in the same space? I've gotten this question recently.... How What I've Learned Can Help You My Design Journey I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Creative and Technical Design, which led me to my first post-grad job at... Tricks to Transform Your Room? Creativity Comes From Inspiration We thought we'd share this blog post from the Apartment Therapy blog. Though you won't like all of these rooms (maybe... A Bar Cart or Cabinet Adds Sophistication to Your Room. No Matter your Decor, there's a bar to match. There's something slightly masculine (and very sophisticated) about even the most ornate bar cart, so the... Welcome Our New Designers! Check back to see projects and posts from our new designers. Comfortable and Stylish Barstools? Loving The New Bar Stools!! I wanted to share a photo I received from my customer Kim, in an email telling me how much she... Downtown Loft Project in Iowan Magazine by Design client's loft featured in Iowan Magazine. We've featured this sophisticated loft in one of our project posts, and now Iowan Magazine has done... Interior Architecture Project Working with architectural elements is very important in Interior Design. That's why a rustic loft offers such an opportunity. The exposed brick, concrete floors and... Two New Classic Chair Designs Two favorite chairs are back at by Design I'm so excited that to have my 2 favorite chairs back on the by Design floor. The... My Experience at Market What do you get when you send two designers to market to purchase new items for the store? Get ready Des Moines, because by... Designing a Colorful, Comfortable Bohemian Style Room Ask and You Will Receive. I met my great friend, Nancy, through our sons. Our years-long friendship developed through our shared experiences of raising our... Updating a Client's Living Room Your room should reflect changes in your life. This is the most recent project working with the Sohn family. After we worked together to finish... No Expertise in Interior Design? Relax, We'll Do It Together. Working with first-time by Design customers is so much fun. When Rich and Kay came into the store for the... New Home, New Life... ...and Old Friendships. Occasionally, I have the opportunity to help by Design clients on more than one home. This is great because we already know each... Sleepers, sleepers, sleepers! Don’t compromise when you can have it all! When most people think of a sleeper sofa, they think of that old sofa their grandparents had.... Accessories - Having Fun Finishing Your Interior Design From Boring to Wow Janice and I worked together to find something unique to fill her empty space above the fireplace. I think we combined... Des Moines Condo Epitomizes Urban Sophistication A unique 360 degree view of Des Moines This great project offered the opportunity of working with an engaged customer and a talented outside designer. When ideas... Cool Style - Warm Room. Thank you Laura and Don. Thank you for your business. And thank you for letting me be a part of creating this beautiful room. The beautiful... A Warm and Inviting Living Room This Room Sets the Tone of the Whole House Jessica came into by Design one afternoon looking to furnish the formal living area in the front... Adding Color to Warm Up a Loft Design This design is for a couple (one is a contractor) that lives on the top floor of a loft in downtown Des Moines. They renovated... Airy, Bright, Stylish and Comfortable Clean Lines and Refined Design Taste Sandy and Gaylord live in a beautiful home. Only their dog lives with them, but they have frequent visits... Building a Relationship -- the rest comes easy. Empathy - the most under-rated (but most important) aspect of interior design. We had just met. And, my soon-to-be customer and friend Ginny's first words were:... Unique Storage Solutions for a Modern Home The Zen Buffet by Saloom Furniture, from the Peter Frances collection. The hand-selected woods used to craft the Zen Buffet are rich and expressive. They're... A Neutral Palette Creates Warmth & Personality in this Great Room Challenges Chuck and Ruth were building a custom home in the Des Moines area. They weren't newbies, they had built several before. But they knew... A Lake-side Town Home Creating a new home and new lifestyle by combining new designs with old. My long-term clients, Karen & her husband, moved from their beautiful home... Natasha's Warm and Wonderful Room When Natasha came into by Design in Des Moines, she instantly fell in love with the Colton sectional. What's more, she knew she wanted... It’s never too early to start thinking about furniture Please don’t wait until the last minute to start thinking about furniture for your new house! Many people feel like they need to wait... 3 Simple Ways to Save Money on Interior Design Don't sacrifice your dream room. Can I afford to go to by Design and let interior designers help me with my room? Absolutely, you can! I... Laura Beeler Featured in Register Article by Design's very own senior designer, Laura Beeler, was featured an article in the Des Moines Register recently. Laura discusses the interior design technique of... Make an Impact - Add An Area Rug Would you like to make a big change in your room with a small investment? Here's how: ADD A RUG! Dollar-for-dollar, there is probably no higher... Four Questions to Ask When Designing Your Perfect Room Summer is here! Finally! Summer is a great time to freshen up our homes and lives. It is a good time to think about... Creating a hip town home... while saving a busy client time! My client is a young busy Gen X'er busy with his career and no time to shop multiple stores.... A Lower Level Room Re-design Jana has been a long-time client of mine. The project this time was her lower level. They were remodeling, updating and re-configuring their space... Color Trend for 2014 : A Pop of Pink It's not just for girls anymore. Here's a 2014 interior design trend that might work well in your home: add an unexpected splash of pink!... Designing a Downtown Des Moines Loft Sometimes you just click with a customer... I recently took a call from a customer looking for a designer. The mission was to help him... Unlimited Interior Design Options (But you may have to ask to find the perfect one.) Sometimes customers think that all by Design has to offer is shown in our... The Quincy sofa... the sofa I chose for me. A designer is sometimes her own toughest customer. Designing or choosing for someone else can be freeing. But, when you choose for yourself, all sorts... How Big a Rug Do You Need? There is a perfect area rug size... but it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want to: Add a pop of color... A Must-Have Chair The Marshall Chair by American Leather I have the Marshall Chair by American Leather in my office at home. I chose it because the clean,... Sometimes all you need are Accessories Accessories add personality to a great home. Brigid came into by Design one afternoon with her fabric samples in her hand and an unsure look... Inspiration + Great Customers = Wow Elegant lines, comfortable fabrics, a great room and great customers. (I guess it's no surprise this room turned out so well) Our client, Suzanne, was inspired... Bar carts are making a comeback... Style and function combine. A Bar Cart offers you a wonderful combination of beauty and function! It is a chic way to present everything in... Need fresh ideas? We'd love the challenge! Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that another year has flown by. As I look around my place, I am ready for a... Busy Lives Join in This Sophisticated Home Interior design can help make your home your own. This is the first phase of a project for 2 busy doctors. They are combining their... My Trip to Ireland I just got back from Ireland. It was an amazing experience! I loved the people and the country. My mother's family was from Ireland... Color Trend 2014 : 'Black is Back' Okay, if you've been around by Design for the last couple of years, you know that black never left. It has been one of... Inspirations sofa at a great price Great Floor Sample Clearance Prices at by Design We just got back from the big High Point Market and we're making big changes on our... Do You Need An Interior Designer? Always Hire A Professional. Years ago Kevin and Joel decided to spray-texture a ceiling themselves. Rent the equipment -- mix up the gunk -- spray... A Comfy Sun Room with Great Views Conversation is critical to interior design. Kay recently came into by Design for the first time -- and I was lucky enough to get... Is Great Interior Design Within My Budget? Design on a Dime? Almost. Though a big budget is always great, a smaller budget shouldn't stop you from creating your perfect room. At by... A Design Inspired by a Drama Phyllis and Jack came into our store, and I was lucky enough to get to work with them. At some point our conversation turned to... Your Room - a Personal Design Story Discovering Your Personal Sense of Style. I do love mixing the old with the new. That's why we love to sketch with our clients and... I Love to "Nest" in My Home I LOVE TO NEST!!! I always have. When Kevin and I were first married and I was at home a little more with kids.... Welcome Andrea Piper Drea is our newest Designer - Welcome! A New Vision for Amy's Room A great customer re-designs a room we did years ago. Amy is a great customer. And, my friend (and advocate) too! She is a longtime... A Renewed Cottage Design We renovated an old fishing cottage in 1996 at Spirit Lake. It was tons of work. My husband did most of the work -... Vibrant Colors in a Sun Room Sophisticated Color Combinations Make This Room Pop Lynda loves purple. But she didn't think she wanted to do all purple in her lovely sun room... Bonded Leather: The Furniture Industry Lies to Consumers. It's soap box time. We aren't muck-rakers. We're positive thinkers and we talk about the beautiful side of life. But, sometimes you have to shout... What a warm, inviting room! The Hestad's are crazy about their new furniture. Listen to what they wrote us: We love the furniture! We thought you would like to... Updating Lori's Room for a Big Occasion Here's the story... with a big graduation event coming up, my client wanted to spruce up her room. Now I have to tell you... Inspired by Great Art Here is a great way to find inspiration. My clients Lori and Brad have collected Maxfield Parrish artwork for years. He uses shades of blues... A Fresh New Sun Room This is the 4th room Swedlunds have done with by Design. Patricia particularly likes using us for the full service... pulling every detail together... being there for... TV Room Before and Happily Every After Before Look at the difference in these rooms. What a great example about how an ordinary room can be made to look extraordinary. This is... Making a Big Impact with a Single Piece I love this chair! Here is the Kira chair in a purple Ikat fabric. This is a fun, yet sophisticated look at a great price... Thank you so much. A by Design client said one of the nicest things to me the other day. He had just finished ordering furniture for his third... A Townhouse That Invites Family (especially grandkids) I've been working with a delightful couple. They're empty nesters, and they've decided to move to a townhouse in Des Moines that is closer... A floor lamp as a chandelier? What I like about this is that you get a cool floor lamp that works as a ceiling fixture. Different and fun! We are... LOVE this Sun Room! If you're lucky enough to have a sun room, our fondest hope is that you will feel the way Laura's customer, Chris, does about... Using COM Fabrics on Custom Furniture in Your Room. Should I be afraid of COM fabrics? COM is an acronym standing for "Customer's Own Material". It was devised by furniture manufactures to mean any... Sophisticated City Condo This uber-sophisticated downtown Des Moines condo was a fun project. It was a bit unusual due to the fact that it is a commercial... The Corbin sectional... in a room I love. One of my favorite new clients Though I'd only known this lovely, smart woman for a couple of weeks when we did this project, I... Friendship Leads to Beautiful Results I love to make my clients new friends. But, sometimes it works the other way. Deb Stubbs and I have been the closest of... A very cool Teddy chair Allison and her clients came up with this very cool look for the Teddy chair. Teddy has a wonderful curved front that combines with... A Cozy Room My client Michele came into by Design wanting to update a room. It was a favorite room where they enjoyed spending time reading and... Fabric Sample Wing Back Chair This is an amazing project. Stephanie Pyle is a by Design customer. She's also a very creative person. Stephanie was inspired by the "collage" look... Linen and Leather combine in this terrific room Here is the Kiley sofa done in a grey-black, almost linen-look fabric. It is much tougher than linen yet has a very comfortable hand.... Rolando and Gina -- Adventure Calls. Sure, we think creating a beautiful room is an adventure. But our clients Rolando and Gina take the word adventure to a different level.... Thank you, Marlene! Marlene Warren has been our merchandiser at by Design for 9 years. Before that, she was a designer here at our store. She has... Our New Home My husband and I just bought our first home! It is a typical Beaverdale brick with a rounded front door. I have been busy... Teaser! Take a look at the start of a great new room. This is Cynthia's room. She and Laura are working on finishing it up... but we already love the flavor of the room! We couldn't... Laura Beeler: Color Inspiration from Nature On a recent visit to Key West, it became evident to me why nature-inspired color schemes make sense. Our emotions are effected by the landscape... Creating a Wonderful Candice Olson Look for a Fun Customer I've been working on a fun, new project that I'd love to share with you: My job as Senior Designer at by Design is best... Creating a "Candice look" here in Des Moines celebrity design (without the high price) Wouldn't we all love to have Candice Olson come to Iowa and furnish a room for us? Heck, we'd...
Interior Design with family in mind Your home must be comfortable and functional. Let's get real for a minute, shall we? What you see below is my most recent family photo.... Light & Bright Contemporary Remodel My client, Nancy, recently purchased a new home. She completely remodeled the the home to give it a much needed contemporary update. All the... Old Friends - New Spaces Sometimes clients are like old friends. You feel like you have known them for a long time. Rosa & Mel would certainly fall into... Sweeter the Second Time Around Better relationships lead to better design The Kaden Style - Angela's Pick Product Angela falls for the Kaden group - a BD favorite from American Leather New Classics Dining Room Style Board Take a look at Jessica's Style Board featuring New Classics design style Transforming From Traditional to Modern Changing tastes reflect a changing life Classic Neutrals Are Forever! Great design choices years ago yield a wonderful upgrade today. Mid Century Living Room Makeover Tracy stopped in to BY DESIGN with a mission to refurnish her living room - she is working on remodeling projects through out... Sunny Lower Level Refresh Kaden Sectional, Stephanie Swivel Gliders, Lilly Ottoman and Oona Rug When Jayne stopped into BY DESIGN she was looking for comfortable furniture to refurnish and... It's all about Designer - Client Affinity Rapport makes the difference in creating your perfect room When I first met Linda in the store we connected right away. She had told me... Small Space Gets Custom Look My recent client, Tammy, had shopped at BY DESIGN a few years ago and purchased a recliner that she loves. So when she recently... Informed by Art Deborah teaches art at Iowa State University. That could be daunting for a designer. Or... you could choose to look at it as a... You Don't Have to Choose Between Style and Comfort MODERN... BUT COMFORTABLE. It's really not too much to ask, is it? A room with modern lines, colors and textures that is so visually inviting... Warm & Comfy Living Room Update Here's a new twist on furnishing around that fireplace with the shelves on both sides. Laura's longtime client Shelly wanted a different look to her... Tess's Dining Room Makeover Tess came into the store to browse and fell in love with a white ceramic marble table for her dining room. Understandable - it... Calligaris Dining - Entertaining at it's Finest! The first rule when it comes to decorating & furnishing your home is... Can your home be more than beautiful? Absolutely. It can be healthy. At BY DESIGN we truly care about our customers. We take the time to ensure your experience is exceptional. When... From Shabby Chic to Transitional Style Mary and I first met in 2003 when I designed her great room the first time. Although she loved that design, as years went by... A Returning Client's Colorful Sun Room A colorful sunroom for returning clients Trust built over time John and Beth have been loyal clients since the Woodstock days - even though they live over an hour away! These are the kind... Get Ready for Fall Well, it’s officially fall! If you’re like me, the season brings thoughts of cool, crisp air, warm sweaters and cozying up at home with... Sherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Year As I’m sure many of you design aficionados are already aware, Sherwin Williams announced their 2019 color of the year last week. If you’re... What Are Performance Fabrics? They're designed to be easy-to-clean and long-wearing. But there are differences Super modern and neutral My client Amy was looking to solve three problems...she needed a new rug that would compliment her desk, not take away from it; shades... A Light and Bright New Look I was so excited to work with my client Wendy on designing her new home...I had helped her furnish her last home so we... A New Room Means New Design Challenges Josh and Jaycie took on a large project of tearing down a wall and opening up their living space. They quickly realized that it... A client looking for a modern, relaxing style. Amy came to me looking for a sectional that would accommodate a large space in her lower level. She wanted to maximize seating and... Cool, One of a Kind Sitting Area My latest design installation proves that furniture doesn't have to be boring! White Glove Delivery We are so happy to announce White Glove Delivery service is now available to our clients around the United States! Making a modern statement My client Nancy came to me looking for a couple of gorgeous occasional chairs for her living room. Maximum seating with minimum space This was a unique project in a very unique space! My client Julie wanted to have maximum seating in her small living room to... Re-Vamped Dining Room My clients wanted to "re-vamp" their dining room into a place they would enjoy and use more! Creating a warm and inviting condo Cheryl's goals for the space were to make it an inviting, cozy place for her family to enjoy. Second generation by Design customer I loved working with Ashley's mom...and now I've had the pleasure of designing Ashley's front room too! How to decorate tricky spaces Do you have any spaces in your home that you're just not sure what to do with? A Design Completed...The Lower Level edition I was thrilled to help Kim and Todd Madden with another project in their home - the lower level! How To Design Your Room Around Your Bold Area Rug Designing a room around a bold area rug is a great way to start. Timeless Neutrals The Second Time Around I am lucky enough to have loyal, long-term clients that allow me to re-design their rooms over again when they need refreshing! A Different Take on a Hearth Room Laura's unique take on a hearth room with gorgeous custom pieces. Design Challenge: A room with two focal points Judy and Kent needed furniture that could face both sides of the room since they had two focal points....a design challenge! Making an Old House New Again My client Sheri was so much fun to work with! New and Neutral Design Project My first major project at by Design was updating a living room for a really great client. Meeting New People, Solving New Design Problems One of the reasons I love my job so much is that I get to meet new people all the time who then invite... Good Interior Design Begins With Your Point of View You don't need all of the details - but a vision - a dream - is the perfect place to start your design. An Apartment with Big Potential An apartment in West Des Moines is the challenge of this latest project post from Elissa. Contemporary Interior Design and a Large Living Space A large, low-slung contemporary sofa and matching sectional create a great vibe in this large room. A Wonderful Home and an Incredible Client Wonderful room, wonderful client. This big two-room project was amazing fun. Custom Furniture is All About What YOU Want Walking in your client's shoes brings new appreciation for the difficult choices she faces. A New Twist on Tradition Your sense of style will inevitably change and evolve over time. A great relationship... Interior Design Ties It Together Tying old, loved items in with new selections and designs to create a functional and fun space. Using Great Design in a Small Space This downsizing project didn't mean giving up design or options. Just the opposite in fact. A Mother, a Daughter and Their Homes Laura works with Mom & Daughter to create a room that is an oasis. An Interior Project Rooted in Color and Comfort Elissa and the Kruegers collaborate for a beautiful new West Des Moines home. Leather Chesterfield Sofa Combined with Vibrant Color Anything but traditional, neutral but lush leather and vibrant colors bring this room alive. Your Interior Design - for Social Space or Privacy? Using interior design to help clients create the social and private spaces they want in their new home. It's why Sherri loves the work. Beautiful Rooms Benefit from Refreshed Design Elissa and Jackie refresh a beautiful room - and add today's style - to make it great. Why I Love Calligaris I love our new Calligaris collection. In fact, I found the perfect piece to put in my own kitchen. You Should Consider C.O.M. Fabric There are some great reasons you should consider C.O.M. fabric in your interior design plan. Elissa demonstrates why. Euro Contemporary Design in Des Moines We have a beautiful new contemporary furniture line and gallery at by Design store in Clive. Come in and see what "Italian Smart... One-of-a-Kind Customization Creates a Unique Room Late last fall, we were introduced to one of our newest vendors: Oios Metals. Ever since then, the company and their products have... The New Modern Luxury Look and You. The modern home is always evolving. And, to get an idea of what that direction is -- look no further than our new Modern... Big Interior Design Project - Team Up! A Brand New Home in a beautiful setting! We had the privilege to help Christine and Lee design their beautiful new home in the country... No Interior Project Too Small You'll be amazed at the impact of fixing one small problem in your room! Is something nagging you about your room? Is is really good,... Fixing Your Interior Design Small Space Problem Seven ways to get the most out of small spaces. Most of us face some kind of space constraint. But, good design and thoughtful choices can... What Can You Add to Your Room to Make it Sing? New Interior Accents Lead to a Fresh, Cohesive Look I had the pleasure of working with a couple to add the finishing touches to their living... Have You Neglected Your Front Entry Design? Every room needs a focal point. Need I say it? You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your home's first impression:... Why would you want your room to be boring? When Gaming and Interior Design Collide Yes, you read correctly, gaming. It’s happening! Finally, a concept that can bridge the gap between stylish interior design... Color of the Year 2016 : Rose Quartz and Serenity by Elissa Wiley As the new year is approaching, it’s interesting to see what will be the trending colors for interior design. For the first... Private Transformation A Small Project With Big Impact This was a recent installation of a custom cushion and pillows in a drop zone area just off the... Patterns in Your Room Design Are You Ready for the Return of Patterns in Interior Design? Do you like a lot patterns? Well so do I! Sometimes it’s hard to decide... The Most Wonderful Time of the Year... ...to buy new furniture?? It may be the perfect time. Sometimes it seems as though the second Halloween is over, the Christmas season begins. Now don’t get... New Floor Leads to a Whole New Room Creating a whole new comfortable look! I had the pleasure of working with Jan and Bob Prosperi on this project. They had just gotten a... 7 Tips on Mixing Wood and Metal Finishes No Fear! Show your creative side! Is it OK to mix different colors of woods and metals together in the same space? I've gotten this question recently.... How What I've Learned Can Help You My Design Journey I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Creative and Technical Design, which led me to my first post-grad job at... Tricks to Transform Your Room? Creativity Comes From Inspiration We thought we'd share this blog post from the Apartment Therapy blog. Though you won't like all of these rooms (maybe... A Bar Cart or Cabinet Adds Sophistication to Your Room. No Matter your Decor, there's a bar to match. There's something slightly masculine (and very sophisticated) about even the most ornate bar cart, so the... Welcome Our New Designers! Check back to see projects and posts from our new designers. Comfortable and Stylish Barstools? Loving The New Bar Stools!! I wanted to share a photo I received from my customer Kim, in an email telling me how much she... Downtown Loft Project in Iowan Magazine by Design client's loft featured in Iowan Magazine. We've featured this sophisticated loft in one of our project posts, and now Iowan Magazine has done... Interior Architecture Project Working with architectural elements is very important in Interior Design. That's why a rustic loft offers such an opportunity. The exposed brick, concrete floors and... Two New Classic Chair Designs Two favorite chairs are back at by Design I'm so excited that to have my 2 favorite chairs back on the by Design floor. The... My Experience at Market What do you get when you send two designers to market to purchase new items for the store? Get ready Des Moines, because by... Designing a Colorful, Comfortable Bohemian Style Room Ask and You Will Receive. I met my great friend, Nancy, through our sons. Our years-long friendship developed through our shared experiences of raising our... Updating a Client's Living Room Your room should reflect changes in your life. This is the most recent project working with the Sohn family. After we worked together to finish... No Expertise in Interior Design? Relax, We'll Do It Together. Working with first-time by Design customers is so much fun. When Rich and Kay came into the store for the... New Home, New Life... ...and Old Friendships. Occasionally, I have the opportunity to help by Design clients on more than one home. This is great because we already know each... Sleepers, sleepers, sleepers! Don’t compromise when you can have it all! When most people think of a sleeper sofa, they think of that old sofa their grandparents had.... Accessories - Having Fun Finishing Your Interior Design From Boring to Wow Janice and I worked together to find something unique to fill her empty space above the fireplace. I think we combined... Des Moines Condo Epitomizes Urban Sophistication A unique 360 degree view of Des Moines This great project offered the opportunity of working with an engaged customer and a talented outside designer. When ideas... Cool Style - Warm Room. Thank you Laura and Don. Thank you for your business. And thank you for letting me be a part of creating this beautiful room. The beautiful... A Warm and Inviting Living Room This Room Sets the Tone of the Whole House Jessica came into by Design one afternoon looking to furnish the formal living area in the front... Adding Color to Warm Up a Loft Design This design is for a couple (one is a contractor) that lives on the top floor of a loft in downtown Des Moines. They renovated... Airy, Bright, Stylish and Comfortable Clean Lines and Refined Design Taste Sandy and Gaylord live in a beautiful home. Only their dog lives with them, but they have frequent visits... Building a Relationship -- the rest comes easy. Empathy - the most under-rated (but most important) aspect of interior design. We had just met. And, my soon-to-be customer and friend Ginny's first words were:... Unique Storage Solutions for a Modern Home The Zen Buffet by Saloom Furniture, from the Peter Frances collection. The hand-selected woods used to craft the Zen Buffet are rich and expressive. They're... A Neutral Palette Creates Warmth & Personality in this Great Room Challenges Chuck and Ruth were building a custom home in the Des Moines area. They weren't newbies, they had built several before. But they knew... A Lake-side Town Home Creating a new home and new lifestyle by combining new designs with old. My long-term clients, Karen & her husband, moved from their beautiful home... Natasha's Warm and Wonderful Room When Natasha came into by Design in Des Moines, she instantly fell in love with the Colton sectional. What's more, she knew she wanted... It’s never too early to start thinking about furniture Please don’t wait until the last minute to start thinking about furniture for your new house! Many people feel like they need to wait... 3 Simple Ways to Save Money on Interior Design Don't sacrifice your dream room. Can I afford to go to by Design and let interior designers help me with my room? Absolutely, you can! I... Laura Beeler Featured in Register Article by Design's very own senior designer, Laura Beeler, was featured an article in the Des Moines Register recently. Laura discusses the interior design technique of... Make an Impact - Add An Area Rug Would you like to make a big change in your room with a small investment? Here's how: ADD A RUG! Dollar-for-dollar, there is probably no higher... Four Questions to Ask When Designing Your Perfect Room Summer is here! Finally! Summer is a great time to freshen up our homes and lives. It is a good time to think about... Creating a hip town home... while saving a busy client time! My client is a young busy Gen X'er busy with his career and no time to shop multiple stores.... A Lower Level Room Re-design Jana has been a long-time client of mine. The project this time was her lower level. They were remodeling, updating and re-configuring their space... Color Trend for 2014 : A Pop of Pink It's not just for girls anymore. Here's a 2014 interior design trend that might work well in your home: add an unexpected splash of pink!... Designing a Downtown Des Moines Loft Sometimes you just click with a customer... I recently took a call from a customer looking for a designer. The mission was to help him... Unlimited Interior Design Options (But you may have to ask to find the perfect one.) Sometimes customers think that all by Design has to offer is shown in our... The Quincy sofa... the sofa I chose for me. A designer is sometimes her own toughest customer. Designing or choosing for someone else can be freeing. But, when you choose for yourself, all sorts... How Big a Rug Do You Need? There is a perfect area rug size... but it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want to: Add a pop of color... A Must-Have Chair The Marshall Chair by American Leather I have the Marshall Chair by American Leather in my office at home. I chose it because the clean,... Sometimes all you need are Accessories Accessories add personality to a great home. Brigid came into by Design one afternoon with her fabric samples in her hand and an unsure look... Inspiration + Great Customers = Wow Elegant lines, comfortable fabrics, a great room and great customers. (I guess it's no surprise this room turned out so well) Our client, Suzanne, was inspired... Bar carts are making a comeback... Style and function combine. A Bar Cart offers you a wonderful combination of beauty and function! It is a chic way to present everything in... Need fresh ideas? We'd love the challenge! Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that another year has flown by. As I look around my place, I am ready for a... Busy Lives Join in This Sophisticated Home Interior design can help make your home your own. This is the first phase of a project for 2 busy doctors. They are combining their... My Trip to Ireland I just got back from Ireland. It was an amazing experience! I loved the people and the country. My mother's family was from Ireland... Color Trend 2014 : 'Black is Back' Okay, if you've been around by Design for the last couple of years, you know that black never left. It has been one of... Inspirations sofa at a great price Great Floor Sample Clearance Prices at by Design We just got back from the big High Point Market and we're making big changes on our... Do You Need An Interior Designer? Always Hire A Professional. Years ago Kevin and Joel decided to spray-texture a ceiling themselves. Rent the equipment -- mix up the gunk -- spray... A Comfy Sun Room with Great Views Conversation is critical to interior design. Kay recently came into by Design for the first time -- and I was lucky enough to get... Is Great Interior Design Within My Budget? Design on a Dime? Almost. Though a big budget is always great, a smaller budget shouldn't stop you from creating your perfect room. At by... A Design Inspired by a Drama Phyllis and Jack came into our store, and I was lucky enough to get to work with them. At some point our conversation turned to... Your Room - a Personal Design Story Discovering Your Personal Sense of Style. I do love mixing the old with the new. That's why we love to sketch with our clients and... I Love to "Nest" in My Home I LOVE TO NEST!!! I always have. When Kevin and I were first married and I was at home a little more with kids.... Welcome Andrea Piper Drea is our newest Designer - Welcome! A New Vision for Amy's Room A great customer re-designs a room we did years ago. Amy is a great customer. And, my friend (and advocate) too! She is a longtime... A Renewed Cottage Design We renovated an old fishing cottage in 1996 at Spirit Lake. It was tons of work. My husband did most of the work -... Vibrant Colors in a Sun Room Sophisticated Color Combinations Make This Room Pop Lynda loves purple. But she didn't think she wanted to do all purple in her lovely sun room... Bonded Leather: The Furniture Industry Lies to Consumers. It's soap box time. We aren't muck-rakers. We're positive thinkers and we talk about the beautiful side of life. But, sometimes you have to shout... What a warm, inviting room! The Hestad's are crazy about their new furniture. Listen to what they wrote us: We love the furniture! We thought you would like to... Updating Lori's Room for a Big Occasion Here's the story... with a big graduation event coming up, my client wanted to spruce up her room. Now I have to tell you... Inspired by Great Art Here is a great way to find inspiration. My clients Lori and Brad have collected Maxfield Parrish artwork for years. He uses shades of blues... A Fresh New Sun Room This is the 4th room Swedlunds have done with by Design. Patricia particularly likes using us for the full service... pulling every detail together... being there for... TV Room Before and Happily Every After Before Look at the difference in these rooms. What a great example about how an ordinary room can be made to look extraordinary. This is... Making a Big Impact with a Single Piece I love this chair! Here is the Kira chair in a purple Ikat fabric. This is a fun, yet sophisticated look at a great price... Thank you so much. A by Design client said one of the nicest things to me the other day. He had just finished ordering furniture for his third... A Townhouse That Invites Family (especially grandkids) I've been working with a delightful couple. They're empty nesters, and they've decided to move to a townhouse in Des Moines that is closer... A floor lamp as a chandelier? What I like about this is that you get a cool floor lamp that works as a ceiling fixture. Different and fun! We are... LOVE this Sun Room! If you're lucky enough to have a sun room, our fondest hope is that you will feel the way Laura's customer, Chris, does about... Using COM Fabrics on Custom Furniture in Your Room. Should I be afraid of COM fabrics? COM is an acronym standing for "Customer's Own Material". It was devised by furniture manufactures to mean any... Sophisticated City Condo This uber-sophisticated downtown Des Moines condo was a fun project. It was a bit unusual due to the fact that it is a commercial... The Corbin sectional... in a room I love. One of my favorite new clients Though I'd only known this lovely, smart woman for a couple of weeks when we did this project, I... Friendship Leads to Beautiful Results I love to make my clients new friends. But, sometimes it works the other way. Deb Stubbs and I have been the closest of... A very cool Teddy chair Allison and her clients came up with this very cool look for the Teddy chair. Teddy has a wonderful curved front that combines with... A Cozy Room My client Michele came into by Design wanting to update a room. It was a favorite room where they enjoyed spending time reading and... Fabric Sample Wing Back Chair This is an amazing project. Stephanie Pyle is a by Design customer. She's also a very creative person. Stephanie was inspired by the "collage" look... Linen and Leather combine in this terrific room Here is the Kiley sofa done in a grey-black, almost linen-look fabric. It is much tougher than linen yet has a very comfortable hand.... Rolando and Gina -- Adventure Calls. Sure, we think creating a beautiful room is an adventure. But our clients Rolando and Gina take the word adventure to a different level.... Thank you, Marlene! Marlene Warren has been our merchandiser at by Design for 9 years. Before that, she was a designer here at our store. She has... Our New Home My husband and I just bought our first home! It is a typical Beaverdale brick with a rounded front door. I have been busy... Teaser! Take a look at the start of a great new room. This is Cynthia's room. She and Laura are working on finishing it up... but we already love the flavor of the room! We couldn't... Laura Beeler: Color Inspiration from Nature On a recent visit to Key West, it became evident to me why nature-inspired color schemes make sense. Our emotions are effected by the landscape... Creating a Wonderful Candice Olson Look for a Fun Customer I've been working on a fun, new project that I'd love to share with you: My job as Senior Designer at by Design is best... Creating a "Candice look" here in Des Moines celebrity design (without the high price) Wouldn't we all love to have Candice Olson come to Iowa and furnish a room for us? Heck, we'd...
