Domesticated Dutch-ish: Sister Sunday: Hotlanta Edition

Just a heads up...this Sister Sunday is going to be one big BRAG FEST because my sister is amazing and it's my blog so I can brag if I want to. :)

Nikki just returned from her first, real-life, big girl, bona fide business trip! Over the last week, Nikki took over Atlanta, working on her premier design instal |When I was in Atlanta the coolest thing I did was go to the world's largest drive-in restaurant, The Varsity. Damn it, why are you so much cooler than me?|.

Luckily for those of you, like me, who know nothing about what the words "design instal" mean Nikki is here to put it all in Layman's Terms for us!

Basically for 5 whole days she got to help design the most beautiful house to ever exist. Except here is the kicker - no one lives in it! Confused?

That's because the firm she works for specializes in designing custom model homes for builders all around the nation. This means, her goal is to make the homes looks as stunning as possible, from top to bottom, so clients will want to have their house built by the specific builder.

Often times homeowners make the design process even more difficult and can stunt the creativity of the designer. But in this case, without a homeowner and all of their reservations, the designers are given creative freedom from the builder to make the house look as spectacular as possible.

This means things like a three story slide from the kid's room to the playroom, wine cellars that are the size of my current apartment |I keep trying to talk Brady into turning our apartment into a wine cellar but he keeps resisting|, and a private doggie suite aren't off limits, in fact they are encouraged.

Take a look at some of the pictures from her trip to see exactly what I mean.

So, I am giving Nikki the Sister Sunday stage to share with you all 3 things she wishes people better understood about her job.

Tune in next Sunday to see what I wish people understood about my job as a teacher!

3 Things Every Interior Designer Wished You "Got"

1. I'm an Interior Designer. Let me repeat that... a DESIGNER!

While I love HGTV just as much as the next person, it often paints the picture that all I do is pick out paint... and maybe some pillows if I'm lucky. The truth is I got my degree at a 4 year university whose focus was more on the architectural and construction side of things than the "making things look pretty" side. My understanding of construction documents and building codes gives me the ability to make your house collapse in on you if you don't stop calling me a "decorator" or worse yet.. a "home stager". :)

2. You Can't Get a Filet Mignon on a Chicken Nugget Budget

People have unrealistic expectations. They give us a list a mile long of everything they want without a budget to match. A good designer can always get you to your vision but scoffing when you're told you have to forgo the marble counter tops to ensure your family has a functioning toilet isn't the way to get you there.

3. This Job isn't Superficial

Everyone wants to feel like they are making a difference in the world and, us as designers, feel like we are doing just that. Considering the fact, that on average, we spend 87% of our time indoors, don't you think it makes sense that these spaces are not only functional but enjoyable, too?

So, the next time you walk into a beautiful space, don't just look at the paint and throw pillows, remember a designer made all of the decisions with you in mind.

What pairs better with Interior Design than the Super Bowl? The answer is nothing. Check out last week's Super Bowl themed Sister Sunday here! And be sure to check back next week for more! Don't want to miss another Sister Sunday? Use the subscription tool on the right to get an email in your inbox with every new post.


Photo Credit: Artisan Design Group & Ashton Woods Homes - See why I want my apartment like this??