By Catherine Hudgins
Whether the impetus is relocation to the metro San Antonio area, a change in lifestyle, or simply the desire for something new, revamping a home’s public space can have a dramatic impact—and getting it right can be difficult without help.
Two interior designers in Boerne—Jan Hunt of Hill Town Interiors and Sue McCrary of McCrary Interior Design—urge people to consult a professional without worrying that their personal taste will be lost in a designer-imposed “look.”
“I always remember,” says McCrary, “that the clients will be living there, not me.”
Hunt concurs. “My job is to help you discover the best way to have what you want and need—not to come into your home and make it mine.”
Both designers emphasize the need to listen to their client, to understand the family’s lifestyle, to find out what they already have, and how they want to use the space in question.
When that space is a large room transitioning to an outdoor area such as a pool and/or patio, the task of pulling together the room’s multiple uses in a pleasing and intuitive manner may seem somewhat overwhelming, but both Hunt and McCrary assure people it can be done—with highly satisfying results.
“The first thing I do,” says Hunt, “is discover what goes on in that space while I’m not there.” Then the designer brings her trained perspective to help the homeowner meet specific family needs; these may include space for watching TV, a conversation area, and a place to help with homework while keeping an eye on the other kids playing or swimming outside.
Defining the feel and function of different sections of the same room can be done with accent wall colors, furniture groupings, or area rugs to separate the space. Using plants and touches of green indoors helps connect the family, living, or great room with the outdoor area of your home.
Window treatments in rooms that adjoin the outdoors can also benefit from professional knowledge. “You want the room open to the view and to facilitate traffic in and out,” explains McCrary, “but you also want the window treatment to reflect the room’s style.” If that style is rather formal, for example, headers above the windows can be formal in fabric and design without blocking access to the outside.
Hunt adds, “Western exposure or privacy issues might call for a film that blocks UV rays or a product that can be opened and closed as needed.” Fortunately, say both designers, there are new products available that protect the interior without blocking what’s outside.
When a home backs onto a golf course, for example, homeowners may want to enjoy the view without being on display themselves. The solution there might be vertical sheers or shades that “disappear.”
A good designer will help you adapt the things you have accumulated and love and can suggest new uses for architectural details. An afghan can give a cherished chair you’ve inherited a new feel that fits into your updated look. Space initially intended to house a microwave can become a small desk area for a computer.
To people’s reluctance to use a professional interior designer, Hunt encourages them to “have the courage to get help to make their house look right for them.”
McCrary adds, “I understand clients’ need to have their special things in their space. My job is to help them make it all work.”
With cocooning still going strong and more emphasis on entertaining at home these days, creating a room that can multi-task while extending into the home’s outdoor areas has become more important than ever. The challenge is to design that room to relate with your landscape and your lifestyle in a functional, enjoyable way.
Catherine Hudgins writes for local and national magazines on subjects ranging from health and education to recreation and travel. She’s also published six novels.
