Decorating vs. Interior Design

The terms "decorating" and "interior design" are often used interchangeably. I'm guilty of doing this myself and I obviously know the difference. I came across a very good definition of interior design that comes from the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) and thought I would share it here for those of you who may not know the difference between a Decorator and Interior Designer. As someone who had considered quitting her job and doing "decorating" work after starting her family, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to invest the time and money towards obtaining a degree in Interior Design beforehand so that I could learn about things such as architecture, psychology, the use of space, sustainable design, functional planning and safety issues. All these things should be considered when designing a space. After all the blood, sweat and tears, I will be proud to call myself an Interior Designer upon the completion of my education.

"Interior design is a multifaceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants, and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell, and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals." - NCIDQ

Redecorating the White House

I came across this interesting letter that was sent to President and First Lady Obama to suggest ways in which the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) could help them redecorate the White House. It made me stop to consider what changes they might make in order to make this historic building feel like home to them. Young children living in the White House presents a special set of circumstances that hasn't been a consideration for a number of years. There has also been much speculation about how the new president's cultural background might bring about changes to the White House's decor. Another thing that could create controversy is whether or not it makes sense to spend money to redecorate the White House during these tough economic times. What do you think?

Check out my new blog!

With the launch of INTERIORS by Charissa LLC, I thought it would be fun to start blogging about the world of interior design! One of the things I love about my new career is that I'm constantly surrounded by beautiful things. Whether it be the 5 million square feet of showrooms at Dallas Market Center, pages from one of the 10+ decorating magazines I subscribe to or advertisements and samples of designer products that flood my mailbox, I don't have to look far to find the latest in interior design. Here I will share with you interesting factoids and "eye candy" that I think might inspire you as well as tips and advice for decorating your home. I will also post pictures of some of my design projects from school and before and after pictures of some of my decorating projects. I hope you will stay tuned in for my weekly blogs!