Design should be fun !- The creative process doesn't have to be so serious, it's not like when we were kids in school where one is the teacher and the other must do as their instructed. And when I speak of fun, I don't necessarily mean that your home should be a house of mirrors and bright colors (but don't rule that option out just yet).
I mean fun in that you're about to participate in a playful process designed to create a well-designed, customized room or home. This process can usually be a blast, and when you get ito you'll realize how much "play" is involved in the creative process. I can already hear you saying to yourself "I am going to have the kitchen of my dreams, right on!" or "That ugly ratty couch - good riddance!"
See? You're experiencing the imaginative process at work, and it's fun before we've even started!

Design is about change - Change is a big part of this design process, and we need to be prepared for that. When you are demolishing an entire kitchen to begin building a new one, that is obviously change. Everyone reacts to change differently; some hold onto the towel racks tightly, gritting their teeth as if they are watching a really scary movie, others gleefully swing hammers about, as if they cannot wait for that fresh perspective. Alas, some clients cling to what they know and are afraid to journey too far from the current path. As your designer, I am here to introduce ideas to you that will enhance you way of living and reflect as well as inspire you. My advice; Embrace the change, swing that hammer gleefully. Trust in your designer, allow me to facilitate that new, different, inspirational design for you.

Design is about problem solving - Making your home spaces work for you. We can get so overwhelmed by Do it yourself, quick-cheap-fixup design shows on televison, most saying contradictory things. If you listened to all of them your space would look like Sybil with many different personalities but none of them are yours. My job is to use the space you have to create a new environment to serve your needs, and fix the things that don't really work well for you (i.e. climbing over the tub to get to the toilet? - not so good, feeling like bathroom is more like a day spa in Ojai?…priceless!). You may think that your spacial issues are unfixable, and you have to live with them, but I'm here to show you that you don't. I come to you with solutions, many neat little tricks in my bag, that is what I am trained to do. I can take out the clutter, the hodge podge, and make your space into a showplace. Your showplace!

Design is an expression of who you are - This is key. We can create for you the chic'est room, with design and flair ripped right from the pages of Architectural Digest, but if you don't feel comfortable in the space we've created, what good is that?. A good designer, (and I am a good designer) listens to their client, and creates for them spaces that reflect their personalities, their style, and the way they like to live. You can just call me the “House Whisperer”

Design is a thought-out process, and that process has purpose - When you work with Modern Nest you will receive a concept along with a stunning way to execute that concept. So many times people only budget for the bathroom tile and the bathtub and stop their, but the towels and towel bars are just as important. Your home is trying to tell a story, a story you wrote, it's best not to leave out any important chapters. An incomplete room can seem confusing and chaotic and your guests will notice it when they visit. I can help you create the whole story from cover to cover, complete with a " . . . Happily Ever After."

Design requires an open mind - It's best to be open to new ideas. My job is to keep up on trends and new materials and to present them to my clients artfully. Some ideas and products are very new and innovative and this jump into the unfamiliar can be a bit scary. Never fear! Modern Nest is here to walk you through this process. Think about it, if we kept all interiors the same, how would we express ourselves uniquely? Take risks, try something new, be open to a new color palette, and try a new shape. Like Nike says, “Just do it”

Design is expressive - Whether it is avant-garde or traditional, the space should express how you live and who you are. Sometimes a client does not know how to communicate who they are and their home feels sterile or out of sync with with it's occupants. I encourage you to do some research on your own; pull pictures from magazines to see what type of spaces you are drawn to, what colors excite or repel you. All of these things help dramatically in getting your creative juices flowing, and it's just one tool we can use to help you express yourself and your style in the deign of your spaces.

Design has no rules - Shocking statement, I know, but it's true! Every space is different and the rules change for each project. You can make up new rules too. Just because your house is Spanish style does not mean it can't have a modern feel. A house of glass and steel does not have to be austere. Mix it up. Make it you! You'd be surprised at what you can accomplish outside the box!

Design is innovative - Using the internet, design innovations are literally at your fingertips. There are so many great products out there. When you use the local hardware store or HomeExpo as your only sources, you limit your choices. Your house may end up looking like yesterday's fashions (Or as I like to subtly put it " Old and tired!") Think of Modern Nest as being on the cutting edge of innovation ready to introduce you to all the exciting new products that will give your home a unique feel and up-to-date environment. It's always best to be ahead of the curve.

Design is collaborative - I cannot stress this enough! So many people watch these design shows and think that they can simply wander into a store and come back with some magic product and Voila! Thier home is done. Well sure, it can be done that way, but keep in mind this is Your Home and you are an integral part of this design process. Without you, the design would be missing its most vital piece- Your Input! You may not have studied design, but your thoughts, feelings, opinions are more than welcomed, their valued. Safe to say- I can't do it without you.

Design is about risk - If you wanted your space to remain the same as it currently reflects then you would not be at this website right now. You want a makeover, a new direction, an overhaul, and I am just the person to do it. I listen to my client's very carefully but at the same time I would not be doing my job if I did not open you up and encourage you to look at things differently and to TAKE A RISK. When you think about it, most of the time it's just paint, it can be changed. But in most cases it will change you and your home for the better. What an exciting challenge!

Design is in the details - Many clients, when they enlist Modern Nest to decorate or remodel, forget the most vital part of the scope of work…the details. We can move walls or put in beautiful tile but the details are what make it your space a home. Items on the mantle, artwork on the walls, plants, photos, and tschokes are the things that make a project pop. They can be done affordably, but they are a key part of the project.

Design is about patience - We would all like to see our projects done as soon as possible. However, the processes involved (getting permits or having a custom chair made) often takes time. Not to sound too harsh about our television design shows, but they rarely show all the prep time involved in the work they do. You can get a really unrealistic understanding when they show you the reveal in short time frame. Behind the scenes, “moving the bus in 7 days” actually takes months of planning. My motto has always been "if you are going to do it at all, do it right!". That means, expect good results to take time, and be patient. I will get off my soap box now. If you have any questions about me, my pojects or possibly working together email me at Michael@lamodernnest.com.