When it comes to designing a home, it should not only be a reflection of personal taste but also a way to express feelings.
“Rooms have no feelings, you do! The room won’t care how it’s decorated, but you should care because it is your space to rejuvenate and unwind after a long day,” says interior designer Barbara Kaplan.
Barbara owns Design Dimensions Interior Design and also has a website called BarbarasPicks.com where she encourages clients to take her online quiz to determine their personal style and how it translates to customizing their homes. She recently wrote a book about the subject as well.
“My book [The Bajaro Method: Rooms Have No Feelings, You Do] encourages people to express themselves in their personal space. Every environment we are in either makes us feel good or bad, comfortable or not comfortable. Ultimately, it’s up to us.”
This method of design simplifies decorating and helps clients gain confidence and trust in their own creative talents and spirit. Barbara focuses on textures and prints because she understands that what you look good in can also be what you design with.
“My vision is to empower people to be their own interior designers,” she says.
Due to her appreciation for beauty and innovation, Barbara describes a kitchen that perfectly reflects a need for that particular space to exude the taste and lifestyle of diverse people and activities.
"The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it affects our health and well-being. This space is often our entertainment room or the space where guests love to congregate. This kitchen was designed for homeowners who are sophisticated and passionate about art. They definitely wanted the drama of an intimate and sensual space."
Barbara has been an interior designer all her life, as her parents were antique importers and surrounded her with artistic individuals. She knows that everyone’s definition of beauty is different, so personalizing a home with your idea of beauty is key.
“As designers, we have a responsibility to bring people into surroundings they can feel good in. I want you to stay focused on your idea of what feels good,” she says.