We express our personal style every day, with what we pull from our closet and how we present ourselves to the world. If pressed, we could probably silo ourselves into a fashion category: timeless classics, urban expressive, boho or romantic. We take the time and effort (and expense) to choose clothes that help us feel our best and perhaps hint at our nature.
Allie Hauser, owner of The Designery Atlanta, has opinions on style, though her medium is not fashion, but interior design. Allie loves that a significant part of her day is focused on helping customers find their style. It’s her pleasure to then express that through design choices, whether it’s a new build or renovation.
We caught up with Allie in her sunny showroom to talk fall trends and beautiful spaces.
Q: You design kitchens, bathrooms and closets around Metro-Atlanta. How do you capture the essence of a client’s personal style and translate that to your interior design?
A: Start with an overall viewing of their home; how is it currently decorated, style and lifestyle. What they like about it and what they would like to change. Define their aesthetic and functional goals. What colors and materials they prefer. Ask if they have collected any images or their own mood board for inspiration; a picture is worth a thousand words. Translate what they have shared into actual colors, material selections and overall design layout.
Q: What trends are you seeing for fall: products, materials and colors?
A: Following seasonal trends for kitchen or bath renovations is not recommended unless that is the color palette you want to live with year-round; accessories can introduce color and alter the vibe. Nature-inspired autumnal colors in countertop items, botanicals, wall art and even towels that reflect the season are an easy and inexpensive way to accomplish this.
Current trends are leaning into classic contemporary style with nature-inspired colors and natural wood tones on cabinets. Tiles that are or appear to be handmade, minimal hardware in warm metal finishes and natural stone counters all contribute to a layered and visually interesting look.
Q: For a kitchen or bathroom with a TON of light, what design opportunities do you explore?
A: A kitchen or bath with a lot of light does give you more options. You can lean into it with lighter elements; go with either shiny or matte surface finishes as well as light colors. Using deeper colors and wood tones to create a moodier vibe can also work since the ample natural light will help avoid it becoming a cave-like space.
Q: For a small closet, what are a few hacks for getting the most out of the space?
A: A well-planned-out small closet can often store significantly more than a larger, poorly organized one. Here are a few rules of thumb to consider:
- Prioritize double hanging wherever possible. One long hanging section does not maximize space; it instead creates unused valuable space in a small closet. One long hanging section used for the longest garments in the closet is sufficient.
- When possible, I like to build from the floor to the ceiling, utilizing every inch of buildable space in the closet. Store seasonal items on the highest shelves.
- Do not go overboard on drawers. Drawers are useful for items that cannot sit nicely on shelves. All other items can be neatly stored on adjustable shelving. Seeing what you own is key to a well-organized space. Adjustable shelving helps maximize space as your needs evolve.
- Customize the closet to YOUR needs based on your belongings.
The Designery
6080 Sandy Springs Cir.