Jeanne Hessen

MY ADVICE:

• When designing a closet, I love to incorporate my client’s personal items such as picture frames, perfume bottles, and mementos. It gives their space that personal touch and adds character and warmth.

• I am asked quite often to help pick wall colors for my client’s rooms or closets. I always advise when choosing a color from the small paint chip to also test 1 color darker and 1 color lighter of the chosen color. Test in several areas of the room where light hits and in dark corners to make sure it is truly the color you are happy with.

• So many of my clients have more shoes than they know what to do with and not enough space in their closet. If this is a problem, flat shelves are the best way to store shoes as they take up less space than slanted ones. Instead of lining up each pair on a shelf, group flats or sandals together and put them in a decorative bin that can hold 5 or 6 pairs at a time.

“Jeanne is very professional. She clearly knows what she’s doing and gave us great suggestions. She was easy to work with and designed our cabinets and closets working in our needs and aesthetics. She was responsive when we had questions. The installers even mentioned to us that she was one of the best.”

–  Review posted on Houzz

MY FAQ’s:

 “How do you first approach a space? In other words, what’s the first thing you think about when you first see a client’s closet space/storage problem?”

When first seeing a client’s space I am designing, I immediately begin to envision what the space can look like redesigned and organized. I stand in the space with my client and have them explain to me what works and what does not work for them. I take lots of notes and pictures, so when I start designing the space I have the information I need to create the perfect environment for them.

 “What is the biggest design obstacle you’ve overcome? i.e. awkwardly angled walls, electrical sockets in bizarre places, big collections in small spaces.”

I have had a lot of challenges over my career as a designer. One very challenging recent obstacle was a large Master Her Closet that had a very sharp angle on the right wall. This angle made it very difficult to build anything that made sense. To overcome this obstacle, I had to lose a couple of inches in the corner and create corner shelves that wrapped around and connected with shelves on the opposite wall. In the end, my client loved the way it turned out, and the corner area was no longer a problem for her.

 “Since collaboration is such an integral part of the design process, how do you like to engage or connect with clients in order to help them realize their vision for a space?”

When first meeting with a client it is very important to ask a lot of questions to find out what their needs are and listen closely to their responses. Listening exactly to how the client responds is key. It is important to understand what the client would like to achieve from their makeover. I show them my portfolio to find out what they can relate to and what they cannot. Together we can bring their ideas to life in an efficient, organized, and beautiful design.

 “How are you inspired by a home’s existing décor? Is there anything specific that you look for during an in-home consultation?”

It is important to capture the client’s personal design style. While walking to the space I always look around to see how they live and also look at their color schemes, scale of furnishings, as well as their style being formal or informal, traditional or modern. I then spend a lot of time speaking to them to discover what they envision their new space to look like and if they have pulled any pictures that inspire them. Several times they have actually pulled pictures of spaces that I have designed.

 “What are some ways a custom designed home office can improve productivity? In other words, how does the right type of home office help people do business?”

One of the reasons my clients hire me is to get them organized through design. This is no different when designing a home office. I always assess their needs very carefully, asking questions like, “Is this your primary workspace? How many computer stations and types of computers do you use?” The goal is to make sure everything is in the proper place for the client to be most productive. As shown in the picture above, my racecar driving client needed a place for all his helmets and trophies displayed as well as a functioning office for his day-to-day activities.

 “What are some modern organizational trends, or what’s a trend you’re looking for?”

Lately I have been asked to design many modern closets. The trend is to create a space that mimics a high end clothing store or a boutique. I have created some very exciting spaces by combining high gloss colors or whites with modern wood tones and textures. Even simple changes, like using different-colored silver edge banding on panels, can create an entirely new look.