The thought of looking for designer can be intimidating. Where do you look? How can you be assured of a good job? As part of our series “Finding a Designer” this entry will explore the most daunting component of securing a great designer: Style Match. If you’re looking for a great designer, your biggest concern may be: “If a stranger designs my space, will it match my personality and style?” Good question! With the right designer, you can rest assured—even if you yourself don

This entry has been written by our lead interior designer and Village West Design principal Daniel Ian Smith. People often ask me what a typical workday is, and the answer is that there is no “typical” day—something I love about my job. Here is a snapshot of one workday in late June: First morning activity is communication. Must get ready for site visit, so deal only with urgent emails, forward a few to my assistant for follow-up, and leave the rest for this afternoon. Finish

Whether painting the walls or relocating them altogether, construction is a time of reflection and change. To best prepare for any scale of work, it’s helpful to consider two families of renovation: soft and hard. At Village West Design we classify all of our projects by two categories: “soft renovations” and “hard renovations.” Generally we consider a soft renovation as minimally invasive—project work that does not necessitate your moving out of your home. A soft renovation

It’s winter here in the West Village, bringing with it cartoonishly long shadows and that wonderfully clear, bright sky over the Hudson River. Winter light is one of our favorites, but it dawns late and fades early. This is why properly adjusted indoor lighting is essential at this time of year. We’re all affected by diminished daylight hours, so, first, turn up the dial on ambient light settings. You’ll get a burst of light whenever you switch on overall/general room lightin