![]() ![]() So when Coury helps a client, she first listens to his needs, then turns the conversation to whether he called her at the onset of the project or when he realized he needed her help. Many homeowners contact interior designers after their do-it-yourself strategies failed and the space they were working on didn’t meet the look or functionality they wanted, Coury continues. In her field, she says, it’s the manufacturers and interior design shows and events that keep her informed about styles and trends. She also works with several manufacturers to create custom products that range from chandeliers to window treatments to flooring. “If you do something and it’s not functional, it’s not a good design,” she says.Ĭoury, an interior designer by profession, knows that every project she works on is a collaboration that involves the homeowner, designer, contractor and subcontractors.įor most projects, Coury consults not only with homeowners, but other designers, contractors and even subcontractors to create a final, unified design for a house. When it comes to making a final decision on what decorations will help make a house more homey, it’s important to choose something that’s a mix of form and function, says Diane Coury Jacob, president of Diane Coury Design Associates. Reese finds his products through artisans and wholesalers who make furniture and décor items by hand, which he says are now harder to find because so many went out of business as a result of competition from overseas. They do this to find the product at a cheaper price, but they can’t.” “But they usually can’t find them because they are one-of-a-kind. “Customers have been in my store and admitted they tried to find items online similar to what I have,” Reese says. Once they’re inside, though, they’re attracted to the Americana-style decorations. The furniture and décor store was once a dairy barn, which in itself has drawn many visitors, many of whom don’t arrive planning to buy. Good experiences are what keep customers returning to Meander Hill in Austintown, says owner Evan Reese. It’s part of the experience as a designer that I can offer when customers come into my store,” he says. “We can get creative and display products in a way can’t. It’s about creating an experience and translating that experience in someone’s home. He frequently restages items in his store to show customers, he says, that it’s about more than just buying an item. Giancola, who’s also a home designer, gives his business a leg up by showing customers ideas on how to use accessories and furniture in their homes. “People are looking for easily changeable décor items that they can set out and leave out and aren’t too much work,” he says. One of the biggest trends in home décor, Giancola observes, is functional décor that can be easily updated, such as a vase filled with flowers in the spring that can be replaced with greenery in summer. Three years ago, as he saw more and more people decide to reinvest in their houses and give them a new look, Nick Giancola opened Spruce Home Décor & Children’s Boutique in Niles. Many homeowners receive their inspiration from reality TV shows and on cable channels such as HGTV. “People who are our customers can’t find what they want in a store, so that’s why they are our customers,” Mayo says.Ĭustomers today are more attuned than ever to what’s chic in home decorating, experts say. Over the 56 years Mayo has been in business, he has never felt he was competing with furniture stores because he’s felt secure in his niche. It’s what the individual thinks is a trend,” Mayo says. A customer comes into my shop with an idea.”Ĭustomers often arrive with pictures of how they want their furniture to look, which sometimes (but not always) follows the trends seen in department stores such as Macy’s or J.C. I want to buy that.’ … So they’re buying a finished product,” he explains. And the customer walks in and says, ‘I like that. They make a piece of furniture and put it on a showroom floor. “The companies that create trends are the big furniture manufacturers. The only trend he is certain of is that a customer will return to his shop every 10 to 15 years when he wants something new. Since Bob Mayo opened Mayo Industries in 1961, he is yet to discern a trend in the styles of fabric his customers choose. ![]()
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