Today we’d like to introduce you to Darla Harmon.
Hi Darla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always enjoyed interior design; even as a child, I would play house in my basement, and whatever I could find to make a living room, I would rearrange it to make it feel cozy. My goal was to make it look like a living room. At that time, I didn’t know what I was doing or that it was called “interior design.” Then as I got into my teens, my mom took me to an interior designer to make over my room. I remember thinking about how fun is to create a special space for someone; picking out colors, fabrics, and furnishings to make someone happy sounded like a great job! I then got into the retail world, managing stores like Lerner’s and Kid’s R Us, but I never thought of interior design again until we fast forward about 25 years. During these 25 years, my friends always asked me to help decorate their homes, and of course, I would do it and have a great time. Now my children are all heading off to college; some have graduated and done their own thing. What about me? It’s my turn! So at 50, I enroll in an online interior design school, The Interior Design Institution, out of San Francisco! I so enjoyed it! Soon after graduating, I started my own small business, Red Couch Interiors Staging and Design.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any start-up/small business has a challenging road. There are always bumps, even when you think you have arrived. The key is to learn from what has not been smooth, keep an open mind about the changes you might have to make, and learn to re-invent yourself but stay true to your passions. Yes, I have had to do all these! Interior design is unnecessary. It’s a want, and because of this and especially in this day of financial difficulties, it is hard to find jobs. This is one reason stages do my prices. The client can pick how much they want to spend. I want everyone to have an opportunity to work with an interior designer if they wish to! In the beginning, some of the struggles were helping people understand that interior design is not just placing some fake plants in a corner. It’s creative. It’s listening, finding the exact piece, whether it’s art, furniture, or wall color. It understands the layout of the space, where the light comes in, it’s much more than people think, and it comes at a cost. I read this quote a while back.
Great, so let’s talk business. Please tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others.
Red Couch Interiors is a small interior design firm. We can give you a wonderful one-on-one experience with the designer because of our size. RCI designs and creates wonderful spaces for small commercial and residential places. Often the client will say,’ I can’t picture what it should look like”, so I create a floorplan and a mood board for each client. This way, they can visualize the space and the items that are going in that space. I have worked with contractors that are so happy when I give them a floorplan, but not only do I provide them with a floorplan, I give them a list of items, how much they need, where to purchase them, and how much they cost. As I stated earlier, I want everyone to have the opportunity to use an interior design if they wish. My pricing is unique in that I price by stages. The client can choose the stages they would prefer, giving them a chance to have a space designed by a designer or all the stages to have the designer complete the space. I became a designer later in life, not because I had to. I do it because I love it! I enjoy working with a client and seeing the vision go from floorplan to finished space. The reward is the client’s reaction to their new space and their stories about how much they enjoy it. A recent client told me about a friend who asked her about her living room and how wonderful it looked. The friend said, oh, you have such a talent, and the client answered, No I have a Darla. RCI offers many services for interior design, everything from staging a home for sale to design work. Now we’ve added virtual design!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
As with anything, things come and go but always come back a little differently. The style or trend might be that of the 80s, but it’s tweaked, colors might be different, the texture might be different, and it’s the same with interior design. Please take a look at the mid-century modern trend. It’s awesome! It is stylish, it’s clean lines, not cluttered, and the paint is neutral. However, being a child from the ’60s-’70s, I can tell you it’s different! The fabric is much more comfortable (not so itchy), the furniture is not as low to the ground, and the color is more complimentary unless you like avocado green. So I say all this because it’s up to the designer to do what the client loves but bring it into the style of the day. My strategy with trends is to bring in a few elements or pieces that reflect that trend. Following every trend can be costly. This way, you reflex some of the styles of the day. People are looking for more color and coziness in their homes. I am going on a limb here by saying more traditional design will be making a come back but keep an eye on how it might be different.
Pricing:
- stage 1: consultation 150.00
- stage 2 design plan floorplan 200 mood board 300
- stage 3 complete design 100 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rcifeellikehome.com
- Instagram: rcifeellikehome
- Facebook: Red Couch Interiors Staging & Design
