Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/315858
A D V E R T I S E M E N T JUNE/JULY 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 81 How did you get into a career in interior design? I moved to Georgia and fell in love — with the gardens, the landscaping, the architecture!!!! All the historic homes with their tall ceilings and gorgeous moldings, I couldn't believe what I saw. I then had the opportunity to be mentored by a prominent Macon interior designer; she opened the "Design Door" for me. It was a whole new and beautiful world, which I now get to help open for others. What do you love most about your profession? What I've discovered over the course of my career is that I have a passion for creating beautiful personal environments for people to enjoy, places where their lives unfold and they return to again and again. I honestly believe that design gives our lives something I like to call, "the Special." It makes something a little better, a little nicer… it's a little bit more of drinking in something wonderful. The Special is there for everyone, and if we don't have it I feel that we just miss out on so much. What I try to do for my clients is make sure no one misses out! That's what I love about being an interior designer. What is most important when helping a client approach a home design project or remodel? Whether it's a single room or a large-scale project certain things are always important. The #1 most important thing is to have a starting point, and that's how I approach every project. This happens by looking at what my clients are drawn to; I like to know their wants, their wishes, their own vision of beauty. Once we've discovered what they're drawn to, starting off means also looking at the function and flow of their home. Many spaces are multi-functional and it's important to define them early on. For me, function and beauty are equally important; they go hand and hand. What is most challenging about your job? After 20 years, I've realized that I'm not simply an interior designer, I'm also a consultant, coach and Santa all rolled into one! And what I've also realized is that for me, what is the most challenging is also the most rewarding. Design is full of decisions and they're all interconnected. A space isn't just made up of one detail, or ten or twenty. Every space has hundreds, sometimes thousands of details, from the very small to the very large, and every one of them matters. Because ultimately, every decision leads to the end result that captures the essence of who my clients are in an environment that is perfectly tailor-made for them. What is the most rewarding? I believe design has the amazing potential to elevate our lives from the ordinary and mundane, to the extraordinary and inspiring. Realizing that potential with my clients is the greatest reward! 108 Huntington Place I Macon, Ga. I 478-477-5970 info@valeriegarrettinteriordesign.com www.valeriegarrettinteriordesign.com THE VGID BRAND: Elegance, expertise and creating a beautiful environment that people love coming home to. Valerie Garrett, Associate ASID