Hello Castle Friends!
Things have finally started to warm up here in Minnesota, and we couldn’t be happier! May is the unofficial kick off for summer activities here, including Fishing Opener, Memorial Day, and garage sales. Here at Castle we have our list of fun things happening this month. Our book signing at the end of May, Mother’s Day Deals, and our new Designer of the Month! This month Hannah sits down with Lead Designer, Katie Jaydan to see how things have been going so far this year and what she is up to this month.
Katie holds a BS in Interior Design. She has 3 years of commercial property management, construction and renovation experience and has worked in the residential remodeling field since 2003. She also possesses an NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) Certificate and is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers. With Castle, Katie has become a member of the NARI Green Remodeling Task Group, designed the first GreenStar Pilot Program Certified Remodel in Minnesota, and was voted as one of the top eco-friendly Interior Designers by Innovative Home Magazine. Katie was also nominated as one of the 40 under 40 in Professional Remodeler’s, proving that Katie is the lead in her industry.
So Katie, how many projects do you currently have going on? I suspect it may be busy now that we are settled in the year.
K: I am currently working on 15 projects. Some are big and some are small. I have everything from a bathroom to a 2-story addition on the back of a home. All the projects are full gut and remodels / additions. I am not currently doing any makeovers.
Wow! There must never be a dull moment for you with all these projects going on. Is it safe to say that you are doing what you love, and not just a job?
K: I found my passion [as an interior designer] and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
That’s great to hear. So what are your current favorite design trends? Does your taste have an influence in the projects you are currently working on or does the client have more control?
K: Honestly, I am really not into design trends, I just like to design to my clients wants and needs. The fact that they are trends means they will not withhold the test of time. They make a comeback but they will never be a constant. [I love it when my client] allows me to fully utilize my design capabilities to express who they are to give them the result that they want.
Do you have any tips for your clients as they start to plan a remodel?
K: I tell my clients to truly think of your space and how you function in it, come up with a list of needs and wants – we can design something to your taste with that in mind. For example, when considering a closet you have to asses your needs and design to that… short hangings, tall hangings, shelving drawers, etc. Consider the functionality and go from there.
Get inspiration for closet and pantry designs for effective and creative storage ideas on our Pinterest board
Do you have questions for our Designer of the Month? Submit your question to Hannah, Hannah@castlebri.com and she will be sure to ask Katie your question for our next post!
