Anna Fitzgerald

MY ADVICE:

• Separating clothes by use, for example, work vs. play, dressy vs. casual, etc, is a great timesaver, especially when getting ready for work in the morning.

• Storage is important in a laundry room, but carving out space for a counter, even a small one, is helpful for sorting, folding, spot treating or even just setting down a laundry basket.

• Appropriate task lighting is important in offices and craft rooms, but attractive feature lighting like display spots or up-lighting can take the space from practical to perfect.

“My wife and I do not share well, so when it came time to remodel our home office, we knew we were going to need separate work areas! We also wanted an additional workstation for the boys to use for homework. The challenge we brought to Anna Fitzgerald was to design a clean, contemporary, three-workstation space with plenty of storage, great lighting and pull-out cabinets for computers and printers. Anna was terrific to work with. She listened to our needs and came up with a design that really worked for us.  Thoughtful custom touches really make it special.”

– The Palmers from Cleveland

MY FAQ’s:

 “How do you first approach a space? In other words, what’s the first thing you think about when you first see a client’s closet space/storage problem?”

The first thing my mind does, almost unconsciously, is start to see the space in “top view”, complete with obstructions like angles and windows. This allows me to quickly identify the most usable space as I work with the client to visualize the solution.

 “What is the biggest design obstacle you’ve overcome? i.e. awkwardly angled walls, electrical sockets in bizarre places, big collections in small spaces.”

Finished attics and bonus rooms with steeply angled ceilings are not uncommon in the Cleveland area. While not necessarily the toughest one I’ve seen, the one that I was most happy with, as was the client, was a finished bonus space above a garage. The client had already opened a door through the existing master walk-in and finished the walls all the way back to the very low exterior walls. A combination of angle-topped full panels and half panels with decorative overlay tops created a spacious master for the wife and left three feet of accessible storage behind each side. A matching dresser in textured melamine became the focal point under the window at the end.

 “Since collaboration is such an integral part of the design process, how do you like to engage or connect with clients in order to help them realize their vision for a space?”

Some people really have a picture in their mind of want they want, but those tend to be the exception rather than the rule. I try to explain things in great detail, using a lot of photos to help with visualization. I ask many questions to make sure I know what they want and what they need. I bring lots of samples to touch and feel, and I always encourage my clients to come to the showroom to finalize their selections.

 “How are you inspired by a home’s existing décor? Is there anything specific that you look for during an in-home consultation?”

I try to get a general impression of their style from the existing home décor, while making sure not to assume that it reflects their current tastes. They may have just moved in and been planning to replace the existing cabinets or flooring, changing the paint colors in the whole house, or getting ready for a major renovation. It’s important to ask the right questions before zeroing in on a particular style.

 “What are some ways a custom designed home office can improve productivity? In other words, how does the right type of home office help people do business?”

Having a place for everything in the office makes for a peaceful space. The time saved by not having to search through stacks of papers or overflowing cabinets or drawers will immediately improve efficiency. Sufficient desktop workspace prevents the need to juggle papers or equipment, making tasks easier to carry out.

 “What are some modern organizational trends, or what’s a trend you’re looking for?”

I’ve done several laundry rooms/mudrooms in recent years where stacking the washer and dryer opened up space for a counter, bench/locker, or dog crate. Creating locker spaces by tearing out existing coat closets or adding benches and storage around the corner in the garage is another trend for families who don’t have the luxury of a real mudroom in their home.