Welcome Back: Where to Find Me Now (and What This Blog Is For)

If you landed here from an old search, a pin, or one of my Material Girls posts from years ago: welcome. This blog is the archive of the rooms, showrooms, drawings and market trips I wrote about for more than a decade, and I'm keeping every post up. A lot of the photos went missing when the old blog host shut down, and I am restoring them one post at a time.

The problem most people come here with

You have a room that is almost right and you cannot say why. The sofa is fine, the paint is fine, and the room still feels unfinished. In nearly every case it is one of three things: the furniture is the wrong size for the wall, the lighting is a single ceiling fixture, or the finishes were chosen one at a time in different stores. All three are fixable, and most of them are fixable without buying new furniture.

What I teach now, and where

• Your Design Guide is my free newsletter: room guides, layouts with real dimensions, mood boards and the sources I actually use. New guides most weeks.
• My digital guides on Gumroad: the Apartment Set Up Guide, the Bathroom design guide, the Big Book of Mood Boards and the Drawings and Layouts library, all step-by-step PDFs you can use tonight.
• Design Your Room Like a Designer, my 6-week online course: one module a week, from measuring your room to the final styling pass.
• Everything else (Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, the shop) lives on my Linktree.

If you want it done with you

Two ways to work with me from anywhere: a one-hour design consultation ($150) where we fix the one thing that is bothering you most, or the $397 Complete Room Design: floor plan, mood board, finish and furniture selections and a shopping list for one room, done remotely from your measurements and photos.

One next step: pick the room that bugs you most, measure it, and subscribe to Your Design Guide. The first guide you get shows you how to lay that room out.

Thanks for being here, old readers and new.
Jill

Online Interior Design Services and Current Rates

Everything below is done remotely, for anyone, anywhere: you send measurements and photos, I send back drawings, selections and a sourcing list. Local on-site visits are available in Los Angeles and Orange County at the hourly rate.

Start here

• $397 Complete Room Design — one room, fully designed: floor plan, mood board, color and finish selections, furniture and accessory selections and a shopping list.
• Online Interior Design Consultation — $150 per hour. Paint colors, furniture layout, remodel feedback, "what would you do with this room": one hour, your questions answered.

Flat rate packages by room

• Designed To Sell: selling & staging consultation — $650
• Flat Rate Full House Furnishing / Remodel — $8500-$9500
• Design drawings, plans, furniture layouts — $150/hr
• Flat Rate Kitchen Design — $1250
• Flat Rate Bathroom Design — $850/room
• Flat Rate Outdoor Design — $550/space
• Work With What You Got (kitchens $850, baths $650, rooms $400) — from $400
• Room Refresh accessorizing — $350/room
• Flat Rate Home Office Design — $450/room
• Flat Rate Room Design for Kids — $500/room
• Holiday Decorating — $150/room
• Entry Foyer Flat Rate Design — $350/area
• Interior Finish Selections Package — $650
• Flat Rate Breakfast Nook Design — $450/room
• Dorm Room Design — $500/room
• Color Consultation — $150/hr
• Exterior Finish Selections — $550

Not sure which one fits? Book the one-hour consultation first and we'll figure it out together. Full details on every package are on jillseidnerinteriordesign.com.

Custom Furniture 101: How a Drawing Becomes a Piece That Fits

The most common reason a room never feels finished is not the color. It is one piece of furniture that is the wrong size: the sofa that is 8 inches too long for the wall, the console that is too deep for the hallway, the nightstand that sits 4 inches below the mattress. When nothing in a store fits, I draw the piece and have it built. Here is how that works, what it costs compared to retail, and the dimensions I check every time.

Start with a photo, then draw it to scale

Most custom pieces begin with a found image. The console above started as a retail piece the client liked but could not get in the right size. I redraw it as a top view, a front view and a side view with every dimension on it: 4 feet long, 1 foot 6 inches deep, 2 feet 6 inches tall, 2-inch legs, two open shelves. Those three views are what a furniture maker needs to give you a real price. A photo alone gets you a guess.

The dimensions that matter most

• Console or sofa table behind a sofa: 2 to 4 inches lower than the sofa back, and never longer than the sofa.
• Entry console: 14 to 16 inches deep is the sweet spot. Deeper than that eats the hallway; shallower and a lamp will not sit on it.
• Nightstand: the top within 2 inches of the top of the mattress, and at least 20 inches wide so a lamp, a glass and a phone fit without a fight.
• Sofa seat: 18 to 20 inches high, seat depth 22 to 24 inches for sitting upright, 26 or more for lounging.
• Media cabinet: as wide as the wall allows minus 12 to 15 inches on each side, so it reads as built in rather than parked.

Here is a nightstand from one of my bedroom projects: the drawing on top, the finished piece at the workshop below, before its brass X-brace went on. It is 2 feet 6 inches wide and 1 foot 8 inches deep with a single 6-inch drawer and an open shelf, sized to a specific bed. A store nightstand this wide would have been 4 inches too tall for that mattress. Drawn and built, it is exactly right, and the lacquer color matched the bed.

Where custom is actually cheaper

People assume custom means expensive. For a single chair, a store is cheaper. For anything that has to fit a specific wall or corner, custom is often the same price or less than the retail piece plus the compromise. The sectional below is a good example.

The client's room needed an L-shaped sofa of 8 feet 2 inches on one leg and 9 feet 4 inches on the other, with a tufted back, nail-head trim and wood legs. No retail sectional came in those two lengths. The drawing took me an afternoon; the upholsterer built it in a charcoal linen for less than the price of the nearest store option, which would have left an awkward 14-inch gap at the corner. The nail-head trim detail and tufting are called out right on the elevation, so the maker and I are looking at the same piece before any fabric is cut.

And this is a living room media cabinet, 126 inches wide and 84 inches tall, drawn closed and drawn open. The open view is the one that matters: it shows the frontless pullout for the components, deep drawers for toys, adjustable shelves and a cable path to the TV mounted on the wall behind. The two photos in the middle are the door detail I was after, a raised circle on a flat panel, in two possible colors. One sheet of paper, and the cabinetmaker, the client and I all agree on what we are building.

How to brief a furniture maker yourself

1. Measure the spot the piece has to fit: width, depth and the height of whatever it sits next to (sofa back, mattress top, window sill).
2. Find one photo that shows the shape you want and one that shows the finish.
3. Write the three numbers on the photo and send it with a note on what the piece has to hold.
4. Ask for a shop drawing before you pay a deposit, and check the three numbers on it against your measurements.

If you'd like the drawings done for you, that is one of my hourly services: design drawings, floor plans and furniture layouts, to scale, ready to hand to a maker or a contractor. Most single pieces take one to two hours.

More on reading and using design drawings, free, at Your Design Guide.

How I Plan a Kitchen: The Drawing Comes Before the Pretty

Almost every kitchen I'm asked to look at started with the tile. Someone fell in love with a backsplash, then a range, then a pendant, and six months later they are standing in a room where the dishwasher door hits the island and the refrigerator swings into the walkway. The pretty part is real and I love it too, but it comes third. Here is the order I actually work in, with the numbers I check on every plan.

Step 1: Draw the room as it is

Before I pick a single finish, I draw the existing kitchen to scale: every wall, window, door swing and the plumbing and gas locations. The plan above is a real one from my files (the name block is cropped off). The dimension strings along the walls are what I'm checking: 133 inches of run on the range wall, 97 inches on the sink wall. Those two numbers decide how many base cabinets fit, whether a 36-inch refrigerator leaves room for a landing counter beside it, and whether the french doors to the patio can stay.

A note I write on almost every plan: "existing door to be replaced with new window, GC please move down." It sounds small. It is the difference between a sink with a view and a sink staring at a door.

Step 2: The clearances I never bend

• Walkways: 42 inches between the island and the counters for one cook, 48 inches if two people cook at once. At 36 inches you can walk through; you cannot open the dishwasher and the oven at the same time.
• Counter beside the range: at least 12 inches on one side and 15 on the other. Pots need somewhere to land.
• Landing counter at the refrigerator: 15 inches on the handle side, or across from it within 48 inches.
• Dishwasher placement: next to the sink, and never in a corner where its open door blocks a drawer you use every day.
• The work triangle: sink, range and refrigerator between 4 and 9 feet apart from each other, with no full-height cabinet or island cutting through the path.

On the plan above you can see how those rules shape the layout: the sink base is centered on the new window, the trash pullout sits directly to the left of the sink where your hand naturally goes, and the shallow storage unit with the top drawer sits on the back side of the peninsula so the stools still have 14 inches of knee space.

Step 3: Decide what the cabinets have to do

Every cabinet on my drawings carries a label: "base unit for micro, 1 pullout" or "base unit, 1 drawer, 2 pullouts." That is not decoration. It is me deciding, before the cabinet order goes in, where the mixer lives, where the trash goes and whether the drawers are deep enough for pots. Drawers beat doors in a base cabinet nearly every time; you pull one drawer instead of kneeling to dig through a dark box.

Step 4: Now the finishes, as a set

Once the plan works, the finishes get chosen together on one board so nothing fights. A kitchen has about eight surfaces that all touch each other: cabinet style and color, countertop, backsplash, flooring, hardware, faucet, sink and lighting. I put them on one page at the real scale they will be seen in and look at the whole thing at once.

The board above is one direction: warm light oak shaker doors, a soft white stone-look counter, a tumbled white brick backsplash, a copper pendant and a brushed nickel pull. The rule I'm using is two metals maximum, one warm and one cool, and one "busy" surface only. The floor is the quiet tone that lets the backsplash be the texture.

This one goes darker and more tailored: a charcoal range with brass trim, iron-and-glass uppers, zellige-style backsplash, a veined marble-look counter and brass hardware. Notice the paint swatch for the cabinet color sits right next to the floor sample. Cabinet color against floor color is the pairing people most often get wrong when they choose each one in a different showroom on a different day.

And a third, for a remodel where the client wanted the island drawers to disappear: flat slab fronts in a pale wood, a creamy quartz counter, black bar pulls and that same iron-and-glass pantry cabinet. Three kitchens, three moods, exactly the same planning rules underneath.

What to do this week if you're planning a kitchen

1. Measure the room wall by wall and write the numbers on a rough sketch. Note every window, door swing, outlet, and where the water and gas come in.
2. Walk the triangle. Stand at the sink, turn to the range, turn to the refrigerator. If anything is in the way today, it will be in the way after the remodel unless the plan moves it.
3. Put your eight finishes on one page before you buy any of them. Phone photos in a single collage work fine.

If you'd rather have the plan drawn properly before you order cabinets, that is exactly what my Flat Rate Kitchen Design package is: a to-scale floor plan and elevations, cabinet layout, finish selections and a sourcing list, done remotely from your measurements and photos. It saves people far more than it costs, usually in the first cabinet order.

More kitchen and room-planning guides, free, over on Your Design Guide.

Design By Subscribe

 Get a FREE interior design consultations & discounts with Design By Subscribe: 

https://yourdesignguide.design.blog/

New Website

 Please visit: 

www.JillSeidnerInteriorDesign.com

For all flat rate design services for anyone, anywhere: 

For all flat rate interior design services, click here: ​https://www.jillseidnerinteriordesign.com/online-design.html

Design Services Offers

Update (October 2026): the rates below are from when this was posted. Current services: the $397 Complete Room Design and the one-hour online design consultation ($150). All packages and prices: jillseidnerinteriordesign.com.

Looking for design help or want a complete flat rate room design package?

Currently offering design consultations for $150/hr here!

Complete room design packages for $397 here! 

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

Tile of Spain & Cevisama 2018

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Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the annual https://cevisama.feriavalencia.com/en/">Cevisama trade show in Valencia, Spain on behalf of http://tileofspainusa.com/#sthash.TEw2YDTT.dpbs">Tile of Spain USA. The trade show is a mecca for every type of tile and stone one can imagine, a visual of display, with over 65 countries represented. Of course, our tour was focused specifically on Spain. To a cultural extent, tile is apparent in everything architecturally and surfaces which we saw during the architural tours we were provided apart from the trade show.

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The atrium lobby area between the trade show hall exhibitors at Cevisama.
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For fun, colorful, and interesting patterns and design I took to the company http://www.cevica.es/en/">Cevica, in the pics above and below, very graphic and bold decorative tiles on display.

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A trend in tile pattern and design is the art of digital printing. Graphic patterns, arts apes, and the imitation of what looks like natural wood or stone can all printed on the surface of a tile.

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I loved the tile murals from http://www.aparici.com/en/">Aparici, featuring an array of fun patterns that evoke the look of wallpaper like the above or the “street art” look, like the below.

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Another based Spanish company, http://www.natucer.es/en/index">Natucer featured trends in ceramic tiles in both pretty palettes and bold graphics.

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Tile trends above and below, from http://www.natucer.es/en/index">Natucer

Ceramics.
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A staple favorite, the chevron pattern, was featured in a vignette by the company https://www.tauceramica.com">Tau Ceramica.

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http://www.equipeceramicas.com/en/collections/">Equipe Ceramics featured eye catching wall tiles like the above which is both waterproof and has texture.

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And last, another great play on bold pattern and graphics, from http://www.natucer.es/es/index">Natucer

.
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Thank you to Tile of Spain for the opportunity it be a part of this year’s group of design professionals and press. It was a great experience, meeting and making new friends, exploring the trade show and learning about the tile manufactures that are local to Spain, and lastly the amazing architecture that Spain has to offer along with the cultural immersion. If you’d like to follow along more check out the above social media platforms.

{All photos by http://jsinteriordes.blogspot.com">Jill Seidner Interior Design

. For more trip photos, you can visit my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jsinteriordesign/">here.}

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

Dwell on Design | 2015

Dwell on Design returned to Los Angeles this year for another round of great design events and exhibitions, seems like it gets better and better every year! This year I explored the show to see both new finds and old finds, but always interesting new showcases. From ideas on landscaping to space-maximizing bathroom ideas from Geberit, here are some of my highlights from this year’s #DOD2015.



Love the colorful and graphic fabrics available from The Shade Store.



A highlight, and absolute favorite, the faucets and fittings from Franz Viegener - beautiful minimal streamlined design!



More from the Buenos Aires based company, Franz Viegener.



Beautiful hardware from Franz Viegener too.



For a second year in a row, I’ve had the opportunity to team up with Geberit. I’ve since come to know their products and have seem many installed in both commercial and residential use that look amazing. Pictured above, is the Geberit Monolith and Sigma50 Flush Plate. Both save space, operate quietly and conserve water. For more, visit them on Houzz and Pinterest.

Legends Is Coming!

The annual Legends of La Cienega event is taking place next week and I am looking forward to a few days of parties and events and seeing many friends in town! This year the Legends Abassadors include not only a nation wide team but an international blogger too, my favorite UK friend and blogger, Will of Bright Bazaar!

I am also looking forward to the event at Woven Accents with a panel led by my friends Ginna Christensen and Mat Sanders of MyDomaine and with actress Jessica Alba!

Be sure to follow along @LCDQLA #LCDQLA

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

Madeline Weinrub Sample Sale!

I've long been a fan of Madeline Weinrib area rugs and graphic designs. The collections of pillows and fabrics are fun additions - and now they are all coming to LA for a sample sale! Previous celebrated events took place only in NYC but for the first time a west coast sale will be taking place at HD Buttercup from May 7th-10th.

A range of products including: Carpets, Pillows, Furniture, Fashion, Fabric by the Yard and Accessories will be included in the sale from 40%-70% off.



Additional items included are: one of a kind samples, inspiration materials, off-dye lots merchandise, R&D samples, discontinued collections; accessories including pillows, and one of a kind pieces from Madeline’s travel & inspiration archives; lingerie bags, table linens, and select bespoke clothing pieces; floor coverings; fabric by the yard;
and furniture (mostly chairs.)



The Los Angeles sale will be taking place in store only (no online sales) at:

HD Buttercup at the Helms Bakery, 3225 Helms Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90034 (310)558-8900 May 7th-May 10th

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

Playing with Art.com

 

I've been using Art.com as a source for specifying art for client projects and using on client concept boards to convey how art selections will fit into a room setting. I recently had the opportunity to experience a new app from Art.com: the SwitchArt app. A fun app that allows you to upload images (your pictures) to the app, select to be printed, & easily switch out with a magnetic backing for an ever changing art look.

The SwitchArt app from Art.comSwitchArt is the simplest way to change out prints, often and easily, in the same frame. Watch a tutorial here to see how it works. The great thing about SwitchArt is if you want a new look, simply peel off the print and replace it with a new one in seconds. No hammer required. No need to buy a new frame.

The new Art.com SwitchArt App makes things even easier and allows you to bring your photo stream straight to your walls. Simply download the app, buy a pack, and begin uploading personal photos from their camera roll, Instagram feed or Facebook page. Each pack includes a SwitchArt™ Magnetic Frame in the color and size of your choice, and a number of prints you select.

Art.com's line up of mobile apps for art selection and ordering.




One tool that is a great feature on Art.com is the ability to view different frames and mat features for art pieces. I use this for client project selections and screenshot the images for my concept boards. It's such a great way to incorporate the right look into a room design - or helpful for the consumer trying to select the best frame option.

Incorporating art ideas and selections into a gallery wall concept board for a client.

Have fun playing on the Art.com website! And if you ever need design advice laying out a gallery wall with your selections from Art.com please feel free to contact me!

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

A Visit & Experience at Bosch

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend an event with Bosch Appliances at their headquarters in my (native) Orange County, CA. The two day event included a handful of designers and bloggers to experience, learn, and interact hands-on with the Bosch line up of products. (One thing I can say is we were very well fed over the course of just a few days!)

Our first evening began with cocktails and this view, from Laguna Beach, CA at The Deck restaurant.

The evening progressed to a sunset dinner hosted by Bosch at The Deck restaurant where we met and talked with many of the a Bosch team members.

Bosch even added their "stamp" to our desserts.

Early the next morning we were straight over to the Bosch Experience & Design Center, a full showroom of product displays and a full functioning kitchen. I took to Bosch's integrated coffee machines. The built-in coffee makers provide everything from coffee, espresso, cappuccino, at the touch of a button in record making seconds. As a coffee connessier, I was addicted. And kept going back, for more, and more, and more. As everyone knows! So good.

By late morning, we were learning everything about Bosch design and engineering with demonstrations in their modern state of the art kitchens.

And by noon we were in the kitchen ourselves, with interactive cooking and preparing our lunch for the day! (Bloggers seen here teamed up with Bosch employees.)

Fortunately everything cleaned up well, in the quietest of dishwashers from Bosch.

Our afternoon was spent with presentations by Dwell and round table discussions.

Thank you to Bosch and Dwell for hosting us!

{All photos by Jill Seidner Interior Design}

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com

Design Source: fiber and water

I was recently introduced to the online source of Fiber and Water: a collection of accessories, including wall art and pillows, printed on burlap. Hand-crafted in Maine, with many patterns having a nautical theme, I was instantly attracted given my beach and boating upbringing on the Southern California coast. So much so, I encouraged Phoebe of Fiber and Water to reach out to our local boutiques, especially those of my hometown of Newport Beach and Balboa Island. Here are some of my favorite finds!

Love this coral pillow in teal.

The Reef Knot: Remiscent of my boating days.

A classic sailboat.

A collection of map prints are available in both pillows and wall art.

For the dog lovers: cute pug prints.







Last but not least: I'm loving all the pattern prints!



A fun orange chevron.





For more, visit: www.fiberandwater.com

www.JSInteriorDes.Blogspot.com