Design Matters

An Interior Design Firm Who Places Value on the Impact that Interior Design Has on the Human Experience.

A well-designed room needs a certain amount of continuity and a certain amount of variation, creating harmony within a space. Ultimately, this is what designer Susan Miller attempts to achieve.

You know when you have entered into such a space, as it draws you in and causes the eye to move about the room, evoking your senses to the author’s intent. The environments we inhabit greatly affect how we feel, engage, our mood and sense of well-being. With over 20 years’ experience, Susan Miller, owner of Design Matters, serves both commercial and residential clients with interior design services in the Kansas City metro area and beyond.

For businesses, Miller can create an environment that is distinctive and unique; which is the outcome of collaboration with business owners in order to meet the businesses’ objectives.

“I will want to know what makes you stand above your competition,” she explained. “The interior design of the space your business occupies is either an asset or a liability. It is the differentiator that affects employee morale, recruitment and your customer experience. The most valuable resource you have is your people. I pride myself in providing creative design solutions that meet or exceed your expectations.”

“I love the creative process,” Miller emphasized. “Often it is knowing to ask the right questions combined with the powers of observation. In other words, I understand the importance of context around a project, which allows me to make better decisions because I sense the underlying structure and can view the bigger picture. From there you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. In taking a strategic approach to assignments it enables me to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is innate skill and not one that can be taught.” What inspires Miller the most about what she does is seeing a way a space can be developed in a way people don’t necessary think about themselves.

This approach is what starts a project and leads it to a successful conclusion, even when working in a particular discipline of interior design for the first time. It is why when working as one of the architectural Project Manager’s working on projects for a national retail chain it was stated to Miller that she had received more complements from the client than all the other Project Managers (six total) put together. Or why the interior design reviewer at the Louisville Army Corp of Engineers with 15 experiences as a reviewer stated, “We finally found someone to do this work” while working on their Department of Defense projects. However, Miller’s personal favorite comment comes from the Nurse Manager at the Harry S. Truman Veteran Hospital’s post-surgery floor regarding his staff: “I was surprised to get 40 women to agree on anything,” a notable compliment following the first submittal of the design solution.

Undoubtedly, Miller’s credentials speak for themselves, as she completed the NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualifications) Examination which recognizes that one has met the minimum competency standards for the practice of interior design in regards to protecting the health, life safety and welfare of the public. Additionally, she has earned the designation of LEED accredited professional by demonstration of her knowledge of sustainable building practices in energy and environmental design by the Green building rating system. Application of these principles can lower your utility costs, improve air quality, and improved satisfaction improves productivity.

Because today’s residential consumers have accessibility to the same trade resources as Professional Interior Designers, they often take on DIY for furnishing their homes. Overall, the cost savings of DIY for consumers can be realized. However, small mistakes can be excused in light of the overall savings. When it comes to big mistakes, that is not always the case. To avoid either, hiring an interior designer can seem like an additional expense but trusting a professional to deliver the results can deliver a return on your investment you can enjoy for years to come.

Your home is the backdrop of your life. Every last detail that is well-conceived and perfectly executed reflects your good taste, passion for comfortable living and joy in life. Relax and let Miller guide you effortlessly through the process of designing your perfect retreat.

You want that home for entertaining your friends and family, yet you don’t know where to start. What color scheme creates that perfect ambiance that reflects your personality and your love for the people who mean so much to you? It’s not about what you own, it’s about how you create a warm and welcoming place to gather, share stories and laughs. It’s about the memories you create.

Miller offers a first meeting at no charge. But if it is advice you want, then you may want to consider scheduling a fee-based consultation. People have gone both ways: those wanting to search for a designer choose the former while those who need answers, choose the consult. Based on the qualifying information received, Miller can tailor a plan to meet your needs. The options can be to pay for a single consultation, a concept/plan, or full service design services.

BEDROOM OBJECTIVE

The goal for this room was to have a space that was elegant, serene, cozy, unique and inviting was what was found when one entered into the master suite through the double French doors. Light, color, texture, shape, and form intermingled; objects dominate and recede producing a winning solution for this project.