M Designs

As a Designer and Decorator, it is very important for us to keep a portfolio of our work….after all, it’s not enough to TELL people what we do, we need to SHOW them.  We don’t photograph every job, however, there are those jobs that stand out, and we want to capture the end result.  The best way for us to do this is to hire a professional photographer, style the space and schedule a photo shoot.

I really love setting up for photo shoots!  It gives us the time on a job to ensure it looks like we envisioned it when we began.  It also gives the client a chance to see their home through our eyes.

What’s involved in a photo shoot?  It’s an all-hands-on-deck effort.  M Designs “styles” the space prior to the shoot.  As you can imagine, people live in their homes and they NEVER look like the photograph on a daily basis.  However, we need to have lots of prep time in advance to prepare the space.  We work with the photographer to style the shot and though I would love to hire a stylist on each shoot, most of the time, we style our own shots.  This includes providing props, which could include fruits, veggies, or food items for a kitchen shot, perhaps dishes and linens for a dining room shot, linens for bedrooms and bathrooms, and pillows and accessories for living areas, and ALWAYS fresh flowers.  We select items that would coordinate with accessories that are already in the space and make that photo come to life!

Once the shopping is finished, we arrive at the client’s home and proceed to “style” the space, putting each accessory in just the perfect place….sometimes moving items many times before the perfect shot can be captured.  This step happens 2-3 days before the shoot so we can take test shots to see what is still missing, or what needs to be edited out.

We work with a professional photographer on each shoot.  We also work with our builder and remodeler clients to style their photo shoots for their photographers as well.  I highly recommend working with a professional for a number of reasons.  First, they are extremely experienced in lighting a shot.   This entails a number of lighting elements, from actual lights, to reflectors, to standing outside a window and shading it while we take a shot.  Secondly, they can instantly tell you which shots will be the best and what will be the best angle to show your work.  We have often moved a piece of furniture 2 inches while they stand at the camera and check the shot for accuracy.  Lastly, our photographer does clean up in Photoshop at the end of the shoot.  This involves removing ceiling fans or plugs that are distracting, adjusting color to match a sample on fabrics, and taking out shadows that we weren’t able to remove in the field.

When you work with a professional team such as we do, it makes our job easier.  Without great photography, you aren’t able to show your work in its best light.  As designers, that is our calling card, and we are only as good as our last photo shoot, so we need to constantly document our latest projects.  Photo shoots are a lot of work, but they are fun, and the end result is always fabulous!

I am excited to profile my friend and associate Kevin Procaccino, Owner/Architect of Kenandom Design Consultants, LLC, an award winning architectural design firm with a reputation for excellence across the country for the past 20 years.

I first met Kevin at a Dallas Homebuilders Association luncheon.  We found out that we were close neighbors and had mutual friends.  His warmth and talent make him such a great fit for our clients and I am most impressed with his listening skills.  As a designer, I find this is the most important asset to a design consultation, and Kevin takes in every detail of a client’s desires, translates them effectively, and with accuracy.

Kevin and Kenandom incorporate a wealth of experience and skill into a company that has gained a reputation as a leading design firm.  “The experience we bring is evident through our work ethic, innovation, and enthusiasm to each project and every client”.

For over 23 years, Kevin has been creating award winning designs for both individual clients and national corporations.  Throughout his career, Kevin has received numerous national and regional design awards such as McSam Design Award, Best in American Living Award, and Mirm Design Award.  He has also been appointed to numerous judgeship positions including:  Judge, 2009 Ft. Worth Spring Homes Tour and Judge, 2010 International Builders Show. 

I know each time Kevin works on a project with M Designs, he incorporates his fundamental design philosophy of innovation, livability and distinction, and it is always exciting to see what he creates for our clients!

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In the interior design industry, I work with many people in various positions from real estate agents, home builders, painters, carpenters, furniture and drapery suppliers…. the list is endless! I wanted to take the opportunity this week to profile several people whom I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know. These people are some of the most outstanding professionals in their fields, and I want to share them with you! I’ll be blogging about a new person each day this week, so be sure to check in here daily!

Today I wanted to start my profiling series with Jan Baldwin, Realtor with Briggs Freeman Real Estate, Dallas’ leading boutique firm for premier properties.

I met Jan Baldwin while designing homes with her husband, the fabulous Barry Baldwin, of Waterford Construction Company. We immediately hit it off and had so much in common and Jan knows EVERYONE in Dallas……you can’t even imagine the friends she has accumulated through the years.

What I love about working with Jan is that she incorporates each buyer’s lifestyle into the equation, whether moving within the city or to Dallas from out of state. When listing a property, Jan’s analytical expertise has gained her the reputation among her peers as “someone who knows how to price a house to sell”, while ensuring that the seller gets the highest price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Jan knows houses. For years, she has been an integral part of her husband’s award-winning home building company, Waterford Construction. She and her husband bring her clients a wealth of knowledge, from what it would cost to update a prospective home to lot availability. Jan was able to sell one of her clients a prime property she found through sheer tenacity that was not yet on the market.

Jan has a background as a corporate executive in the Dallas area, including positions with Baylor Health Care System and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. She works tirelessly as an outstanding leader in the community as well. Jan has been President of the Junior League of Dallas, President of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association; served on multiple boards, including the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, The Genesis Women’s Shelter, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She is the immediate past chair of The Linz Award Luncheon and is chairing the 2011 Rancho San Miguel Parish Party at Saint Michael and All Angels Church.

Jan is one of the most dedicated, sincere professionals I have had the pleasure to work with. Whether you are looking to sell your home, or buy a new home, Jan can help you find that perfect fit!

As you may know, a designer and the real estate agents she serves are a very tightly knit team. I can assure you that the clients we share love working with Jan and I know you will too!

Jan can be contacted at:

jbaldwin@briggsfreeman.com
www.Briggs-freeman.com