Guest Post- Thinking INSIDE the box

Caryn Burstein –         President and Founder

                                    Allied Member, ASID

            Caryn Burstein is the President and Founder of Arcterior Design, LLC, a premiere design firm that transforms ordinary to extraordinary by blending the dynamic elements of architecture and interior design along with construction management services—the outcome is a total solution that enhances her clients’ lifestyle. Passionate about design and helping her clients achieve their ideal environment, Caryn is well-known for her creative and trustworthy expertise. 

Her award-winning work has been featured in numerous national publications, including Salon Interiors, Architectural Digest, Luxury Homes, Professional Builder, Traditional Home, Distinctive Kitchens, as well as other regional St. Louis local magazines and newspapers. In addition, she has been published on the covers of several books including Spectacular Homes and Showcase of Interior Design II and III.  Caryn is a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Missouri, Columbia Architectural Studies Program.    

"Thinking outside of the box" has become the new catch phrase for sparking creativity. But when thinking of changing a room or space, sometimes "thinking INSIDE the box" has its advantages too. It costs a lot less to reestablish interior space efficiency than to push outside the existing walls. Rooms can be renovated or relocated within your home's shell. For example, a small kitchen can be expanded into a seldom used dining room or refigured within its existing space to better meet your needs.

Sometimes just rearranging the furniture you already have can make a big difference in the look and feel of the room. Think spatially. All too often people are too linear when it comes to furniture arrangement. Everything does not have to line the walls. It often works better when furniture floats within the room and can actually create less dead space and certainly a lot more visual interest.

Most everyone has a budget when it comes to decorating and for the sake of "filling the room", some people are tempted to buy less expensive pieces. We need to think about furniture as an investment and not something that will be changed in a year or so. Multiply buying less expensive, trendy furniture that does not stand the test of time by five (this represents the five times on average you will replace cheaper pieces over a 25 year period) and you probably will have spent more than you would have on a one time purchase of quality pieces, not to mention the positive effects this philosophy will have on protecting our environment. If you choose neutral colors and finishes, you are less likely to get tired of your furnishings and they will stand the test of timeless design. Remember you can always change your room accessories to match your mood and everything goes with neutral.

So many of our clients come to us with ideas about how they want their home to look, and it is a great starting point on which to build. Magazines, color samples and fabric swatches can provide the inspiration to achieve the ultimate look they desire. But do-it-yourself mistakes can be costly when trying to implement your design vision. You used a real estate professional to find the right home for you. Protect that investment by using an interior design professional who can understand your vision, translate it into reality and increase the value of your home investment.