Designer Spotlight - George Covin
Award Winning Portland Oregon Interior Design Studio
George creates spaces with real life needs in mind; listening to the client's desires, wants, needs and style. This combination results in a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
1. When / why should a client hire you?
As a degreed and experienced Interior Designer, I ensure every room is beautiful, comfortable, and support my client's lifestyle. Designing with real needs in mind, I listen to my client's wants and vision, and then marry that with thoughtful space planning, beautiful furnishings and decor that provide both functional and aesthetically pleasing interiors. I solve problems both small and large whether you need help with pulling a look together, figuring out what to do with that awkward room, or a complete remodel.
The best time to bring a designer on board is before you start the journey to a remodel, before you paint your walls, and definitely before new furniture is purchased. As a designer, I am skilled and experienced in space planning, selecting finishes, and specifying furniture, fixtures, and equipment appropriate in scale, function, and aesthetics. Hiring a designer before the start of a remodel or design adventure, if only for a consult on one piece of furniture or paint color, can help avoid costly mistakes. There are those unfortunate times when clients hire an Interior Designer after they've purchased the 12 foot by 12 foot sectional because they hope the designer can figure out how to make it work in their 10 foot by 10 foot room.
2. Do you have a specific design style?
My personal design tends to be transitional; however I appreciate and work in all design styles. I have been very fortunate over the years to help clients meet their personal design style ranging from traditional, transitional, contemporary, modern, country, rustic/industrial, and probably the most difficult style, eclectic.
3. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Well recently I've started walking long distances as I trained to walk the Camino in Spain this past September. The Camino, or "Way of St James" is a pilgrimage that has been going on for over 1500 years. The most common walk is the French trail, starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France and ending in Santiago Spain. The entire route is 500 miles. I completed walking the last 200 miles starting in Astorga, Spain, which took me about 2 weeks.
Other than that major life goal, I keep busy with design work for my clients.
4. What else do you want people to know?
There are two things that come to mind that clients should be prepared to provide to an interior designer. The first is an understanding of your budget and more importantly not keeping it a secret. It is important that I know what your budget it is for several reasons. First, I can help manage your expectations and more importantly, I can meet your expectations. For example, a client might be fearful that if they tell me their budget is $50,000 I'll make sure to spend $60,000. That isn't the case at all, rather it helps keep me informed how and where I should spend their money. This leads to the second thing clients should be prepared to provide and that is trust. You've already hired me to help transform your home into your dream, now trust that I can and will do just that. Design is always a collaboration between the client and the designer, but understand and trust that the designer is bringing experience and education to the equation and is striving to provide a design that is even better than you imagined.
Take a peak at some of George's beautiful designs:
