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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 3:39 PM
As a professional, I thought it to be important that I define who I am and what I do! Here is a sample of my business philosophy I use to be the best Designer I can be for my clients...
1.
I am an artist! What I do is creative work;
designers need talent, skills and experience! Design is not easy; I am paid to
make it look that way.
2. I am the expert!As
the expert, I only want to give you the best
outcome for your project. I will explain
the reasons behind major decisions. The
way I do things is based upon my education and training!
3. Your Feedback is important!With all the information available on the web, your feedback might just
reveal a better idea that will improve the final results! However; not everyone is a designer because
they can identify colors or new products!
Be careful not to spew guidelines; after all, I am the expert and I am
the one with the education and experience!
4. Communication is crucial
Your input is very important so that I have a clear understanding of your
wants and needs; if you have invited me into your home, be prepared to answer
my questions and most importantly to discuss money! Without a clear understanding of what you
want and what your budget is to accomplish that, our relationship is doomed
right from the start! For me, including
my clients usually means they have a great appreciation for the work I do as they
see it develop from a basic idea to the completed project.
5.
Deadlines We know all want what we want as
fast as possible; understand that it takes time for even the simplest project
to be completed. While I work with
timelines, I do not directly manufacture the product that goes into a project. The materials that are available today may
not be available tomorrow; especially when it comes to fabric. For example, the availability of a fabric
being used on your project, could easily become unavailable if the manufacturer
sells the bolt to another vendor!
6.
Respect the contract The contract is important; this is
serious business and the contract we sign needs to be respected by both you and
me. I am a serious professional and I want to be able to provide you what you
want and to be paid at the appropriate times.
I want to adhere to work schedules and timelines; but I can only do that
if you respect the contract by making yourself available when needed, and honor
the payment schedule.
Bottom
line Being a designer is not easy and I
am not saying this only because of the amount of skills you need, but because I
work with all types of clients with all types of expectations; trust me I’ve never had two clients or two projects that were
the same. Challenges and difficulties arise all the time; I like to err on the
side of resolution; you are a happy client and I am able to show off another distinctive design! (It is a win- win situation!) |
Design Connections, TradeShows, Community, Cooking, Dining Rooms, Wall Art, Tile Surfaces, Color Conversations, Living Rooms, Entertaining, Floors, Accents, Holiday Decor, Outdoor Entertaining
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2011 1:12 PM
Welcome the arrival of fall and Thanksgiving guests with gorgeous
decorations both indoors and out.
Create a Warm Welcome
 Welcome guests to holiday gatherings with a beautifully decorated entry
table. Create this autumnal display by placing golden gingko and bittersweet
branches in a large sculptural vase. Pears piled in a rustic stoneware bowl, a
ready bottle of wine and low dish of nuts are all reminders of the harvest. Don’t
have the DIY savvy?
 Then brighten up
your home for the season like vases filled with fall flowers. Sunflowers and Alstromeria
are great choices because they'll remain beautiful for up to a week. The trick
to keeping blooms fresh is to remove all leaves below the water line and change
out the water every few days.
Brighten Up Your Entry  Variegated croton in saturated shades of green, gold and red surrounded by
vibrant mums and pumpkins give the front entry a colorful fall pick-me-up. Both
plants are perennials and can either be brought indoors to weather the winter
or, if you live in a warm climate, planted to add color to your landscape.
Or
gather dried grass bunches in planters to flank the front door; use a painted basket filled with feathers and silk
greenery as a stylish stand-in for the traditional wreath. Stack foam pumpkins to
create an easy-to-assemble decoration that can be used year after year.
Earthy Elegance You can create this chic table setting using all organic elements for a look
that is both sophisticated and simple. A linen tablecloth and napkins, tied with
humble garden string, paired beautifully with weathered terra cotta urns topped
with moss and tiny ghost pumpkins. A single artichoke at each place setting is
a charming addition and lets your guest know that they are free to enjoy time
together by lingering over this well set table.
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Friday, January 21, 2011 2:55 PM
What can be done to make the closet space as purposeful as
possible? Here are a few tips for getting the most from your closets:
- If
your clothing closet has just
one rod consider adding another; you can sort out clothes based on usage,
seasons, or by tops and bottoms.
Think about a department store like Macy’s; not only are they in the business of stylizing your
clothing, but they organize it too!
- If in
your tool closet you are always
scrambling around looking for that special screwdriver, then perhaps it’s
time to mount the screwdriver right onto the inside of the door. Or look at these mobile
tool cabinets that you can pull out of the closet and roll right up to
your project!
- Toy storage is pointless if you
don’t engage your youngster! The last thing you need is your two year
old throwing a tantrum because his favorite stuffed animal is in the back
of the closet beyond his reach! Large storage
bins can hold balls, stuffed animals, and dress up clothing. Use clear
plastic containers, label them, and then install pull out shelves to
keep them organized and within easy reach.
Not only will you help your child develop a system of organizing; but,
your child will be able to read and identify similar items at an early age!
- Craft storage requires discipline
and well thought out container purchases (check out the Container
Store for great storage solutions!)
Are you separating your beads by size or color? Will you need large containers for yarn
or small containers for thread?
Then store your containers in drawers that are clearly marked; i.e.
Beads.
- Decorative or Seasonal items are the easiest to organize by the
holiday.
Designate specific shelves in your closet for each Holiday. And as you store items back into their
respective bins, weed out anything that has lost its “glitter”. Then when you purchase new items you
will already have the space on its respective shelf
- You do
not have to have a gourmet kitchen to have pull
out drawers installed in the Pantry. Set the shelves at heights best suited
for your needs; keep glass jars and cans at chest height. This eliminates grabbing for a breakable
or heavy item in haste and not having a full grasp on it!
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Friday, December 24, 2010 8:53 AM
Well, the day is finally here…and
the magic is still alive for my 10 year old son. Happy and filled with anticipation; this day has
finally arrived, tonight Santa will
make good on his promise. He has been a
good boy all year and tomorrow morning his efforts will have all paid off! Thank God for children! His excitement is
contagious!
Looking at this holiday
through his eyes invokes memories of my Christmas’s past where the excitement of
Santa’s arrival would make my younger sister and I dance on our beds; and in the
morning, swear to our parents that we caught a glimpse of his sleigh and eight tiny reindeer in the sky! Now, 30 years later, I am amazed at how my
own child who will profusely claim that he too has seen the great “Claus” zipping
past our house and up into the stars!
 Naturally, we will track the
route on the internet and as the big guy approaches Miami; my son will run to
his bed and declare that sleep is imminent!
Of course it will be a while for his eyes to shut; and his Dad and I
will sit restless as we nibble at the cookies and milk! We’ll wait an extra 15 minutes to ensure that
deep sleep mode is in effect; Dad will scour the hiding places and stuff the
tree with all the neatly wrapped gifts while I keep a look out! Once the “dirty deed” has been completed, we’ll
step back and glance from the overstuffed tree to our child and wonder if over
indulgence has prevailed again. Yes it has; but, the money has been spent; and, with conviction
my husband will state that “Christmas comes but once a year!”
While many Christmas’s have
come and gone, I can’t remember at what age I was when I figured out who Santa really was! And while some of my sons’ friends have already
unraveled the mystery, my son still believes! And we encourage it; it does something for
all of us! My son looks forward to Christmas
all year long; but for us, we get to see innocence
in its purest and simplest form! And who
doesn’t want to hold onto that for as long as possible! After all, one day when he has children of
his own, it will be he who is awed by their innocence and at how quickly it
disappears!
So Hold on to the MAGIC and have a Merry Christmas! |
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Pam DiTomaso, Allied ASID: Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2010 2:02 PM
When we talk about Yuletide accessories, one of the most
popular items to adorn our homes with are Christmas
wreaths. It has been a tradition for so many years that the origination of
this tradition is buried deep into the beginning of time. (For more on the
evolution of wreaths and their symbolism go to: http://www.ehow.com/about_6587138_history-christmas-wreaths.html).
Door Wreaths  Door
wreaths are an inviting holiday decor for any season; they symbolize cheerful
greetings to visitors and passer-bys.
However at this time of year they are especially abundant! The simple wreath of evergreens has grown to
include bows, ornaments, and tinsel of various colors other than red and
green. The imagination and color scheme
options are endless! Dried wreaths  Dried
wreaths capture the essence of the Christmas season through the use of
mossy twigs, dried evergreen plants, and dried fruits. This unique twist to the
conventional holiday wreath is comforting and a rustic reminder of the “good
ole days” when the holiday season was less about shopping and more about
spending time with family and friends. Fresh Christmas Wreaths  Fresh
holiday wreaths are the ultimate in holiday décor! The smell and rich deep greens are authentic
and completely embrace the spirit of the holiday! A fresh wreath can stand alone or be adorned
with berries, pine cones and ribbon; and due to their intrinsic aroma, the less added to this wreath
the better!
Regardless of which holiday wreath you choose, your
Christmas wreath is a welcome sign that makes visitors and guests feel
comfortable even before they have entered the front door! Then all you have to do is brew a nice cup of hot cocoa! (Need help selecting the right wreath for
your home? Call us at
786.704.9370 for ALL your holiday decorating ideas!) |
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