When I was eight years old, my family moved from Upstate New York to Northern Virginia, and I was excited to move into our new house, until I saw what was meant to be my room. The wallpaper was covered in giant red poppies, the carpet equally as bright with a marbled pattern. I was so focused on the bold elements of the room that I remember staying awake, staring at the eerie shapes of giant red poppies in the dark. Thankfully, my parents wanted to include me in designing the changes for my bedroom, and I watched my room transform from the dizzying red to a calming sea of Laura Ashley blue. Who would have thought that with this one transformation, my desire to become an interior designer would be born?
That feeling of comfort, that feeling of wanting this room to reflect who I was, pushed me to redecorate my room. Whether we realize it or not, we are affected by the spaces we inhabit and how these spaces function and make us feel has a big impact on our quality of life.
As I got older, I enjoyed watching design shows and reading through the colorful and glossy pages of design magazines. In fact, my husband often jokes that I am an Interior Design Geek because I am always eager to watch, read, discuss and learn about design. Leave it to me to interrupt a romantic dinner out by commenting on the lighting, or the configuration of tables, or the durability of the finishes.
For me, interior design is not just my profession, it is my passion. Anytime I walk into a space, I take a moment to reflect on what works and what might need improvement. My goal is to make every space I design meet the shared vision created with my clients and give them that same feeling of “home” I experienced when my bedroom was transformed. This happens with taking time to ask questions like: What currently works for you in this space?, What doesn’t work for you in this space?, How would you like the space to feel when it’s transformed?. It’s key to achieving a successful result to start with gathering information that brings me closer to understanding the person along with the project.
This industry has been my passion for over 30 years and I could not imagine any other career bringing me the same joy. So, what’s your “Red Poppy Room”? Let’s transform it into the space you’ve dreamed it could be and discover how the new space will improve your quality of life.
Kim Joshi – Design Consultant – Foster Remodeling Solutions