Working With Wayfair
In the summer of 2017 I filled out a random survey from Wayfair.
It was the beginning of a long (and fun!) process of assisting in the development of the Wayfair Design Services program!
Wayfair was digging into the possibility of offering virtual design services at that time. They had realized that one problem for customers was simply indecisiveness. If they could have designers help people narrow down purchasing choices for a space that would hopefully translate into more confident purchasing with fewer returns.
I was thrilled to be asked to come on board as a beta designer. Over the course of the next year I spent MANY hours helping Wayfair figure out their new program – from completing surveys, to phone calls with the team in Boston, to taking on test projects and dealing with the resulting glitches…the list goes on. With my background in teaching and design I found a lot of satisfaction in instructing the Wayfair team on what was and was not working, offering suggestions, problem solving and creating.
In fall of 2018 Wayfair launched their Design Services program! In fact, if you go to Wayfair.com and look in the top right corner, you’ll see a little house and heart icon. From there you can go to “make over your space”, choose a designer and start a virtual project. Here’s a screen shot of what that looks like:
I’ve had the chance to help people all over the country find the items that will work with their style and space. I thought it would be fun to show you a few mood boards that I’ve already created for clients with wildly different styles: “traditional-industrial” (top left), “boho-victorian” (top right), “coastal” (middle left), “transitional” (middle right), little girl space (bottom left), tween boy space (bottom right).
Last week Wayfair contacted me about something new. They asked if I wanted to be a Wayfair Home Stylist. This is a blogging partnership with Wayfair. As they put it, I am “a member of this community of select interior designers, chosen by Wayfair, who inspire and guide people to find design schemes and home décor pieces that suit both their style and budget!”
This appeals to me because in my design business it’s what I strive to do all the time – inspire and guide people to the best design solutions that suit their style and budget! Of course, when I do this for clients I’m not limiting my shopping to Wayfair, but I find frequently that at least several Wayfair products end up being good options for my clients.
One example of this was a decorating project I wrapped up last week. My client asked me to source and install all of the finishing touches in her living room. She did not want new furniture, rugs, wall color, or an area rug, so this was strictly a decor job. Here was the room before:
And here is the room after:
The large clock, tree in the corner and curtain panels were all from Wayfair.
Let me stop here and say: this is not a Wayfair ad! They’re not paying me anything for writing this post. In a full moment of transparency, I’m not fully sure what benefit there is to being a ‘Wayfair Home Stylist”. I use this blog to tell you what we’re up to with flipping houses (I know, I know, there’s only been one house so far) and interior design musings, and I have no desire to turn it into a giant ad for products. But I genuinely really, really like Wayfair, so I’m willing to try this!
Wayfair suggested I start by sharing with you a few of my favorite things from their site. That’s an easy request, because I already have a list called “my favorites” saved on Wayfair. Every time I shop there for a client I come across things that I just love and want to remember even if my client doesn’t buy it. I also use this list to save things I’m considering for my own home. Do any of you do this too? Save products that are just beautiful even if you don’t necessarily have a spot for them (yet) in your home??
It’s fun to have the opportunity to share what I’m loving with you! And I can’t help it – I have to explain a little bit of the ‘why’ behind the things on this list. It’s just how I work – if you’ve ever hired my help for your spaces you know what I’m talking about! So – the list!:
I’m loving olive trees right now! They are almost the opposite of the fiddle leaf fig – they’re more delicate and visually lighter. I think they work because they’re produced with a variety of leaf colors and so they don’t look as fake as some other trees out there. These are faux but full and so pretty. I put this smaller tabletop tree into that same client’s house last week and it looked SO nice:
These pillows have lingered on my list since the time they were referred to clients. On the left the textural quality combined with the modern geometric – so good. On the right a completely oversized lumbar that looks like an antique textile – also so good!
I am a sucker for landscape art – these are really beautiful. Truthfully, I wouldn’t purchase them and hang them as is – I’d DIY a frame of some sort around them before hanging them:
This series of clouds is so impactful and yet visually neutral- I actually recommended it for a business’s lobby space recently:
And these look like really expensive antique prints. They’re a rustic traditional take on a black and white print and are so dramatic:
Unique benches seem to linger on my list – I guess I really like benches? The one on the left is a beautiful wood tone and I love the way the detailing is carried around onto the sides. The one on the right is just a fantastic color and has that modern windsor look:
And speaking of seating, these couches are both SO AMAZING! Gah, I’m in love! I need more living rooms so I can use both of these somewhere:
I am currently working with a client who has a bold, dramatic style. Her space is going to be modern with a hint of mid-century. I looked at hundreds of lighting options and fell hard for this one. This chandelier would just be crazy beautiful over her round brass dining table and it has that touch of midcentury (sputnik!) with a whole lotta modern:
And here are a few other things that just caught my eye at some point and I instinctively saved to look at again later:
I also have a few things saved in this idea book that might eventually come home with me. This rug is currently in my cart (three of them, actually – runners for the hallway on our second level):
I desperately need new barstools in my own kitchen! I haven’t been able to decide (yes, even designers can be indecisive – ha!), but I currently have four saved here:
Finally, I’ve started looking for craft tables for my girls, as we’re going to create a new crafting room for them! I also want to bring some whimsy to the room, so I saved this sweet removable wallpaper as a possibility….
So there you have it – the origin story behind my work with Wayfair. Thanks for reading!
P.S. If you’re interested in adding any of these things to your own Wayfair list, you can click any of the links below to get to the products (they’re not affiliate links):
