Decorating Den Interiors
The Kozar Design Team
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N THIS ISSUE of Everything Knoxville, it is our distinct pleasure to feature award-winning residential and commercial interior designer, Sandy Kozar, owner of Decorating Den Interiors. Sandy and her multi-talented design group have been featured on HGTV as a Pro Network Designer, Best of Houzz in 2016 and 2017 for customer service, and Dream Room Winner. Well known and respected throughout the Greater Knoxville area for her creative planning and design of both residential and commercial spaces, Sandy’s designs are featured in the popular “The Kitchen Bible” book by Barbara Ballinger, now in its second printing, as well as in several Knoxville Parade of Homes entries. Sandy’s commitment to each client is to transform the conventional design process into an enjoyable one, while at the same time offering outstanding quality and close attention to detail while remaining within each client’s budget. EK: Sandy, what would you say sets you and your design team apart from your peers? Sandy: We are a degreed professional design team with both the education and experience required to design beautiful and functional spaces for our clients. We typically do not sell design hours, focusing instead on the products and services each client desires in order to provide them with the greatest impact for their individual budget. This unique approach allows us to spend the time necessary to design a complete and beautiful design for our clients and not be focused on the clock. Because we are part of an established and well respected international franchise, we can offer our clients the largest selection of case goods, upholstery, custom window treatments, accessories, art, and more in Knoxville, with access to more than 200 vendors nationally and internationally. We provide good, better, best, and even luxury lines for our clients alongside all of the latest trends for today’s lifestyles. Clients also appreciate that we offer a complimentary consultation to all new clients, which is a great opportunity to discover a little bit more about how we work. EK: What is included in your complimentary consultation? Sandy: We tour the home with the homeowners and conduct a detailed question and answer period in order to understand what
the client is looking for and considerations to include in the recommended design of their home. We like to know their personality, their needs, their likes, and dislikes so we can custom create their design to be oneof-a-kind and unique for them. We also help establish the homeowner’s budget to determine the project’s scope, after which we schedule the design appointment and start making the magic happen for the client. EK: How long does it take for the magic, as you have described it, to happen? Sandy: If you truly want a beautiful room, it takes time, but it’s always worth the wait. After the initial consultation, it takes five to 10 business days to present a complete design to the homeowners. Our comprehensive design plans include three-dimensional space plans, renderings, and elevations, as
well as finish and fabric samples, customized for each project. Once the client makes a decision, we then order the selections. The furniture, window treatments, and other customs products generally require a six to eight week lead time. Then we install it all in one day, just like you see on HGTV. We find that revealing the transformation this way really makes a statement. EK: You recently began a Discover Series feature in Everything Knoxville. Tell our readers what you hope to achieve with this new series. Sandy: We are really excited about this new Discover Series that we feature each month in Everything Knoxville. Each month we focus on a different interior design topic and then delve into a variety of recommendations related to the subject that we trust your
readers will find both helpful and inspiring. Actually, we launch each monthly topic in Everything Knoxville and continue with helpful email tips throughout the month, as well as host an interactive workshop on the third Thursday of the month. This month our topic is “Outdoor Living,” with the interactive workshop scheduled for 10:30 am on Thursday, April 20th . If you would like to attend, we ask you to RSVP today, as space is limited. You can call our Design Studio at 865-982-6368 or email us at skozar@ decoratingden.com. We always have a fun interactive quiz, light refreshments, and fun and easy tips you can try at home yourself. EK: What topics do you plan on covering in your Discover Series in the future? Sandy: Our topic for April is “Outdoor Living.” We will also be exploring “Dining
Rooms” and more in the coming months. EK: Share with our readers how they can benefit from your Discover Series. Sandy: Our Discover Series is actually reader directed. While we suggest monthly topics, our readers direct our monthly narrative by asking questions. Our responses to their questions will hopefully help all of your readers. EK: If you don’t mind, give us an example. Sandy: Gladly. Here are a few questions submitted and our responses to our “Outdoor Living” feature for April. Reader: I like the look of upholstered outdoor furniture, but won’t the fabric mildew and fade? Response: Not necessarily. There are a variety of specially designed furniture and fabrics just for outdoor applications.
Outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella®, which are perfect for both indoor and outdoor spaces, resist stains, sun fading, and rain. This means far less maintenance and more family fun in the sun this season. Reader: I already have outdoor furniture, but my patio feels incomplete. How can I create more of a balanced feel? Response: Rugs are a wonderful way to ground and balance any space, whether indoors or out. Many of our lines have beautiful heavy duty rugs that are made for outdoors that dry fast and resist fading. Remember to get an outdoor rug pad so there is ventilation under the rug for maximum efficiency and longevity. Reader: My family and I love our outdoor living spaces. How can I give our outdoor spaces more of a homelike feel? Response: Adding accessories and accents like mirrors and lamps really help add that final touch to outdoor spaces. Some of our favorite recommendations are to reflect the light in darker corners with a starburst mirror or showcase that perfect view with tall plants. Many of our clients also have outdoor kitchens and TVs, allowing them to spend as much quality family time out-of-doors as possible. Reader: Our family likes to eat outdoors, but the angle of the sun shines right into our eyes. Any suggestions? Response: Blocking the intense rays of the sun at certain times of day can make a huge impact on the comfort of a space. Outdoor window treatments add a great layer of coziness, as well as control over the sun during certain times of the day. Whether full length Sunbrella® drapery panels or woven shades from Hunter Douglas®, window coverings are the perfect touch to add to outdoor living and the perfect solution to the glaring sun. EK: I know our readers will continue to look forward to your continuing Discover Series feature in future issues. In closing, is there anything you would like to add? Sandy: As the days are getting warmer, and with families anxious to begin enjoying their home’s outdoor living spaces more, we would like to offer your readers a 20% discount on select outdoor furniture and accessories, good through April 30th. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful clients for both their past encouragement and support.
Sandy Kozar & The Kozar Design Team Interior Design Professionals 865.982.6368 www.SandyKozar.DecoratingDen.com