Originally founded in 1998 in New York City, MS2 Design Studio, Inc. is a full-service design firm that specializes in high-end residential design. The firm specializes in custom built-in cabinetry, project management, unique wall, and floor coverings, innovative lighting systems, and custom furniture design, while always looking to the future for the newest materials yet still staying true to the classics. With a combined 30 years of design experience, you can be assured that MS2 Design Studio will help you create the home of your dreams.

MS2 Design Studio's Principal, Michael Scigliano, recently took the time to sit down with Haute Design to discuss a range of topics including lessons he has learned in the design industry and what he believes sets MS2 Design Studio apart.

Haute Design: What was your first experience in interior design? How did it go?

Michael Scigliano: My first job in interior design was with J. Robert Scott in NYC. I was the assistant to the showroom manager. I got the job offer after touring the D&D with a designer who befriended me and took the time to walk me through the building. I had no formal training, so to be offered a position with one of the top furniture designers was beyond what I could have hoped for.

That experience shaped the rest of my career and life. I learned about textiles, veneers, furniture construction, space planning, and how to combine colors, all from the best in the field. All of the top designers shopped at J. Robert Scott, so I got the chance to meet them and interact with them on their projects. The projects I was blessed to have worked on would always show up in publications and that was a very rewarding experience.

Photo Credit: MS2 Design Studio 

HD: What are three major lessons you've learned since then?

MS: The top three lessons I learned are:

• You can be a talented designer but if you do not possess good people skills, your career will go nowhere. Most projects include two spouses who are building their dream home. Each with their own personality and approach to the design process. Not to mention the children, the architect, the contractor (and their subs), the A/V company, the pool and landscape designers. So, the majority of your day is making conversation and discussing design. If you are unable to convey your design and manage all the personal relationships that come along with making your design become reality, you will never make it in this field.

• You are your brand. Your projects are an expression and an extension of your personal style and the way you live your life, is part of that expression. The places you travel, the people you surround yourself with, the way you treat your body and mind, the charities you support, etc., this all becomes part of your company's brand.

• Lighting can make or break your project. The amount of lighting, the fixtures, the aperture, the temperature, the angle, all of this in unison can make a project shine (no pun intended). A talented lighting designer is a crucial part of any high-end project. Light can change the shape of a room, the mood it conveys and the overall experience.

HD: You design in both Miami and New York. What are the starkest differences in terms of designing in either city?

MS: The first major difference that comes to mind is scale. The scale in Florida is big. The homes are larger, the rooms are larger, common areas are larger, the land they sit on is larger. Everything is big. Even the larger homes in NYC tend to have smaller scale rooms, which leads to smaller scale furnishings.

That said, considering that Miami is NYC's unofficial sixth burrow, the aesthetic of our modern clientele is similar. They all tend to like edited, open spaces, with integrated features and a neutral palate. This combination brings to life a modern home which is interesting to be in and cozy enough to enjoy.

Photo Credit: MS2 Design Studio

HD: Designers tend to say that the customer is always right and that they design for the client rather than for themselves. Would you say that part of your work subconsciously reflects who you are? If so, do you believe this to be the case with all designers?

MS: The comment I hear most when interviewing with a potential client is that the designer they worked with in the past, or previously interviewed with, did not listen to them. I hear this all the time. I've processed that comment and have tried to do my best to do the exact opposite for my clients. By the end of our time together, they need to be happy in their new home. I make this known to them from our initial interaction.

I do listen and I do my best to include as many of their ideas as possible. At the end of the day, it's an MS2 Design Studio project and it reflects my vision for the client but it also includes their personalities. Sometimes, this might be a personality the clients themselves did not know they possessed. That's the fun part of designing for a client that trusts the designer's judgement and experience. The client gets something that blows away their expectations.

Is the client always right? No. I have had ideas passed by me which I would never allow in an MS2 project. Part of being a design professional, is to teach your clients what works and what does not work. This knowledge was earned through decades of experience. A designer cannot expect their client to have the same knowledge as them, and therefore, when ideas which we know will not work are expressed to us, it is our job to explain why.

HD: What sets MS2 Design Studio apart from other design firms?

MS: Going back to the previous question, I would say that the biggest thing that sets MS2 Design Studio apart from other firms is that we truly listen to our clients. We are not pushing our own agenda. Yes, we want to design an amazing interior for each client and we want to express our vision (which we always do), but in doing so, we listen to our clients and we incorporate their ideas along with our design concept.

Photo Credit: MS2 Design Studio

The post Michael Scigliano Reveals What Sets MS2 Design Studio Apart From The Competition appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Dorothy Alon, founder of prominent Los Angeles-based design firm, Sophea Interior Designs, has established herself in the last decade among Los Angeles developers, contractors, and other thought leaders in real estate. Dorothy has built her reputation as someone whose intuition and insight comes through in every project that she undertakes.

"We do things a little bit differently," says Dorothy. "About 90% of my clients are developers. After becoming familiar with the scale of work that I have done, along with my extensive experience in the field, they have developed the trust and understanding that we are a team and we are in this together. I think they appreciate that I'm not only focused on 'making things look pretty.' Instead, my approach is more like, 'yes, make this look pretty, but make it functional as well'."

Sophea Designs does not only handle the design aspect of a home, but it also participates in the planning and building process.

"Ideally, the architect gives me the floor plan before even going to the engineer," Dorothy explains. "Because we try to insure that all the interior built-ins and functional spaces are accounted for in order for us to not be limited by the structure itself."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

"While interior design is a broad spectrum and entails a multitude of specialties, I decided early on to focus on spec homes and new construction projects. This kind of business requires the interior designer to be involved early on in the process. Typically, we are getting the floor plans after the architect's first draft and we are looking at the house placement on the site map. Then we check that all the main spaces are sufficient and proportional to the scale of the house, both in space and return on investment. We proceed by verifying every window and door size and location. Lastly, we are making sure all standard furniture works in the space and we have enough wall space for cabinets, storage and art. Once this is complete, we continue with designing and selecting finishes. If we have any comments throughout this part of the process, we send it back to the architect to hear their thoughts. We respect the work they have done so far and would like to make sure we are giving our client the best product possible in terms of architecture and interior. In essence, the architect is the conductor and we are the orchestra. We work with all architectural softwares to make it easy for them to quickly respond and keep the work streamlined."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

Dorothy's passion in describing the ins and outs of her work and her company's functions is palpable. "I think about everything," she says. "I think of every house we work on as my own investment and as if I were going to live in each and every one of them. That is how I think. This is my mentality toward every home I have designed. I have worked on hundreds of houses and I start every project with the same amount of excitement. The passion toward what I do is what keeps me going. In that sense, we are different. We care. We really care about what we do."

Photo Credit: Sophea Interior Designs

If you wish to contact Sophea Interior Designs for a prospective project or want to learn more about Dorothy Alon's work, CLICK HERE for more information.

The post Sophea Designs Cares About Each And Every Design Project As If It Were Their Own Home appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Luciana Fragali

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

Considered to be one of the most renowned designers in South Florida, Luciana Fragali continues to dazzle interior design enthusiasts with her attention and care for her clients' needs. She arrived at interior design instinctually. With a notable creative character, and a passion for unique and special objects, Luciana is always looking to implement treasures within her projects.

In 2005 she opened her Miami-based design firm Design Solutions. Since then, her work has been mainly focused on the development of private residential projects and professional spaces. Each of her unique projects and ideas is deeply rooted in a great relationship with the client. She believes this is the key point to create a unique residential design that will translate into someone's dream project. We had the chance to speak to the designer about her inspirations, creative process and aspirations.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

Haute Residence: Tell us about the beginning of your journey in the design world. How did the love for product and interiors emerge?

Luciana Fragali: I strongly believe that I was born to be an architect/interior designer. While other kids my age were playing with dolls or running around in the playground, my favorite pastime was going to the mall where that was a unique store which sold children's furniture. This was my favorite place to spend my time. As I entered my teenage years, the antique fair near my home became my 'go-to' spot. I loved hunting for unique pieces, never knowing what I would discover. So, for me, there was never any other path. I was born for this field!

HR: How would you describe your signature style?

LF: The style theme is relative, since it's a mixture of your own design beliefs along with the customer's needs, and how to adapt both visions. We always seek to meet the demands of each client while giving guidelines to create a functional context where sobriety and elegance, along with choice of furniture, recreate refined atmospheres.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

HR: We know every designer has their own inspiration source and vision for a determined project. Where do you search for your inspiration? Tell us a little bit more about your creative process. 

LF: My sources of inspiration are multiple and appear naturally. They are born from the project itself, from the idiosyncrasies of the spaces, from the environment where the house is located and from the ideas fo the client. Our creative process begins by understanding the project. This requires listening, interpreting and molding what the client requires of you all while carrying your knowledge of every nuance of the design development.

HR: Describe a design project with your influence in three words.

LF: Four words: Elegant, sober, personal, functional.

HR: What about your clients? How do you think they would describe your ideas?

LF: First, make the result optimal. Second, make sure the solutions meet their expectations. And finally, let them sit in the house of their dreams.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

HR: Do you think the relationship between the designer and client is a fundamental part of the creative process? Why?

LF: Yes, because it cannot work any other way. Even if the client has clear ideas, the project has to be modeled based off the evolution of the relationship with the designer. Ideally, this evolution will make the client internalize the concepts and feel more ownership toward the project.

HR: Do you think that the current pandemic situation has changed your relationship with your clients and your vision as an interior designer?

LF: Our vision as interior designers, our beliefs and the way we work does not change because we have lived through the pandemic. That said, our vision does change in terms of the emergence of new paradigms of the daily use of our private spaces. People are spending much more time in their homes and have needs that were previously external. Now we want to adapt the home to these kinds of requirements. Spending more time in our homes makes us think about how we can take advantage of our respective spaces and how we could adapt them to our specific needs.

HR: If you had to name the project of your career, which would it be and why?

LR: The best project is the one to come. That means we still have a passion for what we do.

HR: As a designer, how important is it to follow design trends that are established in the industry?

LR: It is relatively important. Market trends are ephemeral, impersonal, superfluous and almost out of touch with the customer and their stylistic tastes. Our trends have always aimed to seek timelessness, elegance, durability and quality in the finishes and solutions we provide.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

HR: What about the future? Do you have some ideas for projects? What can we expect from your company?

LR: We plan to continue to seek excellence in the design and execution within our projects as well as in regard to how we collaborate with our clients. We aim to ensure that our service is the best possible.

HR: What is the secret to create the perfect project?

LR: Through experience, you learn to understand that establishing a trust-worthy relationship with those who depend on you with something as valuable and cherished as their home, is a fundamental part of the process. This is undoubtedly the facet of my job that I like the most. I place great value in client relationships and crediting them as an invaluable part of the design process. I strive to create friendships with my clients. Achieving a personal appreciation for each other benefits the design process tremendously. A successful project is one where we drastically exceed expectations. If we give the client exactly what they had in mind, we have failed. We strive to implement design solutions that fulfill the intended objectives in unexpected, innovative ways.

HR: If you could send one message to young designers, what would it be?

LR: Our consistent advice is this: do what you do with passion. Invest hours of your time into routine work. Do it with your own personality and try to be the best professional possible.

Photo Credit: Design Solutions Inc.

The post Luciana Fragali Reveals The Secret To Executing The Perfect Project appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Sims 4

Photo Credit: Shutter Stock

The latest expansion pack included in the Sims 4 simulation game offers an interior design career path.

Whether you are a new fan looking to learn as much as possible about the beloved simulation video game, or a veteran follower of the Sims series, there is something new exciting in the game's latest included in the Dream Home Decorator Game Pack.

Players will be able to live out their interior design fantasies as they engage in the video game's newest career path. Sims 4's latest expansion allows players to meet with clients, discuss likes and dislikes within design and even give a big reveal once your project is finished.

The 'Gig Tasks' included in this career path is said to grant more player control than previous editions of the game.

Apart from living out grandiose decorator fantasies, players will be able to do one thing that any designer will admit they have wished to have had the power to do once or twice in their careers: there is a 'send client away' option. After all, what's the fun of playing Sims if it's too close to reality, right?

For more information on The Sims 4: Dream Home Decorator, head to the EA website and see all the information you need to start your latest simulation fantasy.

The post Have You Ever Wanted To Be An Interior Designer? Sims 4 Allows You To Live Out Your Dream appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Interior design just got a whole lot better, The Expert is an innovative company that connects anyone with top interior designers. Designers from all over the world are connected with potential clients through video consultations via Zoom. The Expert eliminates barriers to interior design, such as the need for a high budget, a need for a full-service requirement to gain access to personalized advice, and guidance and support from an expert designer.

The Expert is designed for anyone in need of advice from top-tier interior design experts. Interior designers connected through the platform are also available for bigger, long-term projects.

“Whether you’re looking for an expert’s eye to help you conceptualize your space from scratch or seeking a second opinion to help guide your own efforts, our Experts are here to support you,” stated on The Expert website.

During the video consultations, interior designers will offer guidance, support, and advice. The consultations are designed to help those seeking advice, questions, and want to put the space together. Additionally, clients can determine and select a designer for a full-service project.

“We derive more value from getting the hard questions answered by a top Expert and then proceeding to execute that knowledge to achieve their design objectives,” stated on The Expert website.

The Experts are selected to showcase every style and need. The designers demonstrate high-end style, aesthetics, and leadership. Expert profiles with portfolios, rates, and offerings are on The Expert’s website.

People can cancel or reschedule their video consultation up to 72 hours before their appointment for a full refund.

To book a video consultation or for more information visit The Expert website.

The post The Expert: A Digital Marketplace For Interior Designers appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: The Adam Olsen team

No matter where you are in the world, you have been affected by the pandemic in some way. If you are in the United States or Canada, you have experienced lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing. There was certainly nothing ‘normal’ about 2020, and many businesses collapsed due to the shutdown of businesses deemed non-essential. While many businesses floundered, The Adam Olsen Team thrived.

Those who adapt are the ones who survive, and that is exactly what this real estate brokerage did when the pandemic struck. Thanks to millennial power broker Adam Olsen steering the ship, the brokerage was able to avoid the peril that many others faced throughout the year. As 2021 moves forward, The Adam Olsen Team enjoys its best year yet thanks to previously cementing its foundation in the realm of social media.

By employing social media marketing to the advertising strategy of real estate listings, The Adam Olsen Team has been able to continue helping its clients sell homes throughout the pandemic. Not only was it able to reach thousands of people over the span of a seven day period, but it was also able to take advantage of technology that allowed for virtual meetings to be conducted.

Being able to view a home via high-quality virtual tours has been a game-changer for selling real estate. Never has this technology become more useful than during the pandemic. Since The Adam Olsen Team has been making extensive use of virtual meetings and social media marketing, it has become the go-to choice for an increasing number of real estate sellers.

Besides technological prowess, The Adam Olsen Team also has over 35 years of combined experience and knowledge, which can assist in answering any question a homeowner may have. With dozens, or potentially hundreds, of decisions needing to be made when selling a home, going the 'for sale by owner' route is simply too stressful. That has never been truer than it is today. That makes hiring a brokerage team like this one key in alleviating the stress of selling a home in 2021.

The Adam Olsen Team prioritizes the interests of its clients and ensures they are well represented throughout the entire process. This team makes sure every step needed is taken. Using technology options like e-signatures ensures there is minimal contact, which keeps everyone involved in a real estate transaction safe and at ease.

If you have a home you are looking to sell, you stand to benefit from having the entire Adam Olsen Team brokerage in your corner, helping you sell your home safely, quickly, and for a good price.

You can head over to the Adam Olsen Team's website to learn more, as well as follow this fast-rising real estate team Adam created on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

The post Why Listing Your Home With The Adam Olsen Team Beats Out ‘For Sale By Owner’ In 2021 appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.