Hi Tim
That is so true my friend.
I have missed all of you with my hectic work schedule and irregular hours.
I just got off the phone with my daughter, Janet, and am as proud as a peacock. There was an article in the Kendall Gazette, Miami, Florida paper today, Jan 9, about Janets' Interior Design work that I wanted to share with my friends here. The actual newspaper has a picture of her but the picture is not on the net. Those who know me here, know how she has made my many trips to Florida possible so that we can share some great times which I look forward to so very much.
communitynewspapers.com
Go to Local News column on the right and click on "Designer seeks function, beauty in decor.......
Designer seeks function, beauty in decor
BY RON BEASLEY
Janet Ruffolo came to South Florida nine years ago from Chicago to work on an interior design project for the Cushman and Wakefield real estate firm. She never left the area.
"I just fell in love with the area," she said. "So I made a decision to remain in South Florida."
The Kendall resident said she first tried to re-establish her interior design business in her new home city, but found the going tough in such a different market. She joined Burdines in 1993 as an interior designer in the company's South Dade Furniture Gallery, 13251 S. Dixie Hwy., where she continues today.
A member of the American Society of Interior Design, Ruffolo said her business is a matter of fitting the pieces together to create a space that is not only beautiful to live in, but one that also is functional and safe.
"Without the function and safety parts of design, it means nothing to have the aesthetics," she said. "They all have to work hand-in-hand. It has to be a safe, useable and aesthetically pleasing environment for the use of the space."
As an interior designer, Ruffolo said it her job is to lead people to the right choices in decorating and furnishing their home.
"I help guide people through my resources at Burdines," she said. "My services are complimentary when you purchase through the interior design department at Burdines. And, the very first time is complimentary.
"I come to your home and see what you're all about and how I can help you -- or if I can help you. From there, I guide you within our store in purchasing things. And, if we don't have the products you're looking for, I guide you to the outside market and tell you where you can go."
Ruffolo said she is finding that many of the people she encounters today want to do their own shopping, as opposed to simply allowing the interior designer to make all of the decisions.
"A lot of my clients like to do the majority of the work," she said. "But they don't have the experience and need the guidance. In my position with Burdines, people can actually use me as a consultant. I can help them at any level. It is a trend, where people are going and doing their own shopping, but they're not really sure how to put it together. They don't understand scale and proportion. That's where I can come into play and guide them. I give them the information they need, the technical side of it."
Ruffolo, who grew up in Chicago's western suburbs and studied interior design at Southern Illinois University and the Harrington Institute of Interior Design, said a trend in recent years is for prominent clothing designers to associate themselves with a line of furniture.
"Designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Bahama and Ralph Lauren are putting their name, their signature, to a particular style of furniture and then the manufacturers build it," she said. "They have become a big part of the furniture design process."
Ruffolo said the "designer furniture" has a look that identifies it as a product of the specific designer.
"It's like when you look at Tommy Bahama clothing, you know it," she said. "It's a style, a particular look. It's a linen and silk combination with a subtle pattern. Or, Tommy Hilfiger, the colors, the lines, the distinct style of it. Or, if it's Ralph Lauren, it's this incredible rustic, comfortable, earthy, faded-tone colors, the dark woods, the rich hand-carved pieces of high-end quality materials and woods, just like his trademark in the clothing industry."
Ruffolo said the trend toward designer furniture is one that is only going to get bigger as more designers jump on the bandwagon.
"In my profession you have to be knowledgeable, and there is so much information out there that you have to keep up with it," she said.
For more information, call Janet Ruffolo at 305-254-5739.
They listed the phone number wrong tho. It should be 5728
Gosh, I am so excited.
Gotta go and call a few friends now and brag a bit. <<gg>>
Patricia <So happy today> |
