Interior Design...Making A Career From What You Love

Interior Design & Staging students at Debbe Daley Designs

Last week's interior design and home staging course was one of the best I've had the pleasure of teaching. Realizing my hobby as a little girl has not only turned into a business but also a passionate career of helping others.  I especially enjoy watching women achieve their dreams working in a field they would learn to love.

The course was packed with many field trips and hands-on training experiences jammed into a 5 day extravaganza.  From playing with fabrics and furnishings in our own classroom studio to learning all about rugs from our friends at Persian Rug Gallery.  A trip to Harmon's Paint and Wallpaper in our own lovely historic city of downtown Lowell, MA was such a treat.  With the trending return of wallpaper and with my background in the field, it was fun and exciting to share with the students the different styles and patterns available for residential as well as commercial applications.  We also staged a home in Lowell for the Sears family which goes on the market today.  What a pleasure!  It was the perfect house to stage.

Manual & Classroom Time 

Learning about rugs from Sy Mahfuz at Persian Rug Nashua, NH

Learning about rental furniture for the home staging industry was also an experience with Jessica Miller of Churchill Furniture.  Jessica is most knowledgeable about the process of renting furnishings for vacant homes.  She is always so gracious in taking the time to spend with our students walking them through the process.

Jessica Miller of Churchill Furniture with Students

Churchill Furniture Showroom

Churchill Furniture Showroom

Our grand hurrah was when the students were involved in an all day custom client installation in Andover, MA.  One of my most pleasant clients allowed us to spend the day from 8:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.  Students experienced the process of a custom furniture installation, custom window treatment installation and physically assisting our installers through the completion of the design.

Furniture Installation

Window Treatment Installation

Students Take a Break in Client's Media Room

Thank you to all our business associates, vendors and colleagues for participating and sharing your invaluable knowledge. All in all it was one of the best design courses of the year thus far offering hands-on design and staging experience to the max!