One on One with Anissa Swanzy
By Gina Dostler
Anissa Swanzy of SKD Studios reveals it’s time to get things rolling, whether it is for holidays with spruced-up changes or complete updates to the home. Creating perfect designs becomes easy and enjoyably when resources are right there at your fingertips.
Q: Is it too late to update the kitchen and other areas of the home for the holidays?
A: The time is now. There is still time if you are looking to update the living room or small remodels. Many people wait until after to the holidays to get started on a large project such as a kitchen or bathroom remodel. If you are looking for a January demo date, it’s time to get started. We need to create the concept, source the materials, price the dream and have everything ready to go by the beginning of the 2016.
Q: How can SKD Studios help out?
A: I am a certified interior designer that has such a passion for kitchen and bathroom design and remodeling. It is something that I literally do in my sleep. I love everything about design, from the initial concept to the final reveal. I started my business on the East Coast, and now it is so awesome for me to see the trends of seaboard style homes or grand Cape Cods that are so reminiscent of the coastal towns on the East Coast out here on the West Coast. Beach modern is a style that I perfected and am thrilled to be able to continue the trend here. It is a mix of old and new with clean lines and rustic influences. Think high gloss with reclaimed wood. It is really a beautiful look.
Q: How do you make it easier for someone to remodel a home?
A: There is a big need for a place where both contractors and homeowners can get some help. We source all products for the home and have hand selected the samples that we carry in the studio. Think of SKD Studios as a one-stop shop – a place where we create great design inspirations as well as trained designers to help put it all together.
Q: A one-stop shop?
A: Many people go to a tile shop, pick the tile, take the samples to a flooring store then go to the cabinet guy to try and pull it all together. Instead, we pull the samples together for you, design the tile layout and the kitchen. It truly makes no sense to me when clients go to a cabinet shop and leave the most important room of their home to be designed by the cabinet maker. Cabinet makers are not designers anymore than designers can build cabinets. Crazy!
Q: What’s the best tip with big-ticket design items such as flooring, tile and cabinetry?
A: Again, hiring a professional is the best money you can spend. When getting ready to complete a remodel, make sure to add a line item for a professional designer. You’re going to be spending a lot of money, so make sure to have a professional help you spend it wisely. Tile and wood are very big-ticket items. To do it on your own can be a daunting task, not to mention being unaware where certain materials can or should be used. In southern California there is a large influx of indoor/outdoor living where clients use the same types of material for both inside the home and out. This can be a costly mistake since many items are not safe for outside use. For instance, not all natural stones are appropriate for outdoors.
Q: What’s the advantage of specific samples over shopping large warehouses?
A: Our in-house tile expert knows the current offerings so we can showcase the best of the best without you having to filter through thousands of samples in giant warehouses to find the “perfect” piece. We pick our stock with care to bring top-notch samples to get the imagination moving. Once the look and price point is established, we contact our vendors for more samples we know you will love. This saves valuable time and frustration in sourcing the materials yourself.
Q: What makes tile so awesome in the home?
A: Tile is an element used so widely in Southern California, mostly for the ease of clean-up and the indoor/outdoor functionality. They’ve come so far and it’s a perfect way for homeowners to show off their own personality. I believe that is why custom waterjets (tiles cut by extreme forces of water) or custom mosaics are so popular these days with their timeless and unique features. That’s how I love to design.
Q: What’s the advantage of being a designer with a showroom?
A: I opened up a retail showroom not only to have a place for visual stimulation for my clients, but so I could carry products to offer at incredible price points. As a retailer, our discounts are much lower than they would be with just a designer discount. These discounts are only awarded to retailers who showcase the products and receive proper training. That’s why we can tell you how certain tiles bubble in the sunlight; or certain granites fade on an outdoor barbeque.
Q: Tell me about your new line of cabinetry?
A: We are so excited to be launching our very own cabinet line. We have partnered with a local manufacturer who works with us to create a line of door styles and finishes that speak to that beach modern feel. We have some high gloss, some really sexy chrome and some rift-cut walnut and oak that gives an old versus new vibe so important in beach modern design.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Anissa Swanzy
SKD Studios
3415 Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, California 92663
949.612.9982 studio
www.skdstudios.com
