We recently spoke to specialist interior designer and decorator Michelle Trimborn, who owns Design Quarters – a group of specialist design professionals based in Cape Town.
Michelle originally studied textile design at Natal Technikon. She then landed her first job as a project manager for international trade companies, training locally and internationally in project and commercial management. Her true passion for design however nagged at her relentlessly until, after concluding further design and draughting studies, she left her position as the Africa region project manager and dived into the world of interior design. Michelle studied in modules at BHC School of Design, City Varsity, and Inscape Design College to build a qualification in interior design. After trading under her own name initially she then launched the Design Quarters brand.
Michelle has a meticulous approach to how she approaches projects and delivers innovative design solutions to all her clients. With her expertise, knowledge and experience she is able to provide small or medium size clients with the ideal design solution for any home, office or retail store. Design Quarters has a strong focus on cost-efficiency and always ensures that interior design solutions are implemented on budget and on schedule as efficiently as possible.
o Where do you draw inspiration from?
People, nature and designers of all genres.
o What is your design philosophy?
The client’s style is the lead style. Their interior must be personal and must not look like a showroom. “Beautiful BUT practical and cost-effective” is a key phrase.
o Favourite local designer?
Heath Nash, Koop Designs, Indigo Architects.
o Favourite international designer?
Mies van de Rohe, Peter van de Water, Marcel Wanders.
o Favourite weekend getaway?
Anything rustic in the Cedarberg. It’s almost fantasy landscape.
o Three spring trends you are most excited about.
Full, luxurious curtaining with deep pleats and lots of volume. Very feminine and opulent. With cost effective fabrics becoming available from fabric houses it gives many more options for window treatments. Also, a hint of 1970’s in fabrics and accessories and the ongoing emergence of eco-friendly fabrics.
o Any furniture items you covet?
I’m sure you can understand if I say the list is long, it is very long. Top 3 would be: Ceramics by John Bauer, crochet table by Marcel Wanders, lights by Tom Dixon.
o The secret to a successful business?
Being humble, being consistent and being ethical.
o What do you hope to achieve with your decorating workshops?
I hope to increase the knowledge of those attending so that they find redecorating less mysterious or intimidating and will have more fun. They will understand the process, can achieve a lot on their own and will have realistic expectations.
Design Quarters workshops:
Design Quarters is offering you a chance to learn the secrets of successful decorating by inviting you to attend its Decorating Workshops. The Decorating Workshop will leave you inspired, educated and connected to the industry.
Date: Starting Tuesday, 8th November and every Tuesday thereafter in November
Time: 09h00-12h00
Place: Weylandts store, Green Point
Price: R1 600 per person
The Decorating Workshop will equip you with the confidence, tools and know-how to complete your own project, from storyboard to implementation, whether it’s for one room of your home, your entire home or holiday home.
The basic principles and elements of design will be covered, including scale, proportion, lines, form and colour. It will also cover practical aspects such as fabric selection, lighting, flooring, window treatments and the important who-when-what process.
The workshops are sure to leave you with personally-made beautiful storyboards, exciting lists of selected items and the names of many suppliers.
For more information, please contact Michelle Trimborn at Design Quarters on (021) 801 6680, www.designquarters.co.za or join Michelle’s blog www.designquarters.co.za/blog
We’re giving away two tickets to one lucky winner and a friend to attend The Decorating Workshop. The Decorating Workshops are offered in four sessions of 2,5 hours each from 09h00 until 12h00 every Tuesday of the month for one month period – starting from November. Enter the competition by telling us what your definition of style is in the comments section of this post. The winner will be randomly selected.
Closing date: 21 October 2011.
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