our design process ebook

1. MAGNETIZE YOUR RENTAL
OPTIMIZE YOUR BUDGET FOR CREATIVITY AND INVESTMENT, GET MORE
BOOKINGS AND LOVE YOUR SPACE.

2. our story and design philosophy
We run a short term rental in Woodinville Wine Country in Washington State. We love
our community and its unique farm to table culture and wanted to create a space that
highlights the character, mood and energy of the region.
We have quests come into town for weddings and funerals, parents coming for months
over-seas and traveling nurses during COVID. This constantly reminds us, that life, in all
its dimensions, is being experienced by our traveling quests. We design rentals with this
in mind. We aspire for the space to be as comforting, elevated and optimized as possible.
We focus on slow design, mixing high/low pieces, vintage and local artisanal pieces
to create spaces that have a unique energetic imprint. We focus on regional
references and mood all while helping owners balance luxury and pragmatism to
maximize the creative and investment potential of their projects.

3. Slow design-buying pieces you truly love over time is the most environmental and pleasurable approach
to making your home, business or rental your personalized sanctuary. Buy the items that truly light you up
and then surround them with accessible items to round out the room. Don’t waste your energy or time on
half approaches. We believe you will be happiest with the final result and have happier clients and quests
when you go all in on specialty investment pieces, and furnish the rest in repurposed, IKEA, Amazon and
Target etc. Live today and stay in budget. The online explosion of options to buy great art and furniture is an
exciting new world for design lovers accelerating and expanding the options for hi/low design to have great
impact.
I often see clients due to indecision, design fatigue and for mere convenience go to an in-store designer and
furnish a whole rental, home or business space, often in the five or six figures. One only has to look at Offer
Up and see that resale on many items is non-existent. There is creative and investment power in your
budget that is going untapped.
In our process, we help you find the items that light you up and hold creative, investment or personal
value that will evolve with you through spaces and places. After we have found your core pieces we offer
ideas and resources of affordable, practical and easy to source items online to round out the design. We
guide you in this process with online checklists, room ideas, design hacks, product ideas and sources to
create spaces that are unique and personalized.
THE SLOW & HIGH/LOW DESIGN STRATEGY

4. Design is everywhere and there is
beauty and utility to be found at every
price point. However, we are leaving so
much creative and investment potential
on the table when we fail to realize our
design budgets with a high/low
approach. Birken Bags have increased
500 percent in the last thirty years, and
have never depreciated, unlike gold. Most
all the items that have been in my
favorites list on 1st Dibs are up 30 to 40
percent over the past two years. While
this might seem silly to many, the
numbers don’t lie. Smart design choices,
are smart investment choices. Even
counting for inflation, something more is
going on. Art commands the attention of
everyone and often increases in value.
When you invest well in art and furniture,
you are creating beauty and also making
wise investment choices. If you buy
pieces you truly love and take the time to
edit your surroundings you will not only
love your home more, you will be being a
good steward of your energy and time.
THE CREATIVE AND
INVESTMENT POWER OF
HI/LOW DESIGN

5. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND VIBE/MOOD BOARDS TO
ESTABLISH WHAT DESIGN PIECES YOU TRULY LOVE. FOR RENTALS AND
BUSINESSES THIS OFTEN FOCUSES ON LIGHTING, ART, TABLES AND THINGS THAT
HAVE AN EASIER WEAR PROFILE SO THEY HOLD UP WITH USE. HOWEVER, THE
SKY IS THE LIMIT. THE BUDGET IS YOURS TO DO AS WISH. BUY WHAT YOU TRULY
LOVE AND IT WILL EVOLVE WITH YOU THROUGH SPACES AND PLACES.
LOCAL WINES, HISTORY BOOKS OF THE AREA, LOCAL ARTISANS AND THEIR
CRAFTMENSHIP, LOCAL VEGETATION AND FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN ETC, ETC.
WE EXPLORE THE REGION TO BE SURE YOUR SPACE IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF
THE REGION AND ITS UNIQUE CHARACTER.
WE FOCUS ON THE QUEST EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE
REGION AND IN THE HOME. HOW ARE YOUR TEXTILES, SOAPS, UTILITY ITEMS,
COFFEE MAKER ETC ETC? ARE THEY A REFLECTION OF YOUR GUESTS NEEDS AND
OPTIMIZING THIER EXPERIENCE? THE DETAILS ARE THE DIFFERENCE IN BOTH
DESIGN AND QUEST EXPERIENCE. WHAT ARE YOUR GUESTS DOING IN THE AREA
(BEACH, POOL, WINE TASTING, HORSES)? WE INCORPORATE TEXTURES,
TEXTILES, ART AND OBJECTS THAT REFLECT BACK THE MOOD OF WHAT GUESTS
ARE EXPERIENCING WHILE AT YOUR BUSINESS OR RENTAL. THIS BONDS THEM TO
THE SPACE AND YOUR BUSINESS.
.
THIS IS WHERE IKEA, TARGET, AMAZON AND OTHER MAINSTAY BRANDS COME
INTO YOUR DESIGN. EVERYDAY BRANDS ARE ESSENTIAL TOOLS IN ALLOWING
THE BUDGET TO BE OPEN ENOUGH TO ACQUIRE YOUR INVESTMENT PIECES. THIS
IS ALSO WHERE WE FIND MANY OF OUR ITEMS THAT FOCUS ON CUSTOMER
UTILITY. MANY OF THESE ITEMS CAN ALSO BE HACKED OUR UPCYCLED FOR EVEN
GREATER DESIGN ADVANTAGE.
STEP ONE: FIND INVESTMENT PIECES THAT LIGHT
YOU UP
STEP TWO: ADD REGIONAL REFERENCES
STEP THREE: ESTABLISH MOOD
01
02
03
04
OUR PROCESS
STEP FOUR: EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE MAINSTREAM BRANDS
TO OPTIMIZE BUDGET

6. PARTNER COMPANIES
We believe your project will benefit from diversity of thought, pieces, time-
periods, price-points and influences. It’s the mix, the algorithm and
connection of ideas that makes a room have integrity and visual power.
Here are the stores we work with and what we love about them.
1st Dibs: Vintage and high concept objects that have history and materiality
and investment pieces that center the soul of the project, reflect time period,
region or mood.
Design with In Reach: Statement lighting especially in retail spaces and
dining rooms. They have excellent accent chairs, decor and art. The mid-
century influences are strong so items work well with rentals in the Palm
Springs area.
Cb2: This is a dream store for design obsessives. I think Cb2 has the best
grasp of materiality and artistic expression among their peer companies. The
pieces are unique and well-made and have artisanal value and integrity.
They are a bit different and higher concept so they can add a unique
character to your space. The furniture can run a bit small, so it’s better for
smaller rooms and projects.
Crate and Barrel: Clean-lined transitional pieces that work in every home.
They have many options that can be customized for size and materiality
which helps with a lot of clients. I love Leanne Ford’s line here at Crate &
Barrel and their large-scale art is reasonable.

7. PARTNER COMPANIES
Pottery Barn: Similar to Crate and Barrel with a more traditional feel. They
have great dining and bedroom options.
Interior Define: This new store in University Village is sure to be a disrupter.
Their custom made furniture is current and well-made. The comfort and
quality of the pieces is really high for its price point. Their materials are
excellent too. I have been looking for great mink brown velvets and there’s
far surpassed the competition. Great new store with lots to offer.
Rejuvenation: A contractor’s dream. This store is excellent for its lighting,
fixtures and accents. This store is great to add depth, mood and
craftsmanship to a project. These touches can add a refinement to your
rental, home or business space.
Williams-Sonoma: Great for table-top, dining and small businesses in the
food and wine industry. Also, great when we outfit kitchens in short-term
rentals.
West Elm: A mid-century bent with great choices in chairs and couches.
This does everything well in a reasonable price range. There is great
materiality in with velvets, metals, woods and accent pillows at West Elm.

8. PARTNER COMPANY FAVORITES
OUR GOAL IS TO STREAMLINE THE DESIGN PROCESS, HELPING YOU IDENTIFY AND SOURCE PIECES THAT LIGHT
YOU UP AND WILL EVOLVE WITH YOU THROUGH PLACES AND SPACES. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE
PARTNER COMPANY PIECES WE ADORE....

9. PARTNER COMPANY FAVORITES
OUR GOAL IS TO STREAMLINE THE DESIGN PROCESS, HELPING YOU IDENTIFY AND SOURCE PIECES THAT LIGHT
YOU UP AND WILL EVOLVE WITH YOU THROUGH PLACES AND SPACES. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE
PARTNER COMPANY PIECES WE ADORE....

10. PARTNER COMPANY FAVORITES
OUR GOAL IS TO STREAMLINE THE DESIGN PROCESS, HELPING YOU IDENTIFY AND SOURCE PIECES THAT LIGHT
YOU UP AND WILL EVOLVE WITH YOU THROUGH PLACES AND SPACES. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE
PARTNER COMPANY PIECES WE ADORE....

11. ACCESSIBLE FAVORITES
TARGET, IKEA AND AMAZON ARE MY GO TO PLACES TO CREATE DREAM RENTALS THAT ARE DESIGN
CONSCIOUS AND YET PRAGMATIC WITH THEIR ALLOCATED BUDGETS. WE USE THESE ITEMS IN RENTALS AS THEY
ARE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR WEAR, EASY TO RE-PURCHASE, AND ALLOW FOR THE HI/LOW MIX.

12. ACCESSIBLE FAVORITES
TARGET, IKEA AND AMAZON ARE MY GO TO PLACES TO CREATE DREAM RENTALS THAT ARE DESIGN
CONSCIOUS AND YET PRAGMATIC WITH THEIR ALLOCATED BUDGETS. WE USE THESE ITEMS IN RENTALS AS THEY
ARE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR WEAR, EASY TO RE-PURCHASE, AND ALLOW FOR THE HI/LOW MIX.

13. ACCESSIBLE FAVORITES
TARGET, IKEA AND AMAZON ARE MY GO TO PLACES TO CREATE DREAM RENTALS THAT ARE DESIGN
CONSCIOUS AND YET PRAGMATIC WITH THEIR ALLOCATED BUDGETS. WE USE THESE ITEMS IN RENTALS AS THEY
ARE COST-EFFECTIVE FOR WEAR, EASY TO RE-PURCHASE, AND ALLOW FOR THE HI/LOW MIX.

14. For more images, product ideas and sources connect with us online....
contact: emily ellis schelle
email: modernwoods@outlook.com
website: www.modernwoods.org
pinterest: modernwoods
instagram: @modernwoods
telephone: 206.832.7996