Growing up, Nancy Feldman said she lived in a wacky, wonderful home with her two creative parents - although she didn't realize how creative they were at the time. Her father, a dentist by day, bought and restored old cars in his off hours. As a young woman her mother was a vocalist and pianist with big bands and was always very creative. "It was fun to grow up like that," she said.
Antiques, remades and treasures scooped up at estate sales filled her parents' home and forever spoiled Feldman from settling for ordinary. "I never walked into a furniture store until I was 18," she said.
Feldman, an ASID and allied member, renovation specialist, is founder and president of The Art of Placement. She has been in business for more than 20 years. Her clients know her reputation, and she said, "We're here to stay." Open by appointment only, she asks clients to schedule an appointment to receive a designer's full attention.
She said one of the first things people ask her is what her signature style is. "I don't have a signature look," Feldman said. "When my clients are home, it is supposed to be about them, not me."
Her firm's business offers several design solution packages. From whole house designs to staging homes for sale or for 48-hour move-ins, her firm provides a full menu of interior design services.
She also manages renovation projects and said it is especially effective because then she can work on everything from the beginning.
Another interior design service she provides are artists who work the walls and create unusual and appealing faux finishes. They can create a faux leather, faux suede or even velvet. She said these professionals are so proficient, "you'd swear it was real."
Feldman said one of the biggest trends currently is people really don't care about trends. She said clients tell her they want a design that reflects them.
However people are warming up their homes, especially very contemporary ones, and she said, "They are a little more eclectic and have draperies again and softer window treatments and area carpets." Clients with contemporary furnishings frequently use more traditional art and those with traditional decor are using modern art. "No one wants to be pigeon-holed into one look, [and] people want to be comfortable," she said.
The second question everyone asks Feldman is, "How much is this going to cost?" A philosophy of Feldman's is, "You shouldn't have to be a multi-millionaire to afford a designer." She offers two-hour design consultations for staging move-ins at a very affordable price and said, "I meet the nicest people on our two-hour consults."
"We're upscale homes," she said. "But the other services we offer make us pretty affordable for most of the people who live in the area." Jobs run from small projects to whole home renovations. Regardless of the scope of the project, Feldman feels it is important from the start to know the budget so her firm can be realistic about the guidance they give.
Sometimes she said clients need to look at the whole picture. A person who has had a house on the market for months may save a lot of money in the long run by making his or her home stand out from the others with professional staging and sell it much more quickly.
Feldman shares her home with her husband Les and their two granddaughters who she says are over all of the time.
One of her proudest professional moments was when her home was featured in the 2005 Spectacular Homes of South Florida coffee table book, which is available at any bookstore. "It was such an honor to be part of that book," she said. This year a client of hers is displayed in the 2006 Spectacular Homes of South Florida coffee table book, also available at bookstores.The Art of Placement receives requests for consultation from all over the world and most of their work comes from referrals. The staff invites everyone to visit their Web site and to come in for a private consultation. Hours are 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and after hours by appointment. |
