Index of Resources

The MMIDG Interior Design Resource Center provides a wide variety of resources and tools for professional interior designers and homeowners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our daily conversations with clients often surfaces some of the similar type questions.  You may be seeking an answer to these interior design and home decor dilemmas too.  In the coming months we will be posting FAQs that we hope you will find helpful.  In the meantime, if you have a question, feel free to reach out to us.

Ask

Deciding where to place the TV can be a dilemma in many households.  Put it front and center or tucked away and hidden?  These considerations can help settle the debate.

  • Do you use your TV much of the time?  You’ll likely want it front and center.
  • Would you prefer your TV to blend into the room? A console or entertainment center can help take the focus off the TV. Other high-tech options are available to complete conceal the TV when not in use.
  • Do you want your TV to be a focal piece of furniture in your room or blend in?
  • Do you have limited space?  A wall mount option is the most kind to small spaces.
  • Is your TV competing with your fireplace as a focal point?  Managing two focal points in a room is a tricky dilemma, especially if they are on different walls.
  • What distance and angle should the TV be from the main viewing area?  According to THX (a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie & entertainment areas)  the optimal viewing angle is between 28 degrees and 40 degrees from the viewer’s eye level to the screen.  Distance should be  5 – 7.5 ‘ for a 50″ screen, 6-9’ for a 60″ screen, and of course further for the larger screens.

Read more about our tips on how to make your TV an effective part of your home decor in our recent blog post It’s a Love-hate Relationship with our TV’s.

A professional interior designer will help you create the home you have always dreamed of, while reducing material costs, project time, and helping you avoid costly mistakes. The ideal designer will also make the process fun and a hassle free experience.  Here’s our top tips.

  • Look for an interior designer with formal training
  • Make sure they can match to your life style and design style
  • Make sure they can keep your interior design budget in mind
  • Clear communication on the cost of their services is important
  • They should have a deep network of experienced resources and suppliers
  • Inquire about how they stay up to date on style and design trends
  • They should have a process that will help you navigate choices
  • Ensure they will coordinate with the builders, sub-contractors and vendors
  • Inquire if they pass on savings from wholesale purchases to you
  • Personality and chemistry fit between you and your designer is critical

Read more in this recent blog post about How to Find a Good Interior Designer.

Rugs have the power to affect the entire area that they’re in, and that’s a powerful tool when it comes to redecorating. A new rug could be exactly what you need when you’re looking for a dramatic, quick, and inexpensive change.   Read more about selecting rugs for your home interior in our blog article One Items that Packs the Biggest Punch – Rugs.

A mirror can serve many purposes when applied to an interior space. Even when used in the most obvious application, it can yield many other benefits that the user may not be aware of.  While the use of a mirror can add to your space visually, it can also create a whole spectrum of graphic effects.  Read more about how to select the perfect mirror for your home interior in our blog post Mirrors! They can reflect your personality.

Tile is one of the most versatile mediums in your home. Selecting the best tile to use for your new home or home renovation project can be confusing with all the options available today. When it comes to tile selection, there are several factors to consider such as material, cost, placement, and installation. Because tile is available in such a wide variety, it can really bring some exciting character to your home.   Read more about selecting tile for your home interior in our blog post The Thick and Thin of Tile Selection.

Marta and her team use 3D renderings and walk-thru technology to help clients visualize the space.  The rendering technology we use creates images that are incredibly life-like.  It can be difficult to distinguish between a rendering and a “real picture”.

We hear time and time again that this technology helps our clients make decisions they feel confident about.  Renderings are also a great way to communicate design details that can otherwise be difficult to convey.

See examples of renderings on our capabilities page and learn how we use them in our recent blog post.

Articles

There is so much to read on the web.  Marta and her team are constantly sifting through relevant articles on home and commercial interior design to share.  We’ve listed some of the more valuable and interesting articles below.  Enjoy!

Articles

Selecting the best kitchen lighting is important. Your kitchen is the stage for so many different type of activities from entertaining, cooking, homework, and even cozy chats. It’s one of the most complex lighting challenges in your home. Read these 27 kitchen lighting tips from the pros at Lamps USA to help you decide which type of lighting is best for your kitchen island and workspaces.

Explore the features and trends for creating a productive workspace for your team in this insightful article from The Triad Business Journal on Putting the “Place” in Workplace.

The new Washington Post corporate office in DC, offers a creative workspace for this publishing giant. Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon, bought this 142 year old legacy media company in 2013, and the new offices provide journalists with inspiration for the digital age.  Read the full article published in the Triad Business Journal.

The new NCR corporate office in Atlanta GA is custom designed for this technology driven company. It incorporates the latest office trends for a modern, skilled workforce.   Read the full article published in the Triad Business Journal.

The new Apple corporate office in Cupertino California gives new meaning to awesome. As you’d expect from this high-tech company, their campus features innovation and state of the art interior design.  Read the full article published in the Triad Business Journal.

The Office of the Future:  Designing a space worthy of your company’s potential

This in-depth article explores the latest trends for modern office interior design. Contemporary interior architecture and design have evolved to provide stimulating, efficient, and productive working environments.  Read the full article published in the Triad Business Journal.

Khoi Vo is Professor and Head of the Department of Interior Architecture at UNC Greensboro.  In this article, published by Triad Business Journal, Mr. Vo discusses the importance of Interior Design in today’s Healthy Workplace.  Read the full article published in Triad Business Journal.

Ipe and Teak are two of the highest quality woods available today. These two lumbers are both prized for their beauty and durability, but despite their similarities, Ipe and Teak are two very different types of wood. If you are seeking a high end lumber option and are considering using Ipe or Teak for your project, read the full article at ADVERTICIA.COM

BAMBOO is a natural surface covering material that has many of the properties of hardwood flooring, even though it is actually produced from a type of grass. It shares many of the positive benefits of a hardwood floor, as well as the drawbacks and vulnerabilities. The more you understand the properties of this material, the better informed you will be when making a purchasing or maintenance decision.

Read the full article at THE SPRUCE.

Events

Upcoming events that should be on your “short list” if a home remodeling, redesign, or new construction is in your future.

Events

Don’t miss this great event to tour some of Greensboro’s finest remodeled home projects.

The 2019 Fall tour was held August 10 – 11.  Visit the Greensboro Builders Association to learn more and stay tuned for upcoming 2020 tours.

The Parade of Homes takes place in Greensboro and Winston Salem each year.  Don’t miss this great event for home decor and interior design inspiration.  Learn more about these events at the GREENSBORO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION Website or the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem website. 

High Point Furniture Market is the largest in the World and caters to the industry.  It is typically held twice a year.  For the upcoming High Point Furniture Market dates, please visit the FURNITURE MARKET website.

Tools

The Marta Mitchell Interior Design Group uses numerous complex tools and software platforms in their design process.  We have provided some simple design tools below that will be useful (and fun!) for you.

Working through color selections can be overwhelming. Use this HANDY COLOR PICKER from Sherwin Williams to help visualize how different colors will look in your space.

Books & Magazines

These books and magazines are dedicated to the topics of interior design and home decor.  Another great resource for inspiration.

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST MAGAZINE is the source for interior design and decor inspiration.

Interior Design Newsletters & Blogs

Newsletters and blogs can help you explore different styles, trends, and ensure your home interior and decor stays current.  Below are several of our “must read” sources.

Marta Mitchell Blog & Social Media

Find inspiration, get tips and suggestions and keep up with trends on the Marta Mitchell Interior Design Blog.

Follow Marta and the MMID team on Instagram for awesome ideas and inspiration.

Marta Mitchell Interior Design is a 3x Best of Houzz award winner. Explore some of our most recent projects on Houzz.

Browse around the MMID design board for ideas and inspiration.  Follow us on Pinterest.

Design pros and homeowners alike connect with Marta and the MMID team on LinkedIN.  Join us on LinkedIN.

Explore topics, get inspired,  and join conversations on the Marta Mitchell Interior Design Facebook page.

Sherwin Williams Paint Resources

Where did mummy brown come from? Author Kassia St. Clair shares the answer to this and gives other great insights on our historical relationship with color. This and other on-trend topics in this months edition of STIR.

With the new year upon us, Sherwin-Williams makes their annual announcement of the upcoming “gotta have” color. Forged by sun. Fired by desert. Introducing Cavern Clay SW 7701, the 2019 Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year. Learn more in this latest edition of STIR.

Increasingly popular co-working spaces foster productivity and collaboration for businesses and entrepreneurs. STIR® got the scoop from designers on what makes these spaces special and how to apply color strategies from them to any project. Learn more in this latest edition of STIR.

From baby-blue ball pits to a rosy-hued dance floor, the Color Factory NYC offers immersive color experiences. STIR® talked to the museum’s director to learn how the interactive installations can change clients’, designers’ and architects’ perceptions of color. Learn more about this awesome destination in the latest edition of STIR.

Explore how one of the newest design trends can add a punch of bold, modern elements to your next client project in this latest edition of Sherwin Williams Monthly STIR newsletter.

Learn how savvy design pros plan to use the Colormix Forecast 2019 palettes in the latest edition of Sherwin Williams STIR newsletter.

Sherwin Williams introduces the colormix forecast for 2019.  Each of the six palette groups in the 2019 forecast takes on its own personality and tells an honest story.  Learn More.

Go BIG.  Go Bold. With these tips from this month’s edition of Sherwin-Williams STIR Magazine.

Explore how to use High-gloss finishes to deliver high impact to your decor in this edition of Sherwin Williams STIR Magazine.

Working through color selections can be overwhelming. Use this HANDY COLOR PICKER from Sherwin Williams to help visualize how different colors will look in your space.

STIR® is a digital and print publication by Sherwin Williams.  It is often a go-to source for interior designers, architects, and specifiers. While the print version is distributed once a year, articles are available online throughout the year.  Get inspiration from this awesome resource from Sherwin Williams.  Visit the STIR website for more.

Surya Rugs, Pillows and Accessories Resources

Surya opened their new Chicago Showroom in the Design Center at theMart.  Be sure to visit the new showroom at suite 619 and explore all the collections.

Surya has a large variety of home decor including rugs, lighting, pillows, throws, accent furniture, wall decor, and bedding.  Learn more about Surya by visiting their website at www.surya.com .

Loloi Rugs, Throws, Pillows and Accessories Resources

Jump right in to 2019 with the newest catalog from Loloi. Learn more about the 2019 Loloi Catalog here.

Be sure to checkout the new arrivals from Loloi featuring casuals, contrasts, neutrals, and pops of pattern. View Loloi’s latest newsletter here.

Brighter, bolder, better. New Justina Blakeney x Loloi is here. Learn more in this recent Loloi Rugs Newsletter.

Be sure to get a Winter 2019 Preview of the Loloi Collections. Learn more from this recent Loloi Newsletter.

Neutral. Natural. You can’t go wrong. Explore the new Loloi arrivals in the Ellen Degeneres Collection in this latest news.

Explore some of the newest in the Loloi Fall Collection from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines  in this latest news.

It goes with anything.  It elevates everything.  Explore the Vestige collection from Loloi.

Create Calm.  Explore the Idris Collection from Loloi.

Explore some of the upcoming Fall selections from Loloi in their latest newsletter.

Loloi has introduced the new Hygge Collection of fine rugs.  Enduring colors and elevated textures are hallmarks of this collection.  Learn more.

Loloi is one of our “go-to” vendors for fine collection of rugs, throws and pillows.  You can learn more about Loloi by visiting their website at www.loloirugs.com.

Furniture.com is the online store for some of the largest furniture retailers in the United States.  Their website features a sections on Tips and Trends in furniture.  Always an inspiration.  Learn more at their website.Â