A Baxter in Hamilton

Having now worked with Second Wind Design over the last couple of months, I can certainly say that Ana has exceeded all expectations. I highly recommend Second Wind Interior Design to anyone looking for design services. I had never worked with any interior designer before, and initially I had some reservations about using one to transform our living room and dining room. Our house is an older, more modest home with a number of limitations in terms of what could be done – both from a practical standpoint and cost-wise. I also had few ideas of my own of what I wanted for the space. In short, I was concerned that a designer would expensive and not necessarily produce any ideas I could actually use or afford. Happily, Ana has proved me wrong on all fronts. Ana's initial consultation was very professional and thorough. She took a lot of time to learn about our family preferences, how we expected to use the space, budget, etc. I found Ana very professional and thoughtful in her approach but also cheerful, humorous and very easy to talk to. With one of my biggest decorating challenges being an ability to like practically anything in a wide range of styles, Ana was skillfully able to identify what we “loved” rather than simply liked, and – more importantly – what we needed to make our space function for our family. She then produced a detailed document outlining her recommendations, complete with colour visuals, floor plans, and an itemized budget. She provided us with a fantastic design and then she gave us with access to sources that provided quality work that fit within our budget, sharing the trade discounts she received. It was surprisingly affordable! She was also able to incorporate many of the furniture and decorative items I already owned and loved in the new design. No hidden costs, and the only budget surprises I had were all positive: when she found a fabric almost identical to what I had chosen but less expensive, when she took the time to browse the local antique stores and found the perfect mirror for my space for a fraction of the cost of new. Ana was also able to take on the challenge of getting my antique dining room chairs rebuilt, which was no easy feat, and had it done for far less than I thought it would cost. It’s still a bit of a work in progress for the finishing touches but we are very pleased with the results so far. We use both rooms far more often and have received many compliments from our friends on the changes. It was such a success and pleasure working with Ana that we are now asking for her help with our basement recreation area as well.