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Reprinted from Spaces Magazine, January/February 2007 issue.
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Never one to take the traditional route, Leanna S. Farrell enjoys finding
creative solutions to design dilemmas and has sustained an enduring career by
drawing inspiration from her gratifying clientele
Story by Karen Hufford
Photos by Rob Downey
Leanna S. Farrell, senior designer and office manager for Porter Baxter Interior
Design in Melbourne, brings over 20 years experience in the interior design and
visual arts industries to each project. Prior to her current position, Farrell,
who attended Shippensburg State College and Indiana University at Pennsylvania
and became a licensed designer in 1990, was highly involved in business
development aspects of the art industry, including serving in positions such as
an art director and buyer for various well revered galleries. Her experience
also extends to the commercial design industry where she owned and operated her
own firm, Phoenix Design Group, in Orlando for 11 years.
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Porter Baxter Interior Design is set apart by being a full-service interior
design firm celebrating 50 years in Brevard County in 2007. Farrell takes pride
in the creation of exquisite window treatments, and excels in color selection.
She thoroughly takes pleasure in her client’s satisfaction and contributes a
huge amount of her success to building trusting relationships with her clients.
Spaces recently met up with Farrell to talk about the longevity of her career,
current projects, and where she sees her profession heading in the future.
Here’s what she had to say:
Q: When did you discover your gift for interior design, or is it something
you’ve always been passionate about?
I guess you could say I evolved into my career. I’ve never taken the traditional
route starting college at 29 years old with three kids. Looking back, my
creativity was always showing up in things I did, whether cooking, gardening, or
sewing. I didn’t realize what a gift it was until others affirmed me. If solving
design dilemmas in my sleep and wishing the night was over so I could go to work
is considered a passion, then yes, I do have a passion for design.
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Q: Although you design for your clients’ tastes and preferences, what is your
favorite style of design?
I feel that the more one is exposed to different styles, over time one’s taste
level increases and classic styles become favorites. I appreciate all styles and
use several in my personal design. Dramatic colors and unusual accessories and
artwork are more exciting to me then any piece of furniture.
Q: Are there any cultural influences that seem to reemerge in your designs?
I would say the Asian culture has most influenced my design. I have always loved
oriental accessories, lighting, and most of all, artwork. I’m not a fan of Asian
furniture, however. But I find myself leaning toward the primitive qualities of
the pottery and art.
Q: I’m aware that you are completing a full-design project of an 8,000
square-foot home on Lansing Island. Where do you begin a project of this stature
when starting from scratch?
One must literally start from the ground up! I interview the client to determine
their lifestyle, what is important to them, the size of their family, and how
they like to entertain. These answers give me clues as to the types and styles
of furnishings, fabrics, and functions these items will have to perform. A
project of this magnitude could easily overwhelm one, but I find that breaking
it into phases works well for my clients and for myself. Experience helps!
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Q: From a different angle, how would you design a space building on family
pieces that the homeowner will not part with?
Family pieces and collections actually help a designer develop a room focusing
on what is meaningful to a client. A lot depends of the scale, color, and
function of the piece. Sometimes it can be a great focal point in the room or
the design may require incorporating other like pieces to complete the look.
When using an eclectic palette that mixes several styles in one room, it is certainly
easier for the piece to look as if it was meant it to go there. Other times we
just have to “hide” it in a room that is not seen. Be sure to bring it out if
Aunt Martha comes!
Q: In your opinion, what is the most fun design accessory to incorporate into a
space?
For me, I love whimsy or a little unexpected surprise in a room. Art or
sculpture is the most fun for me to place. You don’t see much sculpture and I
love the controversy it can cause, from love to hate.
Q: From your experience, how important is choosing the“ right” window
treatments? And how does a homeowner’s lifestyle affect which window treatments
they should use?
The right window treatment is like frosting on a cake. It leaves a lasting
impression and can overshadow everything else in the room, and that’s good if
the furniture is ugly! When I do a window I want to know many things about what
the client expects the window to do. The comment most often heard is, “I don’t
want anything too heavy.” You really have to explore what“ heavy” means and
translate that into what the space requires. It is not just about the window,
but how the window balances the rest of the space.
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Q: When it comes to flooring selection, what are the first things to consider?
Function, function, and function. That’s the number one consideration, and if it
doesn’t perform it doesn’t matter what color you choose. A designer needs to be
an expert on different types of flooring today because there are so many choices
and such diversity in prices. You have to help the client wade through the
choices.
Q: Wallpaper seems to be making a comeback recently. How would a homeowner go
about choosing the best wallpaper for their décor?
The first thing a homeowner should do is call their designer! This is a hard one
and again the space and scale are most important, not just the color and
pattern. The function of the space is important, as you would not want to put
grass cloth in a steamy bathroom. You can really create an instant atmosphere
with a wall-covering.
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Q: What things do you take into consideration when designing a commercial space,
such as a restaurant or hotel lobby, versus a residential space?
Commercial spaces require special attention to the function of the space and the
materials used have to meet certain fire codes and all kinds of other tests. How
many people will use the space at any given time, and how the space is being
used are a couple among the many, many design considerations. I feel fortunate
to have experience with commercial projects because I basically use the same
process with my residential clients and am always considering if a design will
work over the long haul.
Q: To date, which of your completed projects do you feel is the most unique?
The State Headquarters for the American Legion in Orlando was very rewarding,
but the St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs was a labor of
love. I took the job on a pro-bono basis, as so many professionals do, because I
wanted to give something back to my parish. Part of the renovation and new
building project was to design a senior day care facility that became somewhat
of a prototype in the state because there were virtually none at that time. It
is a great tribute to visit a site 16 years later and find it still functioning
great and servicing the client.
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Q: As someone with extensive experience in the art industry, do you have any
tips for successfully choosing and displaying art pieces?
There are very few investment art collectors. Most of us just buy art because we
love it! Some people buy art that matches the sofa. Others buy the sofa to go
with the art. I knew I was the latter when I hung all the art I owned in my new
apartment and didn’t own a sofa. Buy what you love and you’ll find a home for
it—just ask my husband. Big tip! Try to hang a big picture on a big wall and
tiny pictures on a small wall. My pet peeve is to see these little tiny pieces
on a huge wall. It looks ridiculous.
Q: What colors and pieces would you suggest to a homeowner who would like a
“sophisticated” look?
Sophistication comes in many colors but a neutral palette is the most
sophisticated and hardest to achieve. Why? Because people do not realize that
many shades of beige can go together, and should. Texture is the key to this
type of look.
Q: Do you feel it is beneficial to incorporate different textures in a room?
Well, I guess I got ahead of myself. Texture is always important. It’s boring to
have all smooth surfaces. One must mix to achieve interest. Texture also gives
bulk and can create the illusion of weight when you need it. It makes smooth
look smoother.
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Q: “Green” design and resource conservation focusing on the idea of using
environmentally friendly products has come forward as an important design
consideration. Why do you feel this is significant?
Yes, we’ve all been hearing about “green,” but not many people are interested,
understand the importance of it, or can afford it. Big corporations are forced
to get it and they can afford it. Then there is the availability factor. Where
do you find it? We are being exposed to it now but it has not been a big player
in mainstream design for the above reasons. But when it becomes more affordable
we will all be buying.
Q: What are some of the most common mistakes that people make when doing their
own decorating?
People spend lots of money on mistakes. It is just as easy to spend it on the
right things! People often do not take the whole room into account. They may see
something they can’t live without and/or buy on emotional impulse, or worse,
because it’s on sale. Buying pieces that are too big, selecting the wrong paint
colors, selecting items with no regard to function for their family, and buying
lots of trendy accessories that that are too small and actually cheapen the
furniture, are just some of the mistakes I deal with on a daily basis. My motto:
“Good design doesn’t cost, it pays.”
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Q: How important is building a solid relationship with your client during the
design process?
Communication and listening are the most important factors when building any
relationship and it is even more crucial to a successful project. Trust is built
over time and with consistent, good rationale, a designer will gain that trust.
Every meeting builds trust and this is the foundation to a good relationship.
Without this you will never be taken seriously. If I feel a client doesn’t trust
me then I stop the process and re-evaluate the expectations of the client, with
the client! Sometimes it’s best to “ un-hire” yourself.
Q: As someone who has enjoyed many successful years in the interior design
industry, what advice would you give a new designer fresh out of school?
Well, the most important thing to ask yourself is, “Do I have talent?” When I
started in this field very few schools offered interior design as a course, let
alone something you could get a degree in. It was not considered a serious
profession. Today schools are accepting students without regard for talent. A
designer must play many roles and glamour plays a tiny one. Take some courses in
business management because each project takes management. The knowledge that
comes with experience is required to do a project and they can’t teach that to
you in school. If you have a passion for the field then get the experience any
way you can. Don’t go into the field if you want to be a millionaire. Don’t
expect a large clientele in one year. Longevity counts in this field. Have fun
working and don’t take it so seriously that you lose your sense of humor. You’ll
need it.
Q: If you had the opportunity to design or re-design any space in Brevard
County, which would you choose?
I have always dreamed of transforming The Ice Plant, on US 1 in Melbourne. I
envision the first floor divided into working artists’ store-fronts and a
gallery downstairs with a private club for dancing, and dining upstairs. The
interior would be an Art Deco design. Fabulous wood floors and period
chandeliers
would grace the club with white tablecloths and jazz bands playing soft music.
In the evening guests could browse through the art galleries with a glass of
wine and passer-bys could see couples dancing below the wonderful chandeliers.
That would be a dream project.
Leanna S. Farrell of Porter Baxter Interior Design in Melbourne can be reached
via phone at 321-724-4777 or by visiting the studio at 404 S. Babcock Street,
Melbourne, Fla. 32901. For more information, please visit
www.porterbaxterinteriors.com.