Thiessen Design

Thiessen Design Over 15 years experience providing design guidance for new home builds and home staging consultation

Restaurant projects with .
11/08/2021

Restaurant projects with .

A little excited about this client’s ensuite reno. Eeek! One of the two palette options on the table. We’ve this one ...
10/16/2021

A little excited about this client’s ensuite reno. Eeek! One of the two palette options on the table. We’ve this one “Sexy Neutral” and coming up… “Modern Glam”…

I decided to pursue a career in design in my mid to late 20’s (I’m 41 now). Ryan and I had been married for 6 months and...
10/13/2021

I decided to pursue a career in design in my mid to late 20’s (I’m 41 now). Ryan and I had been married for 6 months and I remember sharing with him that I needed a hobby. I was depressed in my account manager position at the staffing agency. I had previously worked in high energy positions as the manager of a large bookstore for a few years, then moved into marketing and radio. But I felt stuck, like I was trying to find something. I felt a void knowing not all of my gifts and talents were being utilized and there had to be something more I could give. Ryan and I had many long discussions about what things made my heart tick - and that’s when I decided to enroll in my first 8 week design course: Basics Of Design. Evening classes became my life at college, in downtown Calgary. I loved what I was studying so much, I KNEW I wanted to apply it to the “real world” quickly - application brings it to life, right? I took a massive leap of faith and submitted my resume to a home builder requesting a Junior design position where I could be mentored while taking evening design classes. As timing would have it, that builder was looking for someone just like me! And for 2 years, I worked full time as a junior designer under the mentorship of the best designers, while taking night classes to achieve my status as a recognized and certified interior designer. I was swimming in design and my heart was so so so happy (it also helped that my husband was working in construction and our conversations circled around home building - our date nights were showhome touring and builder trade shows and we loved every minute!). fast forward 15 years later, I have been very fortunate to have designed for a few different builders full time - both production and custom, and ALL different styles of design. It took time to figure out that interior design was my passion and the right career path for me, but I’m glad I didn’t rush into it. I was able to make up for lost time because I was mature, confident and tougher than in my early twenties. I was able to hone in on what I truly wanted and chase it without doubt. No regrets, whatsoever! 📸:

TESTIMONIAL TIME // I am always so grateful for clients who take the time to give me feedback on their experiences. It’...
10/07/2021

TESTIMONIAL TIME // I am always so grateful for clients who take the time to give me feedback on their experiences. It’s not only encouraging, but it gives me a chance to step back and see the experience through the client’s eyes - invaluable.

DINING TABLES // a simple rotation of this table gave us open an open view of the kitchen and lengthened space. 📍Cimarr...
10/06/2021

DINING TABLES // a simple rotation of this table gave us open an open view of the kitchen and lengthened space.
📍Cimarron Springs Estates, Okotoks.

CLEAR IT OUT // 80% of our style & stages involve a good “clear out”. We peel back to ground zero and then add back a f...
10/06/2021

CLEAR IT OUT // 80% of our style & stages involve a good “clear out”. We peel back to ground zero and then add back a few simple key pieces to set to draw attention TO the structural finishes of the house.
📍Cimarron Country Estates, Okotoks

Today’s TIP: if you don’t know what you’re doing, hire a professional who does. It will save you time and money. ...
10/06/2021

Today’s TIP: if you don’t know what you’re doing, hire a professional who does. It will save you time and money.

That pop of red gives this space LIFE. 📍Cimarron Vista, Okotoks
10/06/2021

That pop of red gives this space LIFE.
📍Cimarron Vista, Okotoks

Hi 👋🏻! Thanks for stopping by the ThiessenDESIGN page!This business is a labour of love and although this page is new, m...
10/05/2021

Hi 👋🏻! Thanks for stopping by the ThiessenDESIGN page!

This business is a labour of love and although this page is new, my career isn’t! I received my certification of interior design in 2007 while working for a home builder, and have been designing/styling homes for builders and ever since! (with a little break in between to 3 babies, of course)

This page is my effort to FINALLY gather all my work into one space. You’ll see a lot of my projects here, mostly: new builds I’ve designed and have completed selections for, client DIY’s with my design support, exterior carpentry projects with my husband , and home styling & staging for realtor photo shoots and showings. And you will see some inspiration posted here as well.

What you should know about me:

1. I LOVE community and this .design page is a hub to support YOU and feed YOUR inspiration.

2. My work ebbs and flows around my family. They will always come first and I budget my time around them.

3. It took 15 years to start my own design business after many many requests. I now have the peace to go ALL IN on my own.

4. I stew on topics and think things through deeply. I am laser focused on my projects, so I take immediate action when the opportunity is right!

5. I have always loved space planning, structural design, and hard finish selections (exteriors, flooring, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry design, finishing, built-ins, electrical design, etc), but have just recently found a love of decorating with furnishing and accessories - the final touches!

6. When I was a kid, I used to drive my parents crazy re-arranging all of the furniture in my bedroom when I was asked to just clean it. Little did we all know, that was a little interior designer in training!

NO MESS, NO STRESS // Often the most intimidating space to style is what I refer to as “the drop zone” — the OFFICE. It...
10/03/2021

NO MESS, NO STRESS // Often the most intimidating space to style is what I refer to as “the drop zone” — the OFFICE. It’s where everything goes when there’s no time to find a place and this gets out of control fast (I can personally testify to this!).

Office clearing is a BIG PROJECT and it’s best practice to tackle this space first when styling for entertaining, realtor showings, or a realtor photoshoot.

Why?

a) usually requires the most energy and motivation

b) establishes your momentum for the rest of the house

c) you’ll be so proud of the cleaned up space that it will be your motivation to finish the rest.

Empty boxes and garbage bags are your best friend for this space, it’s an overhaul and no one wants to see your receipts.

So, all paper off the desk, hide the trash can in a cabinet, tie all cables behind the monitor, remove all frames and leave only a few well placed accessories that leave more space around it than they take up. Let the “office work” be stressful, not “the space you work IN”.

TAB TIP: budget a time to spend in your Office Overhaul - it will help you stay focused on the bigger picture, rather than organizing those receipts - throw those receipts in a labelled ziploc bag and make that a project for another day.
📍Silvertip, Aldersyde
REALTOR:
STYLED: with homeowners furnishings, by me.

FIND THE BALANCE // Lived in, yet simplified. Pillows fluffed, afghans folded and hung, mantle depersonalized. Invite ...
10/03/2021

FIND THE BALANCE // Lived in, yet simplified. Pillows fluffed, afghans folded and hung, mantle depersonalized. Invite the buyer in, but give them space to imagine.
📍Silvertip, Aldersyde
REALTOR:
STYLED: with homeowners existing furnishings, by me.

LESS IS MORE // When styling a home for a realtor photo shoot, I am bold about what I REMOVE from a shot. If it takes u...
10/03/2021

LESS IS MORE // When styling a home for a realtor photo shoot, I am bold about what I REMOVE from a shot. If it takes up space that does not serve a purpose for the frame, it doesn’t belong. The same goes for styling for LIFESTYLE: items pay rent by how they SERVE you, if they don’t have a job, they are taking up useful real estate in your space.

TAB TIP: each space should have more unoccupied space than occupied.

THIS PROJECT: this lovely homeowner in 📍Silvertip, Aldersyde had a natural eye for decorating - I could see it the moment I walk into the home for our styling session. My role in this particular project was to come in with fresh eyes and from the point of view of a potential buyer. The homeowner and I went through every inch of the home with the goal of: depersonalizing, simplifying and opening up the space. We cleared out personal items, styled existing price and and embellished with fresh greenery. Doing this allowed the photographer and potential buyers to focus on the already stunning features of the home.
Ps. If this was a full home stage? Would throw a down and a stool, with a wicker basket & cream coloured afghan. 😉
REALTOR:
STYLED: with homeowners existing furnishings, by me.

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Okotoks, AB

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