Shannon Alderman / Staff

From New York to Atlanta, interior designer Laura Bloom has worked with the likes of professional athletes, executives, empty nesters and young up and comers. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Atlanta Style & Design Magazine, and the AJC. Her eye-catching interiors even sparked the interest of former Atlanta Braves catcher, Javy Lopez, who hired her to design a Tuscan themed formal dining room amongst other projects in his Suwannee home. And Bloom's most recent project includes renovating the grand living room at the famed Lions Gate house, once home to Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston, at this year's Spring Show house (www.springshowhouse.com) benefiting the Save A Smile Foundation. With a resume like Bloom's, one might ponder how the Alpharetta businesswoman could thrive in a saturated design market and in a field deeply impacted by the economy.  But perhaps with a name and resume like hers coupled with over 25 years of design experience, it isn't hard to fathom why her business, Home Expressions Interiors by Laura Bloom, has blossomed.

HOME EXPRESSIONS INTERIORS BY LAURA BLOOM

Home Expressions Interiors by Laura Bloom, located at 5530 Windward Parkway Suite 110 E in Alpharetta, is a full service interior design, construction, and project management company. Finishing your basement, renovating your kitchen or selecting furniture and accessories is all within her purview. "Home Expressions offers professional and complete design services under one roof and we offer quality furnishings at competitive prices coupled with excellent customer service," Bloom said.

Whether it is a face-lift on an existing room, the creation of one of a kind custom bedding or custom window treatments, granite and faux paint, or a complete bathroom remodel, Home Expressions Interiors by Laura Bloom can design and create it. "We offer services beginning with space planning and custom millwork design to selection of all finishes and appliances and ending with project management and contract administration that includes scheduling all the details so the client doesn't have to," Bloom said.  "We also work directly with some of the best local contractors for interior painting, staining, specialty and custom finishes, texturing, drywall and plaster, wall and ceiling treatments, wallpapering, and cabinet refinishing," Bloom said.  For interior and exterior painting, Bloom works with and recommends B & B painting (bloompainting.com), a professional Alpharetta-based painting service, she added. 

DESIGN PHILOSOPY

In terms of the design process, Bloom begins by ascertaining a client's style wants.  "As a designer, I find that most people know what they would like their home to say but they might have difficulty turning that vision into a reality on their own," Bloom said.  "Our design philosophy is not so much about creating a look; rather, we seek to create more of a 'feel' that all the family members will enjoy coming home to."

If it’s traditional, modern, edgy or classic you desire, Bloom and her staff are trained to complete whatever look the homeowner is aspiring towards. "I try to understand that person's lifestyle first and how they currently utilize their space," she added.

DESIGN 101

Depending on the scope of the project, Bloom will often walk the entire house with a client whether they are working on a single room or on multiple rooms. "Then, I show them an overall plan featuring each room with signature pieces, designs, and fabrics in them." Then, it is the client's choice whether to implement the changes all at once or one room at a time depending upon their budget. "I believe that the design process should be enjoyable and stress free allowing the homeowner to realize their design preferences from a professional they trust," she said. "Then, we turn their room or their entire home into a unique and personalized expression of themselves," Bloom said.

Most of Bloom's clients are looking for an interior designer but you can also buy furniture and accessories right off the showroom floor. Meander through the store on Windward Parkway, and feast your eyes upon a bevy of the freshest styles and product lines inside Bloom's store. "All the items in the store are not just picked out of a catalogue and put on the showroom floor," Bloom said. "You won't find these anywhere else because we hand pick all of the fabrics."  

WHAT'S BLOOMING THIS SPRING?

Bloom said the economy had a huge impact on design last year. "Things were more somber and tranquil," she said, but with the economy showing slight signs of improvement, Bloom says color is slowly coming back into vogue. "This spring, neutral earth tones and organic textures are popular and the colors are still very organic but with a twist." Think mushroom with splashes of berry and fruit tones on top of taupe. "Metallic is also very in as are organic blues and greens." Teak, bamboo and recycled materials are also hot. "People are in green mode and we are seeing a lot of the natural fibers, silks, and textures these days." Even window treatments have gone environmental according to Bloom. "Duette honeycomb shades enhance any décor and they are more energy efficient," she added. 

AN EYE FOR COST EFFECTIVE DESIGN?

While Bloom does keep up with the latest design trends, and regularly attends design shows in New York and Las Vegas, she doesn't believe in trendy design per se.  "Good design is not about a "signature look" or mimicking trends. It is about taking into account each individual's needs, budget and lifestyle in order to come up with a plan that is right for them," Bloom said. And if the idea of hiring an interior designer seems too expensive, Bloom says, Oh contraire. "The most efficient and cost effective way to decorate is by hiring an experienced and educated interior designer that works with you to target your specific design needs and creates a budget for you.  That way you avoid wasting time and making costly mistakes." 

BEFORE AND AFTER

The before and after link on the website (homeexpressionsinteriors.com) is a must click section. "So many of my clients cannot believe the transformations of a room or an entire house," Bloom said. "The website is a good starting point for clients to see what we can do with a room." The website also includes tips for a client to consider before the designer comes to your home including giving thought to your color and style preferences, and textures you and your family enjoy "like heavy chenille, crisp cottons or elegant silks."

MARCH ANNIVERSARY SALE

As Bloom thins out the store in preparation for a new spring line, be sure to stop by the showroom for their anniversary sale. All upholstered items including sofas, and chairs as well as lamps and wall art are 50 percent off. Accessories and case goods including tables, consoles, bookcases and other wood manufactured pieces are 30 percent off for the entire month of March.

Home Expressions Interiors By Laura Bloom, 5530 Windward Parkway Suite 110 E Alpharetta, Georgia 30004 Tel: 678-242-0480 Web: www.homeexpressionsinteriors.com Email: contact@homeexpressionsinteriors.com

Check out Shannon Alderman's style TV show on Comcast and online at www.youtube.com/user/HILOATLANTA