Working on any remodel project can feel overwhelming. Having the right team working for you will make the project run smoothly. I wanted to share my top tips on how to choose a contractor. Do Your Research We recommend you research any contractor, builder, designer, or tradesperson to see if they fit your needs. Make a list of what is important to you. You’ll be working with them for a long time, and it’s essential to have similar communication styles and preferences. Then, once you’ve established a reasonable comfort level, ask them to prepare a bid for your project. Its quality, communicati ..read more

Moving homes can undoubtedly be one of the most stressful events in life. The process can feel overwhelming, no matter how organized you are, from packing up your belongings to transporting and unpacking them. Add in the desire to refresh or redesign your new home’s interiors, and the challenge becomes even more stressful. Having experienced moving from one country to another and working with several clients who have relocated from overseas or state-to-state, I have learned best practices to help with a smoother transition from home to home. Planning  The very first thing you need to do ..read more

We are continuing our home tour 3-part series today with part 2. Sharing the details of these functional spaces as part of this recently completed remodel in Sugar Land, TX. My client was relocated to Houston from San Fransico and enlisted our help with designing a remodel of an older home she purchased into a home that suits her family’s lifestyle. If you haven’t read the first installment of this home tour series, please click here. Kitchen We did a reface of the current Kitchen by replacing the backsplash, countertops, plumbing fixtures, appliances, and lighting. We then repainted the cabi ..read more

I am so happy to be sharing with you all the details of the large remodel we worked on last fall and just finished after the holidays. My client was relocated to Houston from San Fransico and enlisted our help to create an older home she purchased into a home that suits her family’s lifestyle. The house is 30 years old and in the suburbs of Houston —the Sugarland Area. We first needed an inventory of what she had that she may want to use. Then, through virtual consulting, we went through her wishlist and, from there, were able to work with the contractor on design wants and needs. The flooring ..read more

First, thank you for your interest in working with me. I know that hiring an interior is a decision that requires thought and an investment that you don’t take lightly. You may be feeling a little nervous about working with a designer because you have not worked with one before, and it’s holding you back from taking action. I want to explain why it is worth investing in me as your designer to better help you make your decision. Yes, you can search the Internet and daydream about the fabulous rooms you see. But then trying to create something similar in your home can feel impossible. An experie ..read more

I am sharing a 3 part blog series about what to expect when working with Marker Girl. These are details to think about when considering hiring an Interior Designer.  Yes, you can search the Internet and daydream about the fabulous rooms you see. But then trying to create something similar in your home can feel impossible. An experienced professional interior designer can help you have that home that creates a functional space that suits your lifestyle in much less time. Why you want to hire Marker Girl as your Interior Designer! Interior Designers are trained problem solvers who find solu ..read more

Welcome to Marker Girl 2024, where we’re gearing up to fill your year with inspiration on how to truly Make Your Mark with your home. Our commitment is to educate and guide you through the exciting journey of home decoration, offering insights into investing in tradespeople for your projects, revealing how we create our design projects, and sharing the latest family-friendly home products. Is your goal this year to have the home you truly desire? I wanted to start 2024 by sharing my top 5 must-dos when beginning any home project. #1 Personal Style  – Kick off your project with a clear vis ..read more

For the past 18 years, I’ve been running my own interior design business. Ten years ago this month, I made a big change by renaming my business from “Karen Davis Design” to “Marker Girl.” A few years into the business, I published a decorating article in a local community newsletter. In it, I shared a funny incident when my daughter “markered” our furniture right before I launched my own Interior Design Business. That incident made me determined to find a way to have fabrics and furnishings that stood up to my active, creative family’s lifestyle.  To my surprise, so many Moms related to ..read more

This project provided the client with our Concierge Design Service. This family-friendly home was designed for a family of four. Since my client has a toddler and preschooler, she wanted high-performance fabrics, rugs, and tables to accommodate her family’s lifestyle.  She wanted a home they could grow into. She likes the Modern Farmhouse style and wanted to use her favorite shade of blue. The design also includes her love of fun and colorful art to really personalize the space and give it the modern touch she desired. The Living Space The Living Room is quite narrow, with the fireplace ..read more

Art is what I find to be so important to finishing a space, but hanging art incorrectly can make the space look not well-designed. It is a common design mistake I see in a lot of homes. With quite a few years of being in the design business, here are my best tips for hanging art correctly. It has been said that you should hang art at eye level.  Whose eye level? I generally like to hang art with the center around 57″ – 60″ inches. Typical spacing between art pieces is from 2-6 inches. 2″ inches for a smaller wall width and 6″ for a larger. The piece or set should be approximately 2/3 t ..read more