By Lynn Norusis
The Chelle Albert philosophy
“I started into design because I realized where you live has an effect on how you interact with the world,” says Harris. “I talk a lot about your home reflecting your personality, but it’s also about how your home makes you feel. So when you go out into the world you can interact with it in a way that helps to uplift everyone as a whole. When you live in a place where you’re not happy, it doesn’t stimulate you or motivate you. It’s hard to go out into the world and be inspired. If you’re not inspired, then how can you inspire someone else?”
Finding her passion
Harris did not start out in interior design. Her undergrad degree is in biology. The plan was to go to medical school and become a doctor, but her true passion couldn’t be tamed. Harris was working in a contract position for a pharmaceutical company and wasn’t happy. “I was constantly telling my coworkers, ‘I’m not doing what I’m supposed to be doing with my life; this isn’t it.’ And one day, one of my coworkers who’s a really fun guy said, “Well, you know DeChelle, we wish that whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing you would just go ahead and do it because we’re tired of hearing about it.”
Getting her start
After leaving the medical field, Harris pursued a position at Home Depot while she was attending Marymount University for interior design. “I saw it as a way to get into the interior design industry while still studying the industry,” she says. “Working with clients who were renovating kitchens and bathrooms, it just so happened that there were contractors and investors who were coming in and ordering. I struck up relationships with them and was recruited to work for one. It was a great experience working for Home Depot because it taught me so much about building and how a house comes together and how important even the smallest fraction of an inch is.”
Launching the pillow line
“That was always part of the plan. I want my own line of furniture. Even in kitchen and bath I would design custom vanities.” Though she did not design the fabrics for her first line, that is her goal for the next line of pillows. Currently there are six pillows in her new line, all named after influential women in her life. In the future, Harris has plans for numerous lines: towels, candles, dinnerware, duvets and bedding.
How to build a relationship with your interior designer
“Be as honest with your designer as possible,” says Albert. “It’s a relationship that requires trust. Both the designer and homeowner have to be transparent. People are very hesitant to discuss issues that involve money. Saying it up front gives the designer an opportunity to tailor their services so they maximize the outcome. Your designer wants to serve you, and they want you to be happy.”
Trends in home design
Harris sees more color in the future and people paring down: “less stuff, less bulky furniture,” she says. “People are going to live in smaller spaces. They want spaces that are smarter, so more technology that is making home life simpler and more convenient. [We’re] going to see a lot with solar. People are becoming a lot more conscious and aware of the way we are using our environment and the damage we are also contributing to it.”
(October 2015)
