This warm September sun

Ten years ago I started Watkins Design Works in the Charleston Area Alliance small business incubator on Smith Street near Capitol Market. This year I’ve been busier than ever. It’s been fun working with 3 new clients on 6 different projects, and continuing relationships developed over the past few years. One of my first new clients and new projects this year was selecting and procuring artwork for Charleston Area Medical Center’s Teays Valley Outpatient Center. This has led to two more artwork projects for CAMC. Another unique art project completed this year was a 60′ long by 10′ tall photographic…

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Welcoming 2023

It’s been awhile since I’ve published a newsletter. Marketing when busy is one of the hardest things to do as a small business owner! I have been really busy with work and backpacking trips, as well as downsizing to a small condo and then completely redesigning the kitchen. But 2021 and 2022 brought some great moments: With the Appalachian Mountain Club, I led trips to beautiful places: an early spring women’s trip to Sky Meadows State Park in VA, a bike-packing trip on the Pine Creek Rail Trail in PA, and an Appalachian Trail dayhike to Raven Rocks in VA.…

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When should you hire a professional interior designer?

I’ve been practicing commercial interior design for over 20 years, yet many people are still unsure about what I do.  The industry hasn’t been effective at making the profession as well-known as other design professions, and with overlaps with both architecture and interior decoration, true interior design can be seen as a bit of an unknown. One key difference between interior design and architecture is scale.  To design a building is a much larger proposition than designing an interior space.  In my experience, there are benefits to having both architects and interior designers on a project team.  As in all…

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