June 2014 Page 10

By Grace KuikmanI stopped in at RMH Interiors + Design,

a shop I’d been meaning to check out for a long time. I’d heard that the fur-niture and decorative items in the shop were really great, and that’s true (espe-cially the vintage chairs upholstered in hand-painted leather!). The real treat was spending time with interior designer/pro-prietor Robin Harmon. She is full of ter-rific ideas, and her creative energy was catching. Although I love looking at “house

stuff,” I am more focused on clearing out the homestead right now. I was surprised when Harmon said downsizing home-owners are among her best clients. I was even more surprised when I started to see myself as a potential RMH customer.“Often my clients who are downsiz-

ing have a beautiful piece of furniture but they don’t know what to do with it,” Harmon said. In response, she added consignment sales to her interior design business, offering clients a chance to sell quality home items, and replace them with items that are better suited to their new living spaces. Harmon calls it “flip-ping furniture.” Because her model is based on a different – and client-driven – motivation, RMH offers shoppers a very different experience than a consignment store. But the real “find” at RMH Interiors +

Design is Harmon’s considerable skill and professional expertise. It’s the kind of concern about living

space illustrated in Harmon’s “flipping furniture” concept that sets interior de-signers apart from interior decorators. Harmon, who earned her BA in interior design from Harrington College of De-sign, explained that interior designers do everything an architect does, but on the inside. Working from plans, they design and redesign spaces to make them larger, more livable and more beautiful. They

design floor plans, lighting plans, eleva-tions, and even have special-ties like kitch-en and bath design. Interior de-

signers are also specialists in fabrics, fin-ishes, colors, furniture, art, historical pe-riods, drawing and more. “It’s common

to find that architectural building firms have their own in-house in-terior design-ers,” Harmon said. “Interior designers have been educated and certified to assist in the in the build-ing and space-planning of residential housing, commercial build-ings and hospitality places.”When Harmon talks, her professional-

ism is underscored by her passion for de-sign, color, texture, and space. She’s an artist. After working as a nurse, Harmon took a completely different path when she enrolled in school for interior design.“As a little girl, I always repainted and

redid stuff,” she said. It’s obviously her gift. While still in school she began work-ing as a designer for furniture stores in-cluding Walter E. Smithe; then 2½ years ago she opened her own showroom at the

ASk THE ExpERT: Robin Harmon, Interior Designercorner of 103rd and Wood Streets, moving just west and expanding into a second storefront this past January. The ad-ditional space en-ables Harmon to better showcase the quality lines of new furniture, rugs, draperies, blinds and other decorative items, as well as cabi-nets, hardware and other items for her kitchen, bath and room re-designs. Although she

is also trained to serve commercial clients, most of Harmon’s custom-ers are homeown-ers. But there’s no such thing as an average custom-er for Harmon. Ages range from the 30-year-old

who is outfitting a new apartment to the 70-somethings who are downsizing. In addition, people visit the showroom to shop for consigned furniture, Harmon’s uniquely artistic upholstered and painted vintage furniture, and art, including orig-inal works by local artists. She also does outstanding faux finishes and wallpaper. In fact, touring her showroom I discov-ered that Harmon’s creativity swings from regal to whimsical, and everything in between, especially in her Chayrz line. particularly fetching are a pair vintage swivel chairs she upholstered in shocking pink seats with peacock-print wrapped around the chair-backs, a stunning settee she upholstered in purple silk, and china cabinet that she transformed from a ho-hum 1960s blonde finish into a terrific distressed-look painted piece. Whether you’re looking for top qual-

ity design, services to refresh your well-loved home, new or consigned furniture ,stop in at RMH Interiors and talk to Robin Harmon. Her showroom is a feast for the eyes and the ideas!

• “Trust me,” Harmon said. “How do I know what color to paint a room? It’s the gift God gave me.” The projects that turn out best are the ones where clients said, “Well, I’m not really sure, but okay.” • Before meeting with a designer, clip magazine photos of the colors, styles and furnishings you like. This will provide some direction for the project. • Think about how you will live in the room or rooms you are redoing. Will you be entertaining, watching TV, eat-ing dinner or a combination of all three? Choose fabrics and furnishings that suit the room’s purpose. • Don’t think redesigning a room happens like it does on HGTV! “Great rooms are created when people are patient.” Redo-ing a room from top to bottom takes time – maybe a year or more. Robin Harmon, RMH Interiors + De-

sign, 1804-06 W. 103rd St., 773-233-5811, www.rmhinteriors.com.

Robin Harmon

ExpErt tips

Beverly/Morgan Park neighbors Amy and Ed McNicholas, founders of the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, recently met with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea to recgonize the Mayor’s resolution on the floor of the city coun-cil declaring May 16 as Go Gray in May Day in Chicago, in honor of the work of the Foundation. Several area businesses hosted fundraisers for the Foundation andseveral area schools allowed students to dress in gray on May 16 in a show of solidarity for Go Gray in May.

Go Gray!

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