New residents often move to Oak Park/River Forest because they appreciate the true architectural design and sound construction of the homes in the area. Once we settle into these homes, we are faced with the wonderful opportunity to decide to what extent we want to honor the architectural integrity of our home when designing our interior spaces, says Leeann Heininger, owner of Fringe Home Design. As we approach design work for our clients, we believe the client’s intention or

A definition of accessorizing: the art of placing and arranging objects to enrich the style of a room, add personality, humor and most importantly, create visual interest. Think of accessorizing as the final touches on a great interior design project, the icing on the cake, the jewelry that completes a great outfit. It’s the sparkle that finally gives a room WOW. Accessorizing is what turns ordinary into extraordinary and bland to beautiful. At Fringe Home Design, we believe

You’ve met with your Fringe interior designer, selected all the design elements for your new room and placed the order. What happens next? Typically design projects take 8 to 10 weeks from order to installation. Why so long you ask? Many elements of our design proposals are custom-ordered pieces that aren’t stocked and waiting in a warehouse for delivery. It could be that beautiful custom fabric we’re placing on a sofa, or a certain wood finish on the dining table. Often d

What does an interior designer do and how do we work with clients? This blog post will probably help newcomers to the design process understand what to expect. An interior designer is professionally trained to create a functional and quality interior environment in your home. As designers we’ve been qualified through education in the field, licensed with the state and accredited by our industry association, and sharpened our skills with years (and years!) of experience. Wh

Fringe is happy to provide all interested new design clients with a complimentary in-home consultation to discuss your needs and offer initial design considerations. Before contacting us we encourage you to think through the following questions to make that consultation as productive as possible. It is always helpful for couples to compare their desires and try to come to a consensus on the design direction before meeting with the designer. For whom is the space being design

x-tinymce/html We're delighted to have owner Leeann Heininger's interior design approach featured in Voyage Chicago magazine. Click here to read the entire story. Leeann, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. I graduated from Purdue University’s design program. I originally spent 17 years in corporate design working for Northern Trust Company, designing high-end executive offices, new retail branches in Florida a

While filled with many important decisions, the interior design process should be a fun and enjoyable experience for you. We’ll guide you through the many steps and commit to providing regular communications on our progress. A typical design process includes the following steps: Initial In-Home Consultation – This complimentary visit to your home allows us to explain our services and how we work with clients, take an initial assessment of your design needs and offer some pra

There are many advantages to working with an interior designer, Leeann Heininger, owner of Fringe Home Design interior design studio in Oak Park-River Forest, says these 10 easily come to mind: The designer meets with you in your home, not just in a store. A designer needs to see your home, experience and understand your lifestyle, and take accurate measurements. That can’t be done by a website where you’re ordering furniture pieces or a furniture store salesperson. You’re as