Insights

Ideas for the home you love to live in.

Design should do more than make a home beautiful — it should make your life easier, your home safer, and your every day more joyful. Here you'll find insights on remodeling, senior lifestyle design, vacation home planning, and the art of creating a home that truly reflects who you are.

Working With a Designer

4 Items To Check Before Working With Your Interior Designer

If you've never worked with an interior designer before, you may not understand exactly what to expect. Here are four items to review before starting work with your dream interior designer.

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Color

Atmosphere Of Color

Color has the power to change the perceived shape and size of a room. The ceiling is the fifth wall, and paint transforms it more quickly than anything else.

August 2019

Renovation

Bungalow Fireplace Facelift

When a client acquired a charming 1936 bungalow, the oversized, out-of-proportion fireplace was the first thing that needed to go. Here's how we transformed it.

June 2015

Interior Design

City Condo Living

This client acquired a small secondary home in the developing heart of downtown Vancouver — and turned it into a space that works beautifully for entertaining, TV viewing, and working from home.

June 2020

Services

Design/Build Service

I am regularly asked what "Design/Build" means. Here's a comprehensive list of the services Sapphire handles — from finish material specifications to full project management.

November 2018

Renovation

Got Gross Grout?

If you have old, unsightly grout, you'll want to contact Scott Carden, owner of MarbleLife — they can rejuvenate old, stained, dirty grout, tile and stone and restore its luster and beauty.

October 2020

Senior Lifestyle

Is Your Home Ready to Grow With You?

I've been having the same conversation with Portland homeowners for 27 years. Not about tile or cabinetry — about something more fundamental: is this home actually going to work for you in ten years?

January 2024

About

It's A New Beginning For Emmashea Interiors/Sapphire Design Build, LLC

After having spent many years in the corporate world, I launched EmmaShea Interiors in September 1999 — and the journey since has been everything I could have hoped for.

September 2018

Renovation

Remodel or Move? The Honest Conversation.

It's one of the most important conversations I have with clients. Should you remodel your current home, or is it time to move? I've been asked this hundreds of times — and I don't always answer with a remodel.

January 2025

Color

Secret Language Of Color Consulting

Colors evoke feelings. Play this game: can you name 5 feelings that come to mind for each color? Understanding this language is the foundation of great color consulting.

May 2019

Staging

Secret To A Quick Home Sale – Staging

The National Association of Realtors reports that 94% of homes staged by a professional sell in 29 days or less for a full price offer. The average un-staged home? 145 days for 5-6% less.

November 2019

Interior Design

Sometimes The Most Difficult Part Of Designing A Room's Furnishings Is Knowing Where To Start

We begin by listening to your needs. We evaluate your lifestyle preferences, inventory existing furnishings, and then determine your decorating priorities.

January 2015

Renovation

Sweet Little Wine Cellar Design

The client had a small unused hallway in the basement that was dead space. With collaborative planning, we created a perfect wine "cellar" with storage for 490 bottles.

March 2021

New Construction

The Art of the New Beginning: A Guide to Furnishing Your Custom Home

Designing and furnishing a custom-built home is a beautiful milestone — the realization of a dream. This guide will help you navigate the journey with intention, elegance, and ease.

March 2022

Renovation

The Art of the Transformation: Planning Your High-End Renovation in the Portland Metro Area

An extensive home renovation is more than a construction project — it is a profound investment in your lifestyle. Here's how the most successful projects start, and what they require.

September 2022

Services

The Luxury of Ease: What to Expect from a Full-Service Interior Design Process

For homeowners in the Portland tri-county area and Clark County, a major home transformation is a deeply personal, high-investment journey. Here's how full-service design actually works.

April 2023

Design Tips

The Secret Of Balance

You know it when you walk into a room — the space feels inviting and comfortable. Appropriately balanced color, furnishings, textures and patterns offers a harmonious environment.

February 2020

Services

What Is an Absentee Owner Interior Designer — and Do You Need One?

You own an Oregon property. You don't live there. Here's what absentee owner interior design actually looks like — and why a lot of people don't realize this kind of support exists.

June 2024

Interior Design

What You Need To Know About Interior Design

Good interior design is the art of bringing together aesthetics, practical expertise, and technical knowledge to create a home that is uniquely yours.

February 2019

Ready to start?

Let's talk about your home.

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