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Hollie Sutherland had no idea that she should be become an interior designer until she bought her first house. I had so much fun exploring all the design and decorating options. It was as if a light bulb had gone on in my brain! she says. It wasnt long before she found her way to Fairfield Universitys interior design program, followed by a stint at the New York School of Interior Design in Manattan, where she took the classes she needed to become a licensed designer.
Hollie believes that education is the key to being able to provide her clients with the most practical and aesthetically pleasing design solutions. I was a single mom, working full-time for an interior designer AND going to school, she continued, but when you love what you do, its not work! Hollies enthusiasm for her chosen career, and for the constant learning that is the hallmark of a true professional, led her into the field of green design. A certified LEED AP, she specializes in environmental design in the residential market. LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and Hollie is an Accredited Professional.
LEED is the most comprehensive green rating system, Hollie explained. They wrote the book on green design. The rating system is extremely technical and covers all aspects of home construction from the envelope of the house, i.e. insulation, wall construction, windows and doors, to the furnishings inside the home.
I recently redid a bedroom for a client who wanted me to use as many green elements as possible. The bed is made from plywood that has no formaldehydes, the fabrics are all natural fibers, including the carpet, and the paint has no VOCs at all, she said, ticking off just some of the elements that make a design green.
Hollie still has more that she wants to learn. She has signed up for a Masters of Fine Arts degree so it will be like the old days working full-time AND going to school!
You can reach Hollie Sutherland, ASID at hs@hollisinteriors. www.hollisinteriors.net
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