Interior design services can make all the difference when bringing mood, flow, character and ambiance to a small space or an entire room. It takes a keen eye with a flair for style and design to bring a home to life. In the past, interior design services may have been out of reach to some because of cost. Designer Nelly Irias is changing all of that with her affordable interior design services through her company, My Arizona Home Designs.
Nelly Irias had an early introduction to interior design that sprouted as part of her busy family dynamic while she was growing up in Honduras. “I’ve always loved interior design!: says Irias. “When I was living back home in Honduras, my mom used to work all the time, so she never had time to take care of the house. I was always the one moving furniture, and she would give me her card and ask me to go buy curtains or bed sheets, because I was the oldest. I had that responsibility.” She grew to love her home design duties.
Irias graduated college with a business degree in Honduras and moved to the US. She worked for seven years in the Telecommunications industry and learned and excelled in project management. When COVID hit, she was working from home, had a lot of time to spend around the house and began studying interior design. That also coincided with the time that she and her husband bought a new home. “I wanted to learn for myself but then a lot of opportunities came after that,” she says.
The beauty and convenience of the way Irias has developed her business is that there are several tiers of service, based on what type of design expertise is needed. Whether someone is seeking a quick design consultation, input on coordinating accessories, a video consultation, a hands-on approach with in-person consultation or a special, larger design project, Irias is willing and equipped to complete nearly any design task. “Since 2020, I’ve completed about 30 homes,” Irias says.
Single rooms and small renovations are some of the projects she likes best. “I love simple elegant designs, and I love trying to put things together with high-end pieces and also affordable pieces,” Irias explains. "I always tell my clients, ‘Let’s invest in your main pieces. Let’s make those be a statement and something that will last a long time, and then everything else — we can use affordable things." As a designer, she aims for a high-end look at an affordable price.
“The trend for this year, and keep in mind trends last five-to-10 years, we’re moving away from the neutral, all-white, all-beige, a lot of grays that we’ve been using, and now we’re moving into color,” Irias says. Moody and darker colors, dark woods and a lot of textures on pillows and curtains will become more prevalent. Dark green and deep burgundy will be a trend moving forward, and she is seeing a lot of burgundy in design blogs and catalogs.
The practice of matching everything is giving way to purposefully mismatched pieces. “We’re playing with different types of furniture in a room and staying away from matchy-matchy,” she says. “That is a trend that is coming, and we’re going to be playing with different tones of wood.”
Stainless steel appliances in kitchens are still the best bet. “That is always going to be your go-to, and your safest investment because most people don’t stay in their homes more than five-to-10 years.” Going with something really different isn’t advisable as it can make selling a home more difficult when the time comes. On the flip side of the coin, if you plan to stay in your home for a long time, you can use more of your unique personality and unusual designs and style without worrying about how it will affect your home’s immediate resale value. Visit MyArizonaHomeDesign.com for additional information.
"I always tell my clients, ‘Let’s invest in your main pieces. Let’s make those be a statement and something that will last a long time, and then everything else — we can use affordable things."
“I love simple elegant designs, and I love trying to put things together with high-end pieces and also affordable pieces,”
