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Samantha Friedman Interior Designs
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Pro Spotlight: Get a Beautiful Home the Whole Family Can Enjoy
A Gaithersburg interior designer shares how to create a chic yet durable environment
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Who: Samantha Friedman
Where: Gaithersburg, Maryland
In her own words: “I ask my clients about their lifestyle to determine their needs: how they envision their space, how many kids they have, if they let their kids live on their furniture.”
An average request for interior designer Samantha Friedman is often along these lines: “I have little kids and a 90-pound dog, and my daughter likes to paint her nails on the ottoman. Can you make me a nice yet practical home?”
Friedman, who owns Samantha Friedman Interior Designs in Gaithersburg, helps clients create lovely, livable spaces that cater to all family members. “A lot of it comes down to the materials you choose and what you do with them,” she says.
Where: Gaithersburg, Maryland
In her own words: “I ask my clients about their lifestyle to determine their needs: how they envision their space, how many kids they have, if they let their kids live on their furniture.”
An average request for interior designer Samantha Friedman is often along these lines: “I have little kids and a 90-pound dog, and my daughter likes to paint her nails on the ottoman. Can you make me a nice yet practical home?”
Friedman, who owns Samantha Friedman Interior Designs in Gaithersburg, helps clients create lovely, livable spaces that cater to all family members. “A lot of it comes down to the materials you choose and what you do with them,” she says.
A recipe for success. Friedman, who’s also a gourmet chef, ventured into the design world as a commercial kitchen designer. “I thought interior design was much cooler,” she says. So she returned to design school. “My commercial kitchen experience plays into space planning and maximizing storage — I have a better sense of what goes where,” Friedman says.
An unexpected benefit. “I love that I can be creative and that no two projects are ever the same,” says Friedman, who founded her company in 2007. Her inspiration varies from client to client — a carpet or a desired ambience could spark an idea. She also enjoys seeing how happy the new spaces make her clients: “It was an unexpected benefit to this career.”
Want a gorgeous home that works for everyone? Read Friedman’s tips below.
Want a gorgeous home that works for everyone? Read Friedman’s tips below.
1. Give Vinyl a Whirl
The vinyl of today is not the nightmarish material of the past, and it’s very durable. “You can have it look like traditional leather or go funky with a metallic ostrich-skin effect,” Friedman says. She uses vinyl — which is usually made in the USA — on kitchen chairs, counter stools and anywhere else little kids or pets may be.
Friedman selected a leather-effect vinyl ottoman, seen here, for a family with two small children and an 80-pound dog in McLean, Virginia. “The clients wanted a cozy, livable home that’s still elegant, as they entertain often,” she says. The vinyl is cost-effective and easy to clean, and won’t scratch or stain like hide: “It’s virtually indestructible.”
See more of this project
The vinyl of today is not the nightmarish material of the past, and it’s very durable. “You can have it look like traditional leather or go funky with a metallic ostrich-skin effect,” Friedman says. She uses vinyl — which is usually made in the USA — on kitchen chairs, counter stools and anywhere else little kids or pets may be.
Friedman selected a leather-effect vinyl ottoman, seen here, for a family with two small children and an 80-pound dog in McLean, Virginia. “The clients wanted a cozy, livable home that’s still elegant, as they entertain often,” she says. The vinyl is cost-effective and easy to clean, and won’t scratch or stain like hide: “It’s virtually indestructible.”
See more of this project
2. Invest in Wool
While wool can be a more expensive option, it’s one of the most durable carpet materials out there. It’s relatively easy to clean and holds up well in high-traffic areas, while synthetic materials can quickly disintegrate. “You’re better off spending money on wool versus polypropylene,” Friedman says. “My rug sellers tell me there’s a reason you don’t see hundred-year-old polypropylene rugs.”
This little boy’s nursery in Gaithersburg’s Quince Orchard Park community features a cream wool carpet with an underlying blue woven effect. “It’s easier to rub in tough stains and hide them within the weave,” Friedman says. “You name it, it’s been on this carpet — but you’d never know.”
See more of this project
While wool can be a more expensive option, it’s one of the most durable carpet materials out there. It’s relatively easy to clean and holds up well in high-traffic areas, while synthetic materials can quickly disintegrate. “You’re better off spending money on wool versus polypropylene,” Friedman says. “My rug sellers tell me there’s a reason you don’t see hundred-year-old polypropylene rugs.”
This little boy’s nursery in Gaithersburg’s Quince Orchard Park community features a cream wool carpet with an underlying blue woven effect. “It’s easier to rub in tough stains and hide them within the weave,” Friedman says. “You name it, it’s been on this carpet — but you’d never know.”
See more of this project
3. Treat Your Fabrics
There are plenty of stain-resistant fabrics on the market, as well as treatments that make spilled liquids puddle on top. “You can put certain treatments on any fabric,” Friedman says. “If you want to use a cool fabric, you don’t have to be afraid to.”
Clients with two young kids in the District’s Dupont Circle wanted a light, happy, child-friendly kitchen. As the banquette seen here is the family’s main eating area, Friedman chose a bright, stain-treated linen-blend fabric. “They needed a nice eating nook that could withstand sticky fingers,” she says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Samantha Friedman and examples of her work, visit Samantha Friedman Interior Designs’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
There are plenty of stain-resistant fabrics on the market, as well as treatments that make spilled liquids puddle on top. “You can put certain treatments on any fabric,” Friedman says. “If you want to use a cool fabric, you don’t have to be afraid to.”
Clients with two young kids in the District’s Dupont Circle wanted a light, happy, child-friendly kitchen. As the banquette seen here is the family’s main eating area, Friedman chose a bright, stain-treated linen-blend fabric. “They needed a nice eating nook that could withstand sticky fingers,” she says.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Samantha Friedman and examples of her work, visit Samantha Friedman Interior Designs’ Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
*Hunter Douglas Authorized Dealer*
Samantha Friedman, ASID provides full service interior design solutions to... Read More
Review by Ryan Shapiro:
Recently I had the privilege of photographing one of Samantha's amazing projects in Chevy Chase, Maryland for a magazine spread. Her work is stunning and exquisite. She's very collaborative and easy t...More
I love your designs!