It’s official: GN is in love with Ada Gonzalez, the designer better known as the “Interior Decorator for the Star in You.” From her New York–based studio, Ada has established herself as the go-to designer for entrepreneurs, focusing on creating designs that look expensive with affordable solutions. Here the jeans-and-pearls-loving designer tells us about her latest project: designing for the “inner star” of a bachelor and his karaoke machine.

GN: How did you come to develop your style?

Ada: I developed my design style by embracing the way I love dressing—I’m a jeans and pearls type of gal who loves comfort, great sales and helping people “feel and be better.” When I worked in corporate offices, I was often complimented on my fashion style. What many didn’t know was that my clothes and accessories weren’t from top exclusive designers, but still looked expensive, and I’ve carried that style aesthetic into my designs—creating designs that incorporate economical solutions that look expensive.

GN: Tell us about your latest project.

Ada: One project that I worked on was for a bachelor who didn’t think he had any style and wanted a space to entertain with his karaoke machine. I was able to surprise him by showing him how clear his design style was by what he usually wore (and loved wearing)—jeans and a white collared shirt, which told me he likes comfort and sophistication, and the color blue (most of his shirts were blue!). What I loved about this project was the same as my other projects—the huge smile on my client’s face. With this project I was able to illuminate my client’s passions for entertaining and music. There wasn’t any big challenge for me; actually, the challenges are usually for the contractors working hard to incorporate the designs, such as mounting a projector to a concrete ceiling for this particular client.

[Images: Ada’s Interior Design Inc]

We were able to mount the projector in the perfect location; across the projector we have a wall where the projector’s screen pulls down and up by remote control. When the screen isn’t needed to read the lyrics for the fun sing-along to the karaoke machine or for watching television or movies, a majestic butterfly decal is revealed. Why was a decal the best solution? Besides being economical, it’s a thin design; a framed artwork would have been too thick for the projector screen to seamlessly pull down by remote control.

GN: What advice would you have for homeowners in hiring and managing contractors, whether it’s for paint, flooring, handymen or big remodels like custom-made closets?

Ada: The most important advice that I have for homeowners when hiring contractors is to meet them in person, preferably at a job site where they are currently working on so you can see how refined their work is. Do they work quickly or often take breaks? Are they sloppy or do they minimize the mess around them? How do they treat their crew? When managing contractors, my advice is to take the time to continually mention your appreciation of their hard work, their skills and their partnership in helping your home look great. When your voiced appreciation is authentic, they will pour all their love with pride into completing the project because at that point of appreciation, the project turns from “their” project to “our” project.

GN: How do you design a home for happiness and comfort?

Ada: Simple—a happy home is one that reflects the owner’s personality, passions in life, comfort, needs and style, not those of the neighbors! By reflecting one’s style, our home nourishes our heart.

GN: What's your philosophy on creating meaning in the home?

Ada: I believe we create meaning in a home by embracing our uniqueness and being genuinely authentic to our true self about what makes us happy. It means not hiding behind the fear of rejection or feeling that you have to follow the crowd, but instead taking the time to remember what makes you happy, then surrounding yourself with images in your home to nourish that happiness.

Ada Gonzalez is the go-to designer for entrepreneurs and is nationally known as the “Interior Decorator for the Star in You” because her designs focus on illuminating her clients’ personalities, passions and styles throughout their homes with affordable solutions. She offers full design concept-to-implementation service and consultations in New York; for clients throughout the U.S., she offers her Dream Design Kits, in which she designs their rooms and mails the designs with all the buying resources. To learn more about Ada and to grab your free copy of her interior decorating e-book, Delicious Decorating for the Star in You, go to adasdecoratingsolutions.com.