ID.ology Design Director helps homeowners realize their best vibe
By: Alison Fields
Allison Detmer takes a holistic approach to your home.
Photo by Rachel Pressley
When Allison Detmer was growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, she and her friends liked to spend time with their Barbies. But while her pals were actually playing with their dolls, Detmer was busy reimagining the layout of that all-important Barbie accessory, the Dreamhouse. Today, Detmer is Design Director at ID.ology Interiors & Design, an award-winning firm based in West Asheville.
Not surprisingly, she mentions that one of her main inspirations is childhood family and DIY projects. In the same passage on ID.ology’s website, she also says her spirit animal is the unicorn and that she feels most alive watching her daughter learn new things.
She talked to Carolina Home + Garden about why she loves creating magic in a dedicated team environment, putting her 12 years of combined construction and design experience to work for homeowners across Western North Carolina and beyond.
What do you think makes ID.ology different?
I knew I wanted to be a part of ID.ology from the moment I applied for the job. … I shared a philosophy with the owners and could respect the amount of trust built into their relationships with clients. We are a collaborative business with two sister companies: Living Stone Design + Build, which uses sustainable, non-toxic materials to help people create the home they’ve always wanted; and Atelier Maison & Co., a local home-furnishings and accessories destination.
A lot of artists and creators take ownership over their project, and take criticism very personally. Here, we leave our egos at the door. Our model is built on collaboration — on trust and sharing ideas. As a woman-owned business [owner is Laura K. Sullivan], we’re mindful of each other and respect the culture. We believe the more people involved in the process means more perspective and a more finely honed end result. Every new project I learn something new.
What aspect of your personal approach stays the same from project to project?
It’s all about talking. I spend a lot of time getting to know the people I work with. I want to know how they use a space, how it needs to function and the things they find the most important. Most people have a sense of their own style; they know what they want, and that defines how I work with them.
It’s important, then, that they can clearly communicate what they want …
Sometimes it’s just a matter of having them explain it back to you.
Is there anything about interior design you wish more people knew?
That it’s not like what you see on TV.
So, in real life, a major project doesn’t wrap up nicely in a half-hour story arc?
In reality, there is so much discussion about what you want to happen and [how it’s] going to happen. … We want to know how you live, how you feel, who is going to be in the space. And sometimes that’s tricky, because two people who share a home may have very different perspectives on what’s important. Because they have different tastes and different needs. … Specifically, I encourage anyone to look at their space, and the things in their space, holistically.
Following intuition is more important than following trends, then?
Say you’re trying to decide between brown and gray paint. That can be a matter of [asking yourself], “Do I want this room to feel warm and cozy?” or “Do I want this room to feel light and airy?” Trust yourself to know what you want.
Any projects you’ve particularly loved?
There was an older man who was renovating his house to create a legacy home for his children and grandchildren. The best projects always have a story behind them. Hearing those stories and making them possible? That’s why I come to work every day.
You know you’re an official Asheville interior designer when …
Asheville has a lot of unique challenges. So much of what we do has to factor in homes built on a slope. We have dark-sky regulations, and issues with individual, community, and ecological health. This often manifests in clients that want to work exclusively with healthy products. Sourcing those can be difficult, but worth it long term.
Design Director Allison Detmer, ID.ology Interiors & Design, 1056 Haywood Road, West Asheville, 828-252-4403, idologyasheville.com.