Dee Platt

Design Project: Le Chateau a la Campagne

Staff Interior Designer, Dee Platt, recently worked with Vintage Builders on the interior design of a home in South Barrington. Richard Honquest Fine Furnishings provided the furnishings per Dee’s designs for Vintage’s introductory weekend gala. The home, Le Chateau a la Campagne, has 11,000 square feet on three levels.

The size of the house would daunt many; however, Dee’s design goal is to make any home, regardless of size, warm, intimate and inviting. The French chateau truly looked like it had been built years ago. The stone fireplaces, beamed ceilings and other architectural features set the pace for Dee's design. She “feels you don't need big pieces just because the house or the room is large. People are a certain size, and you can't get away with over scaled furniture.” Dee is always conscious of the windows in a home. In this particular home the molding around the windows provided enough decoration and the views were spectacular so she felt no draperies were needed in many areas.

When working with her clients, it is very important that she understands their lifestyle, how they want to live in the home, and the look they want to achieve. Dee's goal is to use her talents to make your home fulfill your needs. There are many ways to decorate the same space—it all depends on the lifestyle and needs of the homeowner. Function is a key consideration. Choosing furnishings that are the proper scale and meeting the needs of family and friends are equally important. A practical home can also be gorgeous. She loves to see the room come together for her clients and wants them and their friends to walk in and instantly feel comfortable.

Dee's greatest satisfaction in her work comes when clients tell her how warm their home is—how secure and happy they feel when there.