After working out of home offices, on June 2, 2007, the designers moved their year-old business to 29 Church Street, the new Mabee building that offers, as Hughes says, “incubator space for up-and-coming businesses.” Although Hughes Designs is new to the scene, the designers certainly aren’t: Hughes and Coonradt boast more than 20 years of combined experience. Melissa Coonradt graduated from Sage Junior College of Albany with a degree in design; Jane Hughes holds an Ethan Allen Certificate in Interior Design and is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers. The two women got their start working for high-end furniture stores that offered design assistance. Tired of being limited to only the store’s product, they set out on their own, and with both being from Saratoga, where else would they launch their business but in their home town. “The community is amazing,” Hughes said. “Many people are moving in; it’s an opportunistic place.”

The financial opportunity to work with a designer is becoming more prevalent: “The idea that Iinterior design is something you can’t afford is changing,” Hughes explained. Hughes Designs works with a variety of clients with a range of budgets, hanging paintings worth $45 to $4,500. They will help clients find the right art for the right price and the right design for the right home. “It is difficult to look at your own space through fresh eyes,” she said. That’s where Hughes and Coonradt’s innovative perspective and inspired sense of style come in. They offer full service for both residential and commercial spaces; they will help chose windows and trimmings, furniture and accessories, work with landscapers and even aid with material selection and space-planning for new construction.

The process begins with a meeting to discuss the client’s needs and wants. “Listening to their vision is key,” stated Coonradt. It is what allows them to customize a look with which the customer will feel comfortable. “Form follows function,” Jane said. So if a family lives hard and plays hard, Hughes and Coonradt will select fabrics that wear well. The design must fit the client’s likes and lifestyle. They also acknowledge the architecture of the home: if the exterior has a traditional feel, they will mould their design to echo that style. Once they have spoken with the client and surveyed the space, Hughes and Coonradt create a proposal. When it is approved by the client, they draw up floor plans and start shopping.

What they have found themselves recently shopping for is a look that is transitional modern. Coonradt described the current trends as simple with sleek, clean lines, something that is practical but stylish and that will stay in style for years to come. The environmentally-friendly green designs are also becoming more popular; people are using cork or bamboo flooring and natural fibers for their furniture. “More prolific builders are offering green alternatives,” commented Hughes. “It is a trend that will only continue to expand.”

For those who are tentative to completely redecorate their home but are in search of a new look to spruce up the space themselves, Hughes Designs offers consultations. They offer the client a report of recommendations and a referral list of artists, upholsterers and places to purchase cabinets and bookends. Some easy tips: color can easily rejuvenate a room; a fresh coat of paint often creates an entirely different ambiance. Illuminating items by cutting back on accessories allows prize possessions and conversation pieces to stand out. A cluttered room “saps your energy,” Hughes cautioned, “and I’m not being Feng Shui.” Coonradt warned that a common mistake is to hang prints too high above couches. Don’t be afraid to drag furniture away from the wall and use them to construct new space.

When it comes to transforming space, be it your home or your office reception area, Hughes and Coonradt are connoisseurs. As every step of the process is approved by the client, customer satisfaction is essentially guaranteed. Patrons are always impressed by Hugh Designs’ proposals; the hard part, Hughes says, is finding the material. So if you are on the hunt for a novel design, perhaps you will find yourself at Hughes Design’s door. They will ensure that your home exudes personality and smacks of style, and that when you leave their store, you will be stepping forward with your best foot.