Virtual reality serves home design clients at Ellie Redders

“Our studio isn’t just where design happens – it’s where dreams begin,” says CEO and principal designer Ellie Redders. “Our studio is where creativity and collaboration come together to create beautiful, luxurious home remodels and new-build designs.”

Redders’ signature design style includes a focus on vignettes – collections of items that create visual interest – to bring spaces together. In the showroom, clients can see several examples of vignettes staged for different rooms, which allows them to not only “see spaces pulled together, but also with the actual furniture lines that we represent – the light fixtures, the countertops, the cabinets – all of the pieces that go into the jobs that we do are showcased somewhere in the showroom,” Redders says.

This allows clients to sit on different furniture options and see and feel design elements like rugs and accessories in person before committing. After choosing a certain furniture item, clients still get to customize: The studio’s onsite materials library allows them to select the fabrics, feet and arms.

For new-build clients, the VR system offers another way to “try it on.”

“Imagine being able to step inside your dream home before a single brick is laid or a paintbrush touches the walls,” Redders says. “With cutting-edge technology, we transform this vision into a reality for our clients.”

The virtual reality process begins with an in-person consultation to determine a client’s wants and needs. From there, Redders and her team create a floor plan and source products to fit each space. Once the client has reviewed the furniture and décor, the rendering process begins.

“It’s not just a drop-in module; we actually custom-design each piece to be modeled after the client’s exact chosen furnishings and selections – the light fixtures, the pendants, the pot filler, the faucet, all of it,” Redders says. “After modeling is complete, we meet with clients to see their exact space in virtual reality. You simply put on the headset and walk through your unique and detailed space. This is the best way for us to walk through the client’s future home and hear their initial thoughts and ideas.”

The virtual tool offers functional insights in addition to a preview of the overall look. “They can walk around in their kitchen, see how high the countertops feel or how tall the cabinetry really is,” Redders says. “So if they’re walking through it in virtual reality and realize, ‘Oh, I didn’t [know] the island was going to jut out this far into where we [planned] to put our kitchen table

and chairs,’ it helps with some decisions that maybe wouldn’t have been caught on the front end. That would end with either the client having some disappointments or having to do change orders, which [costs] more in the long run and [slows] down the project.”

With clients able to make more informed decisions, Redders is confident that investing in showroom amenities like these pays off in each project’s execution.

“At the heart of our service is a meticulous process that involves creating a precise digital replica of your space down to the last detail,” she says. “It’s an experience that not only brings your dream home to life, but also ensures that your design choices are a perfect fit.”

Ellie Redders Interiors, 14610 Manchester Road, Ballwin, elliereddersinteriors.com