How I Shop For Luxury Furnishings as an Interior Designer

At Teresa Cannon Design, every room we design is more than just aesthetics. It’s a carefully thought-out plan for how our clients want to live. One of the most rewarding parts of the process is sourcing the right pieces.

For me, shopping isn’t just about finding beautiful things. It’s about ensuring that every detail supports the design and function of the room. It’s about how each piece contributes to a cohesive, balanced room.  So I select furniture differently.

How a Designer Chooses Just The Right Thing

Let’s say you need a credenza for your dining area. Your instinct is probably to go to your nearest furniture store or start looking online, browse dozens of credenzas and furniture pieces until you find something nice, and then buy it. Sometimes this works out, but sometimes it doesn’t quite finish off the space the way you had hoped. Or maybe it falls flat or looks too matchy. This is common when items are shopped one at a time with the common advice of “just buy what you like.”

When I shop, however, I already know the piece I’m looking for. Let me explain. Looking at the room and other elements of the space, I take inventory... rectangle table in light wood, rectangle rug with a light color scheme, white shades on bronze sconces, and so on. I determine what shape, size, color, and style credenza will best complement everything that has already been chosen. In this case I won’t bother looking at any light, wood, rectangle credenzas. That would be boring and expected and not what my clients pay me for. I might decide that the best overall design would call for a darker wood piece to tie in with the bronze light fixtures, and that curved edges would add some interest in a sea of straight lines that are already present. Perhaps I will choose chrome hardware and then add a few silver frames on the opposite wall for continuity and to repeat the finish, instead of going with bronze for all the metal in the room. I have the width and length measurements that will be proportional. And with that, I know what exactly what I’m shopping for. It’s not about what looks “pretty,” it’s about finding the right piece to complete this particular client’s dining room.

Where We Shop Is Different

One of the biggest benefits of working with an interior designer is our to-the-trade resources. Furniture stores and major retailers only stock what’s trending and it can be a lot of the same thing over and over. If this moment’s popular neutral is orange beige, then that’s what they will all be carrying. But maybe your room needs gray, or taupe, or green or yellow! My vendors and manufacturers not only have a wide variety of styles – from classic to contemporary to (yes) trendy, and everything in between – but also the ability to customize pieces to get the exact look your room calls for.

Considerations for each item I bring into your design

1. Curated for lifestyle, not just looks

Thinking about how your room and the piece of furniture will be used, your daily routines, entertaining styles, family needs, and personal preferences. Balancing beauty with function and durability.

2. Sourcing unique and custom pieces

Choosing the perfect item that adds character and ensures no two Teresa Cannon Design homes look alike. Cabinetry, furniture, and accessories designed specifically for your project and budget.

3. Prioritizing Quality and Craftsmanship

Selecting pieces that match the needs of you and your family. High-quality items that will look great today but also offer long-term value and beauty.

4. Creating the unexpected

At Teresa Cannon Design, we mix the tried and true principles of design with creativity to bring your rooms alive. A surprising material, sculptural accent, or bold accessory that elevates your space beyond the ordinary.

Sourcing items for your project is a thoughtful and detailed part of our design process. If your goal is a luxurious, fully complete, and well designed home, I would love to work with you.

I look forward to speaking with you about your project! CONTACT FORM‍ ‍

Or, to read about what an initial in-home meeting with Teresa looks like, click here:
What to Expect (and how to prepare) For Your Initial Interior Design Meeting

Luxury Interior Design Services based in North Pinellas County and serving the Greater Tampa Bay area.