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Pro Spotlight: 3 Design Tips to Go Big and Go Home
A Texas designer explains how to create a home that suits an expansive lifestyle
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Who: John Hare of Core Design
Where: San Antonio and Austin, Texas
In his own words: “We’re committed to helping people create uniquely beautiful and functional spaces. I determine how our clients live in their spaces and design around them, utilizing their specific desires to more efficiently live a happy life, in style.”
The Texas Hill Country is booming. With impressive vistas, natural resources and plenty of wide-open space, the corridor between San Antonio and Austin is attracting new residents who are ready to embrace living large. “It’s so fast-growing,” says John Hare, the co-owner of Core Design in San Antonio. “People are buying anything they can at the moment.” Through his full-service design company, Hare helps new residents design homes that suit their particular needs, then sources the furniture and materials to complete the space. Throughout the process, Hare loves inspiring clients to dream big when it comes to home design.
Where: San Antonio and Austin, Texas
In his own words: “We’re committed to helping people create uniquely beautiful and functional spaces. I determine how our clients live in their spaces and design around them, utilizing their specific desires to more efficiently live a happy life, in style.”
The Texas Hill Country is booming. With impressive vistas, natural resources and plenty of wide-open space, the corridor between San Antonio and Austin is attracting new residents who are ready to embrace living large. “It’s so fast-growing,” says John Hare, the co-owner of Core Design in San Antonio. “People are buying anything they can at the moment.” Through his full-service design company, Hare helps new residents design homes that suit their particular needs, then sources the furniture and materials to complete the space. Throughout the process, Hare loves inspiring clients to dream big when it comes to home design.
Renaissance man. Hare first began designing interiors for realtors in 1992. It was a lucrative side gig to his careers as a classical musician and paralegal. “I began by helping realtor friends stage houses,” he says. “The homeowners were so happy with my work they often asked me to decorate for them as well.” Still committed to his legal and musical work, Hare didn’t dedicate himself to a design career until recently: In 2019, he retired from both classical music and law to fully embrace the world of design.
Off and running. In September 2020, Hare’s husband, Kelly Collum, suggested the two start Core Design. It was originally intended to be another side business, with Hare focusing on designing interiors and Collum taking care of exterior and landscape design. “So we branded the idea and hung out our shingle,” Hare says. “We thought it wouldn’t take off for years — but it was boots on the ground immediately.”
Since opening their business in San Antonio, the two have been working nonstop and expanded into the Austin area. “I’ve never worked so hard,” Hare says. “However, I love helping to design homes around a client’s vision.”
Designing a new home? Read on for Hare’s advice.
Since opening their business in San Antonio, the two have been working nonstop and expanded into the Austin area. “I’ve never worked so hard,” Hare says. “However, I love helping to design homes around a client’s vision.”
Designing a new home? Read on for Hare’s advice.
1. Let Your Designer Stretch Your Imagination
Hare understands that it’s hard for some clients to let their designer take total control of a project. However, hiring a good designer and then giving that professional some autonomy in the creative phase of the project often leads to the happiest results, he advises. “Trust your designer,” Hare says. “Let them stretch your world.” This doesn’t mean giving them free rein, but rather being open to new ideas and suggestions.
The owners of this 5,000-square-foot home outside Austin had relocated from an apartment in Manhattan. Hare worked with them to create their new home from scratch. “They were very trusting of my ideas,” he says.
Hare shared detailed mood boards with them before designing the five bedrooms, two offices and open-concept living room and kitchen. He gave the home’s main office an intimate, luxurious feel with an oversize chandelier, silk drapes and a lush rug, then painted the walls a moody blue-gray. “They’re very happy with the end results,” Hare says.
See more of this project
Hare understands that it’s hard for some clients to let their designer take total control of a project. However, hiring a good designer and then giving that professional some autonomy in the creative phase of the project often leads to the happiest results, he advises. “Trust your designer,” Hare says. “Let them stretch your world.” This doesn’t mean giving them free rein, but rather being open to new ideas and suggestions.
The owners of this 5,000-square-foot home outside Austin had relocated from an apartment in Manhattan. Hare worked with them to create their new home from scratch. “They were very trusting of my ideas,” he says.
Hare shared detailed mood boards with them before designing the five bedrooms, two offices and open-concept living room and kitchen. He gave the home’s main office an intimate, luxurious feel with an oversize chandelier, silk drapes and a lush rug, then painted the walls a moody blue-gray. “They’re very happy with the end results,” Hare says.
See more of this project
2. Don’t Wait to Hire Your Designer
“A house doesn’t need to be built before you hire an interior designer,” Hare says. In fact, the earlier you hire a decorator the better. “Get the services of a trustworthy interior designer on staff at the very beginning,” Hare says. This way the designer can work closely with the general contractor to achieve the best results.
Hare worked with the owners of this newly built home in San Antonio from the project’s beginning. “We designed the great room around the owners’ large collection of antiques and a concert grand Steinway piano,” he says. To accentuate the main open-concept living room and kitchen, Hare used a modern Spanish colonial theme. He included high ceilings in the main room and carefully planned the layout around the piano. Hanging brass light fixtures and a glamorous chandelier over the piano complete the room’s look.
See more of this project
“A house doesn’t need to be built before you hire an interior designer,” Hare says. In fact, the earlier you hire a decorator the better. “Get the services of a trustworthy interior designer on staff at the very beginning,” Hare says. This way the designer can work closely with the general contractor to achieve the best results.
Hare worked with the owners of this newly built home in San Antonio from the project’s beginning. “We designed the great room around the owners’ large collection of antiques and a concert grand Steinway piano,” he says. To accentuate the main open-concept living room and kitchen, Hare used a modern Spanish colonial theme. He included high ceilings in the main room and carefully planned the layout around the piano. Hanging brass light fixtures and a glamorous chandelier over the piano complete the room’s look.
See more of this project
3. Lighting Is Essential
Hare emphasizes the importance of good lighting in design. “Lighting transforms everything,” he says. “We often have to rip out a home’s existing lighting system to match a new design, but it’s worth the investment.” Hare advises clients to install bulbs with a color rendition index of 90 or above.
This Austin open-concept dining area, living room and kitchen required all new lighting fixtures to accentuate the space’s myriad colors and textures. Hare installed almost 90 new can lights in the home’s ceilings. He hung a transitional chandelier in the dining area for additional lighting.
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Hare and examples of his work, visit Core Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Hare emphasizes the importance of good lighting in design. “Lighting transforms everything,” he says. “We often have to rip out a home’s existing lighting system to match a new design, but it’s worth the investment.” Hare advises clients to install bulbs with a color rendition index of 90 or above.
This Austin open-concept dining area, living room and kitchen required all new lighting fixtures to accentuate the space’s myriad colors and textures. Hare installed almost 90 new can lights in the home’s ceilings. He hung a transitional chandelier in the dining area for additional lighting.
See more of this project
More: For more information on John Hare and examples of his work, visit Core Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Core Design, LLC, is an interior design and decorating firm serving Austin, San Antonio and the Texas Hill... Read More
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I had the very best experience using Core Design. I recently purchased an older Texas Hill Country Estate that required a great deal of updating. It was a very extensive project and the team at Core D...More
