About
Ann Wisniewski, ASID
Ann’s enthusiasm and creative flair infuse every project AJW DESIGNS undertakes. Raised in Marietta, she received a BS in Nursing and worked at Egleston Hospital for Children for several years before deciding to take a giant leap of faith and pursue her true passion. Returning to school as a single mother, Ann received a BFA in Interior Design from Brenau University and founded AJW Designs in 1999. In 2003, she passed the National Council of Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ) and attained her professional designation from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the design industry’s leading professional organization.
Ann’s talent, personality and dedication have garnered her not only the trust, confidence and appreciation of her clients, but also the respect of her peers and recognition by the media. She received a Design Excellence Award in Healthcare Design and a Presidential Citation for Distinguished Service from ASID’s Georgia Chapter, where she is an active member who has served on the Board and various committees.
Ann’s work has been featured on HGTV and in several publications and she was selected to participate in the Christmas at Callanwolde Show House and the Livable Lifetime Show House, the first in the Southeast to feature universal design. She frequently serves as a judge for local, regional and national design competitions.
| I truly love what I do and feel that, as in nursing, I am helping my clients “feel better” by creating environments that promote their well-being. |
Jan Wisniewski, AIA
With more than thirty years’ experience, Jan has touched all areas of the building industry: commercial offices, healthcare, industrial, government, institutional, retail, restaurants, multi-family housing and single-family homes. A graduate of Virginia Tech, he is registered in both Georgia and North Carolina.
Jan has worked on projects with Centex Homes, Georgia Building Authority, 3M, Perimeter Mall, Georgia Backyard and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville, NC. While working with the noted firm Lockwood Greene, he was the lead architect on industrial projects for Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola and Lockheed-Martin. Jan's residential projects include several home additions for clients in Atlanta, Roswell and Dunwoody, and new home designs in Acworth and Madison.
Jan’s services include creating design documents, writing specifications, cost estimates and material evaluations, project management, and building code review. Together with a full complement of structural, mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering consultants, he can handle even the largest projects.
Ann’s Design Philosophy
My philosophy is to embody the client’s style, because when the project is completed, I am not the one staying there, the client is. The space has to work for them, not me. I am the vehicle or the GPS to take them where they want to go, even when they don’t know where to start.
I infuse each project with what I call ”quiet style,” which combines convenience, comfort, interest, and the unexpected in subtle ways with simple lines. I look at the space and client as a whole and use elements that address the physical, emotional, and psychological influences of each specific project.
I like to use classic styles that can be updated and evolve with clients through the years, and also use universal or “convenient” design whenever possible, incorporating features such as 36” wide doorways, which are great for bringing groceries into the kitchen or moving that sofa from one room to another, and multiple-height countertops that work when you’re 5’1” and your husband is 6’4.” These are simple things that, if planned for at the beginning, cost just pennies to do and make life so much easier.
With my background, I always put my clients’ health and safety first, and therefore take a “green” approach to every design by incorporating eco-friendly products such as low-VOC paints, bamboo flooring, energy-efficient appliances, and fabrics and furniture lines that use recycled, soy-based and other sustainable materials.
Services
AJW DESIGNS provides a total design solution for your design and decorating needs. Our services include consultation; space planning; interior and architectural design; project management; construction supervision; selection of vendors, finishes, millwork, color palettes, furniture, rugs, lighting, window treatments, art and accessories; and installation and placement of all items.
In order to achieve the best results, you should hire a design professional at the beginning of your project to formulate a concept and design that incorporates your style and requirements in your home or office décor. With that plan in place, you will expend less time and money on changes and will know exactly what the finished product will be. If you already have an architect, or are working with a builder or developer, bringing an interior designer in at the outset will help you fashion a lighting plan; designate placement of switches, outlets, appliances, fixtures, windows and doors; select your flooring, cabinetry and colors; and assist with other features that will not only optimize your space, but save you money and headaches down the road.
The design process starts with a consultation to give us an idea of your vision for the project, the way the space will be used, the types and number of people who will be occupying the space, the existing structure or site of the proposed structure, your budget and timeframe for completion. We will ask you many questions and will listen to your answers carefully in order to understand your needs fully and help you achieve your goals in a space that is functional, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.
Once we have collected and reviewed your requirements, we will prepare and present a design concept, complete with sketches (and CAD drawings if necessary), specifications, recommendations, and cost and time expectations. Once you sign off on the design, we can take it from there, with minimal intrusion on your time. We will schedule and supervise work by engineers, contractors, painters, faux finishers and workrooms for custom window treatments, upholstery, and bedding. We will also select furniture, rugs, accessories, lighting, and artwork, and make sure everything comes together beautifully.
