Vicki O’Neal

…Vicki O’Neal, ASID, CID, VSLD, a designer by education, practice, and passion. My existence in all its facets seems to wind its way back to design in some form or fashion. The lifestyle design slant started when I was an adolescent. I was very petite and could never find clothes to fit that were located outside the children’s department.

Out of fashion frustration, at the age of twelve I learned to sew and started making my (and Barbie’s) clothes. The creative gene was activated, and over time I decided that fashion design was the life for me. That interest evolved into interior design as a course of study, and ultimately into my career. For the full story of my career path read “Interior Design” and “Landscape Design” tabs.

Parallel to my design gene was a budding (pun intended) love of nature and gardening. My family always had a garden. I remember my grandmother especially, growing vegetables and old-fashioned flowers like balsam, portulaca, petunias, marigolds, etc., always from seeds of course. I also remember picking my neighbors tulips and bringing them to her door. She was none too happy to see me that day.

We had a patch of mint right outside the back door that I can still smell now, and used it in our sweeeeet tea (is there another kind when you live in Athens, GA.) Little did I know that humble gardening beginning would eventually fuse with my interior design training and become my second career passion- landscape design.

Gardening and nature have been a integral part of my life even since the days that I lugged around those house plants as a nomadic student. Even at U of F I had a roommate studying Ornamental Horticulture and we shared gardening interests and built a small lean-to greenhouse together. She would frequently recite botanical names to learn for her tests, and I would memorize them for her. That high school Latin came in handy after all. I have had my hands in the dirt all of my adult life, and grow everything from asters to zinnias and back.

Another natural progression occurred to me one day when I decided to merge my design and gardening skills. That I did, and I continue to learn from nature and am awed by her beauty. This earth is an amazing gift full of bounty and abundance. I reverently work upon her soil.

My interior design skills allow me to bring a unique perspective to landscape design and outdoor living. I design from the inside-out so to speak, in order to capture important views that otherwise might go unnoticed. My designs blend functionality and aesthetics from the interior to the exterior, as I believe ideally that design is a continuum.

My credentials include:

• Bachelor of Design in Interior Design- University of Florida
• Virginia Certified Interior Designer
• Professional member ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)
• Professional member VSLD (Virginia Society of Landscape Designers)
• Virginia Certified Horticulturalist
• Virginia Master Gardener

While trying to stay cool and focus my life on higher education, I studied interior designer at the University of Florida (go Gators!) School of Architecture. The weather and the work were highly challenging, especially not loving the tropics, and not knowing exactly what to do with a T-square and triangle. Yes, I come from the old school of manual drafting. My experiences there, although not all in the classroom, prepared me well for a rewarding and ever challenging career as a designer extraordinaire.

As a choice and direction, my interior design career focus has always included planning, architectural, and technical aspects of interior design as well of the decorative and aesthetic. For a beautiful and functional project solution, the two are often inseparable. My approach to design includes all that goes into building a project, large or small, from its inception to its completion.

My lucky but well earned path landed me in the right spot to enjoy many years in commercial interior design practicing in a wide spectrum- corporate, retail, hospitality, and funeral home design (ha- got ya!) Each project and solution is unique, and beautiful and functional designs result from good listening, expert design, establishing the right criteria, researching particulars, building a team of professional as needed, and skillful project management.

I opened for business as FORM & FUNCTION, July 1, 1998, and have evolved to practice residential and commercial interior design, and to ultimately integrate my passion for nature and the garden as a landscape designer. Did I mention I’m also a writer? Oh, that came along in the fall of 2008. To share my passion, I continually chronicle all things design through my writing and, did I mention I’m a photographer? You could say I live and breathe design, and believe that good design is universal and timeless. This winding path has led me to this blog. My credentials include:

• Bachelor of Design in Interior Design- University of Florida
• Virginia Certified Interior Designer
• Professional member ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)
• Professional member VSLD (Virginia Society of Landscape Designers)
• Virginia Certified Horticulturalist
• Virginia Master Gardener