Hiring An Interior Designer? Why?

What Are Your Expectations?  There are probably a plethora of articles about hiring an interior designer, what to look for, what to expect from them, and what to ask of them.

 

(Where to start?  Your designer will know. – Master Bedroom design beginnings – Wanda S. Horton.)

Ask Yourself Some Questions Before Picking Up The Phone.  Other than the obvious desire of wanting to live in a better designed home, having a need to freshen or fix-up a space, or the many different reasons you might need help with your interior spaces, there are also some important underlying questions to ask of yourself, in order to know if you’re going to make the right connection.  (Hint, designing minds want to know these answers, too!) 

Why do you think you want to hire an interior designer? 

• Do you think they will free up your time to do other things?
• Do you think they will teach you how to design?
• Do you want to prevent errors and make wise investments?
• Do you believe they will bring a sense of status to your project?
• Do you think they will bring a better function, aesthetic, and quality of life to your home?

What value do you see a designer bringing to your project?

What do you think your investment will be in terms of design services and what your design service needs might be?

Other great questions: 

• What will your involvement be in the design process?  A lot?  A little?  Somewhere in between?
• Do you like watching design television, read a lot of magazines, or read design blogs?  What are your favorites and why? 
• Do you enjoy collaborating as part of a team? 
• Do you understand what the creative process is and do you have the patience to allow for it to unfold? 
• Are you ready to commit to completing a project or do you expect for it to be done in stages?
• How long do you think it might take to complete your project and how did you determine that timeline?  (Read about it?  Have an important event coming up?)
• What’s most important and in what order? - Function?  Look?  Quality?  Sustainability?  Price?
• What service do you most value and in what order? - Creativity?  Function?  Knowledge?  Time Management?  Project Management?  Money management?  Communication?

(Each element and layer brings forth the satisfaction of completion.  Taking away one part is like taking away brush strokes in a piece of art.  You’ll never see the total picture. – Master Bedroom design completion, Wanda S. Horton.)

After practicing interior design, for almost 30 years, I’ve seen a shift in the perception and appreciation for the skill sets and experience needed to do what I do best.  (This could be a totally separate blogpost.)  Let’s suffice it to say, I spend extra hours educating and reassuring a more apprehensive public about the benefits of bringing a designer on board.  A lot of questions are asked and I usually don’t mind answering them, as long as we’re making a forward motion.  I honor that it’s a mutual investment of time and it should be made wisely.

In my experience, I see how projects can become “stuck” when the creative flow becomes interrupted with too much afterthought.  I’ll admit, I’m more comfortable with a goal-oriented client, who is ready to get things done and in a logical manner of succession. I believe the best time to ask the important questions is in the beginning of the process. The outcome is much happier for all! 

. . . And usually, a happy designer is at their personal best!

Have a question?  Please do share it! ~ Wanda

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Should There Be Kindness In the World of Design?

Preston Bailey, a fabulous event planner/designer, (in my humble opinion), wrote this recent post on his blog:  “Common Mistakes – Being Too Concerned About What Others Think”  I love to read Preston’s posts as they are written with the wisdom of having many years of business experience, in a creative field, as well as I believe they truly come from the heart.  (He writes his own posts rather than assign them to someone else.)  Preston was spot on with his conclusions and if you are a professional in the field of interior design, or even a consumer looking to hire a designer, this is a great read.  It brings forth the question - “Should there be kindness in the world of design?”

(Here’s Preston creating one of his own blog posts.  I enjoy his combination of elegance and humility.  He honors his past, while looking towards the future.)

I appreciate constructive comments as they are good for dialogue and help non-designers understand more about the process and world of interior design.  I appreciate them when they come from a trusted peer or advisor.  (Those of whom I admire their degree of expertise and their integrity.  I know the comments will be honest but with good intention.)  I often ask those special people for their advice and objective opinions, even though I know the world of design and art can be very subjective.  Ultimately, my “design judge” will be the client or the potential clients who might be looking for my services.

(An interior designer’s portfolio.  It’s more than a stack of photos.  It’s our body of work and the heart and soul of our clients’ projects.)

If a third-party posts portfolio photos online, it should be done with respect and admiration for that designer’s work.   If an individual, be it the designer or the homeowner, is not made aware their work is being put out for public critique, (as being solicited on some social media sites), it opens up an opportunity for a misunderstanding as to the intent of the post, especially if placed in a position of which the topic regards ill humor or snarky comments.  In some cases, not only are comments being made about the designer's work, the poster may also be commenting on a design client’s personal residence.  Professionals should understand the concept of restraint and good taste in all areas of design, even with their words.  I think most consumers would choose talent, professionalism, class, and kindness.  (At least, that's the kind of client with whom I enjoy working the most.)

(Thank goodness for diversity!  Otherwise snowflakes could be awfully boring.)

We have to remember that opinions are just what they are.  The intention is what sets them apart.  What is the gain for the other party?  Does it build them up or support them?  If not, I remember what my southern mother has always shared with me - "When in doubt, don't do it" and the old adage about, "If you don't have anything kind to say . . . ."  Finally, the Golden Rule works very well, too.  I often wonder, given the face-to-face opportunity with the interior designer and their clients, if some of the comments I've seen made on those media outlets would be openly shared? 

I think the beauty of interior design is not only in applying its functional aspect; it’s the personal expression for the client.  We, the designers, offer our professional guidance.  The final signature of approval comes from the client. 

Thanks for letting me share my musings, today.  I appreciate your time!

With kindest regards,

Wanda

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I’m Repeating Myself

It’s my mission, as an interior designer, not to ever take a cookie-cutter approach to my work, by repeating anything I’ve done for another client.  I know it might be the easiest thing for me to do, but it’s not honoring the individuality of the client.  Because I do have quite a few projects, needing that personalized attention and approach, I am going to repeat a blog post, from last year, as the topic is still relevant and the simple act of clipping some beautiful gardenia blossoms, from my backyard, brought back the same memories!

Oh, if you could only enjoy the aroma!

Here . . . I’ll bring them a bit closer.  Is that better?

Click to read:  “Experiences in Design”

Thanks for letting me be a bit redundant, today.  I’ll try not to make it a habit.  After all, you might not think it’s by choice, but rather an age thing!

Experience the best about design!  - Wanda

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“A Spiritual Spring Cleaning”*

On occasion, I’ll step back from the world of interior design, to look through a different pair of lens.  As the holidays of Easter and Passover are almost upon us, it would be easy to share tips on how to prepare your homes for entertainment and speak of chocolate bunnies or special dishes, but that would be glossing over the surface.

While going back through some images, I found a photo I took at Kiawah Island, SC, at dawn.  Ever the night owl that I am, I still do find the solitude of an early morning to be a wonderful time for reflection and to take heart in the dawn of a new day.

Depending on your personal religious or spiritual beliefs, this time of year bears great significance for many.  The message for Christians is of the Resurrection occurring so that one may walk a new way or path of life.  Forgiveness for transgressions, or sin, is provided through the ultimate art of sacrifice.  For those of the Jewish faith, Passover signifies a liberation or a freeing of burdens.  (A great article on “Passover 2010 – Why Pesach Matters” – can be found here.)  In both cases, while there may be a difference in doctrines, the ability to “let go” parallels closer than some might think.  It’s kind of like a “spiritual spring cleaning”, as referenced by author Bob Deffinbaugh*.

I think it’s comforting to be reminded how each new day brings possibilities.  We’re given a choice of how to address our destiny, no matter what circumstance may have preceded it, or what lies before us.

. . . . for Joy cometh in the morning.(excerpt from Psalm 30.5 – ) – Another view of Kiawah.

Thank you for letting me take a little bit of time away from my interior design world.  I’ll be in the process of a little spring cleaning of my own.

Blessings to you all!  Wanda

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Anniversaries, Connections, and Memories

As of this week, I will have shared married life with the same man, for twenty eight years.  In “real time”, we will have been together for over thirty years.  I remember the exact moment we met.  We were both in college and I was in the kitchen of a home owned by a physical therapy professor, who decided to rent rooms to ECU students.  (That’s a whole other story . . . maybe I'll share that another day.)  While I was chatting with a good friend, we heard someone in the basement level, singing to the top of his lungs, and to the Rolling Stones, no less.  We began to giggle, which then turned into raucous, side-splitting laughter, and then my husband-to-be came up the stairs to see who would be so cruel as to critique his vocal prowess.  Needless to say, it wouldn’t be the first or last time he would endure such treatment – but always with the best of spirits and intentions!

This is the table I created for “Over The Tabletop” – an event to benefit the Ada Jenkins Center

Fast forwarding, through those years, to the present . . . Just this past week I participated in a tabletop event and the idea was to create something very special, keeping in mind an event you would really L-O-V-E to attend.  Whenever I’ve designed a showhouse room, or an entire home, I’ve found it easier to create the space around a fictitious family or scenario, as it gives me a set of parameters – just like a real client.  In this case, I had decided to do a sweetheart table for a special couple’s event.  It could be for a wedding or an anniversary celebration.  The theme was centered around A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare, but I must confess, the concept mainly came from a late ‘90’s movie set.  I wanted to share visions of sitting in the midst of the forest floor, with fire lights, dragonflies, and the magical sparkling of two lovers’ eyes, as they gazed upon one another.

              

Hand painted details by Whitney Preslar Bayer, fresh floral scaping by David Wynn of Elizabeth House Flowers, Photography by Chanda.

Just previous to this tabletop gathering, I had quietly celebrated another anniversary, of sorts . . . my first “tweet” and foray into social media.  Now before you totally tune me out, if you think Twitter is for the “birds”, or as my husband so fondly says, “It’s a cult thing!”, there is a relevance to this story.  Had it not been for that evening, when I decided to find out what Twitter and social media was all about, I’m not sure I would have met Starr Miller.  Starr is an interior designer who lives several cities away, albeit in the Charlotte, NC area.  Starr and I, along with Maybelline Te, another designer, shared some tweets and after a small while, decided we should meet in person.  A breakfast meeting, and several other “tweet-ups” ensued, with Starr joining an interior design organization, of which I belong, and she made an announcement about this event.  Maybelline, or “May”, as I so fondly call her, has always captivated me in our conversations, with her wisdom, fearlessness, and generous spirit.  When I shared with her about trying to create this special setting, she would have nothing other than to offer to me her custom chairs, which she planned to reveal in an upcoming NYC design show, this May. 

This table setting was “touched” by many hands.  The Snug Furniture chairs, have been, as well. 

Were these connections left up to chance?  I’d like to think not.  Even in the big sea of chatter, on the web, we were destined to be joined, at first, by our common interests, but more importantly, by uncommon circumstances.  I’ve enjoyed sharing the gift of these connections, with the other people in my life.  This year has been a most special “anniversary”, as I feel as if I’ve morphed from being the hesitant butterfly, to the one who has burst forth from her cocoon . . .  even a little later in life.  I’ve enjoyed flitting about, all along the way.  After all, when we spread our wings, we get to see so much more of the world and the people in it!  This evening was so special, as I was able to share it with “my girls”,some from the past, some from recent meetings, but always who are present.

Special Table Top Connections– (left to right, starting at the top) – Starr Miller, Maybelline Te, Mary Santini, (I’m in the middle), Davetta Moore, Vicki Horton Roach – sister-n-law, Whitney Preslar Bayer – decorative artist, David Wynn – floral artist, and the ever fun Chanda Pope, our photographer, who made us laugh . . .  no posing allowed!

And now, back to the beginning . . . Even though my tabletop was meant to be inspired by a story, right out of Shakespeare, I think, in the back of my mind, there would be another pair of sweethearts who would enjoy a magical evening . . . and . . . they did. 

The End

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