A few years ago I visited the New London Architecture premises in Central London, an independent centre which works considering how the London’s built environment is being shaped: a place for discussion, learning and exploration.
In one of my visits I saw they were promoting an event titled “Don’t Move, Improve” it was a very positive approach to the economic crisis at the time which stopped many people to buy a new property, wanting to move to other areas of the city looking for bigger spaces or more services for their families.
With this initiative they were aiming to encourage people that moving was not the only solution to improve their current living conditions and that working with a professional, usually an architect, they could expand their house, vertically or horizontally to make it bigger or/and more efficient; this at a fraction of the cost when compared to buying a new one.
This campaign worked nicely; even an award was created for recognizing this effort when creativity was in place.
For us, interior designers, it is ideal when we are given an empty space, house, bar, etc to work with so we can download an implement all those visions, ideas and dreams we have thought so much about.
That is one option…
The other is when our clients have beautiful existing things (or at least appropriate ones) which can be furniture, artwork, a floor, a mural etc that we know we can use and give it a new life thanks to the creation of a new context.
There must be honesty in the process so we can advise correctly our clients and help them either to spend less including in the scheme the items they love and care about. Sometimes it is necessary to say no when the piece just does not work but that is another story. Let’s focus on those things we certainly can keep and make look better.
That is why I chose the word “Enhance” and not “improve” as part of the title of this post. We can work with pieces we know have positive aspects and we know thanks to our vision that we can make those positive aspects be expanded and be more visible.
It is exactly this situation I’m facing right now with one of my projects, how to improve a bar keeping few of the elements in place and transform it into something more appealing, with identity, character and charm.
I won’t be able to share much information right now but will show you an image of the current situation and the mood board where materials proposed are being shown.
Hopefully, in a few weeks, I will share with you the outcome and you will tell me how much it changed.
Looking forward!
