Every project starts with an idea, with a “dream”. An interior design project for being successful relies as much in the creativity and taste of the designer as on the management of the project as a whole. Ideas expressed on mood boards are just that, ideas. the key is how to implementing them and make them work when transforming them into a reality.
For every project that we start, whatever the area, we establish priorities, unconsciously or consciously, that will allow us to “measure” if we have been successful in that enterprise or not.
Let’s say that you want to invite a potential partner, investor or business contact to have dinner at your home.
It is such a big deal for you that it becomes a project in itself, where times, logistics, gathering of information, strategy and the ultimate goal has been determined.
You think that your ultimate goal is to get that deal closed, to convince him, her or them that your service or product is the best option they have. The food is just an excuse to get more time to convince them.
But you are forgetting something: if they do not have a memorable experience at your home with fantastic food, wine, conversation and the right atmosphere you can be jeopardising seriously the future of that agreement or at least making it unnecessarily much more difficult.
You need to realise that your goal, yes, is to close that deal but your priority should be creating the right mood and atmosphere for making that situation happen which means making any guest more than happy. They have to feel overwhelmed by the whole event.
Your chances of succeeding are going to be much higher, dramatically higher, I would say, if you achieve this.
Defining priorities and giving them the right order of importance is a real challenge in business and when it comes to interior design the same applies:
Your goal is to have a home where you will be happy and proud, the home you always wanted.
Now what is the order of the priorities you need to establish in order to allow you to achieve that goal?
Here are the most important elements or people that will play a decisive role in the process.
Project Management, Designer, Budget Control, Builder and Vision. Can you prioritise them?
This would be my suggestion for you:
Vision
For many, the vision of their home has been inspired by wonderful hotels. On the left we see the “Blue Royal Hotel” in Copenhagen and on the right the “Rosewood” in London.
What is the vision you have for your home? Not the detail, not the colours, not the furniture, not the tiles or the rugs.
How do you want to live?
How do you see yourself or your family living, and surrounded by what quality?
What is your aspiration and dream?
Budget Control
NOW GIVE TO THAT DREAM A PRICE
It is really surprising how many people don’t have a clear idea of how much they are willing to invest in their home, in that dream.
Some of them even give the lowest possible figure, expecting it to be enough for everything they want and when they realise it is not enough they start to release the money bit by bit, affecting in this way the healthy growth of the project.
Sometimes this behaviour creates a not small Frankenstein.
Transparency and real thought need to be put into this figure.
Designer
The idea of a mood board is to transmit a feel and look, the idea of it. The finishes, materials, furniture chosen need to be considered based on the vision and the budget provided or discussed with the client.
The designer should be able to marry the vision with the budget.
You have to trust your designer and in doing so you need to give as much accurate information as possible.
The outcome of this approach should be the materialisation of your dreams in drawings or certainly as close to them as possible.
Choose your designer wisely.
Building Company
A clear and detailed scope of works will help you and the builder to have a real idea of the magnitude of the work ahead. The quality of the questions a builder ask when analyzing it will give you a good idea of his/her expertise and knowledge.
Now you need the team that will take that information from paper to reality.
Many people choose the builder first because they know he/she is not expensive, or they have been recommended, etc.
You should not do this.
Wait up, until you have the project perfectly clear and then find the builder that has the skills, expertise, honesty and commitment to make that vision, that design work.
If the builder would be a candidate for working in your company, would you not contrast his/her skills with the description of the role in hand?
Project Management
This is where people “save” money either doing it themselves or allowing the building company to do that for them.
Both decisions can be hugely damaging for the project, its integrity and quality.
“Doing it yourself” is as legitimate as the fact that everybody can cook.
Really?
Are we talking about boiling eggs and making pasta or are we talking of high cuisine?
Which of these matches the “vision” you had of your home at the beginning?
The builder as project manager for me should be avoided completely if possible.
The reason? There is a clear and real conflict of interests. No doubts. There is no need for this to be discussed. Believe me.
As you can see the project of your new home requires a clear hierarchy of priorities. I hope this small guide helps you to establish them.
