I was asked recently what I was good at: choosing furniture, colors, artwork, etc.
The idea in the mind of the interviewer was to think of interior design as the outcome of creating something based on the ability of choosing items.
Yes, part of interior design is that but for me the most important part of what I do is to create spaces with a clear vision in mind about how they need to feel and look, objects are just a tool, expensive or not.
Answering his question:
What I believe I’m very good at is creating a concept or if you prefer a “theme” than influences every decision, that filters the unwanted items, those that either don’t fit or are redundant.
With a clear vision in mind it will be easier to identify in what areas to use your money, what cannot be compromised, which objects need to become top priority so to keep the integrity of the project, of the idea.
Every project is different and it starts always with the quality of the architecture of the property.
Determining if the quality of it is good or if it needs to be modified will be one of the pivoting moments in the development of the project.
For example:
I’m designing a flat where the access to it is trough a private staircase; lovely one with nice sash windows and sweet proportions.
The challenging point is that when you reach the top you are looking at the electric meter of the flat.
For allowing the experience to flow correctly this has to be addressed and not with a box hiding the electric device.
It needs to be a bespoke piece of furniture that culminates the ascending journey with a visual reward.
Here the architecture have to be intervened correctly so to keep the momentum leading the home owner or visitor to a greater experience when the door is opened at the top taking him/her to the private or social areas.
This sense of flow has to be present in the project. This intuitive logic that anticipates desires and creates a rhythm is vital for allowing the home to be and feel one.
So if you have to choose where to invest or spend your money, depending on how you see it, do it keeping in mind the big picture. How every decision you take will shape fairly or not the beauty of your home.
As designer this is one of the biggest challenges as sometimes it is no easy for the client to justify the cost of certain pieces that in theory are not necessary whereas in the creative mind without them the whole thing loses in consistency and harmony.
This situation happened with the bespoke furniture in question. I’m very grateful because after no few conversations the client trusted the vision and the reasons why it had to be made so to give a nice closure to the stairs and a beautiful opening to the corridor.
Choose consistency and flow and be keen to pay the price that they will demand.
Furniture, furnishing, art, and accessories they will appear really easily at the right price if you have that clarity.
