For so many years I have watched as ideas for spaces were as simple and as over the top as one could imagine. Interior Design is an art that doesn’t get as much appreciation as it should. Think of how difficult it could be for a client to tell you they want the kitchen of Julia Child and the clean simple modern lines of a New York City penthouse. Now imagine a couple that have two completely different outlooks on what kind of a space they want. Now keep imagining, and it’s now your job to make it work.
Interior Design is without a doubt more than meets the eye. Each piece in a home has been studied, each color painstakingly chosen. While meeting your client you look for clues and simple messages that can then be translated into what they will like. You hunt and search for that one piece you know will bring your client to near tears. Maybe it all sounds a bit melodramatic but it really is true. A true artist will work incredibly hard to make sure the vision the client expressed in words, comes out in their work.
For many of us interior designers we have relied on our clients talking to their friends, business contacts, and families about the job we’ve done. This kind of referral was the way we got jobs. Social media and all the do it yourself how to’s have affected our business. It’s important that any job or business takes social media seriously and finds a way to dive in and use it to your advantage. Taking good pictures of the spaces an interior designer has done and finding an outlet on social media to showcase that work is just one really good idea.
Working with a team is something that has never hurt anyone. I had a boss who had a big sign on his door that said “There is no I in TEAM”, let’s just say it left a mark. As an interior designer you work with lighting, flooring, furniture, painting, cleaning, just to name a few. These kinds of jobs require help and having skilled craftsman and laborers that are trusted is beyond important.
Interior Design is an art that can be similar to fashion design. There are trends and styles that are constantly evolving. While a favorite Brooklyn Copper saucepan will never leave your kitchen, an Interior Designer will help you choose if its a gas or electric stove it sits on, or a beautiful pot hanger from above your quartz or granite countertops. The job is forever evolving and while some designers have a certain look they gravitate towards, they have the ability to incorporate new ideas.
I could go on and on about Interior Designers and all that it encompasses. This art is amazingly tedious and it requires an eye for detail. Something as simple as a dinner napkin can change the look of a dining room. So next time you look at a beautifully designed room, remember there was an army there doing a lot of work!
