Some of my clients have never worked with a designer before, and honestly, many of them are apprehensive and maybe even a little downright embarrassed. But I don't blame them. With the help of design magazines, design blogs and design shows, most of us want to give it a shot at going it alone. However, thanks, and not thanks to HGTV and DIY tv, most of us now want more for our money, have higher expectations of what we can get within our set budget, and a good (or possibly not-so-good) confidence we can figure it out all by ourselves and end up with something amazing for a bargain. Some of my clients come to me when their builder is breathing down their neck to make a decision, and they're nervous or are suffering from what I like to call "design a.d.d." There are so many beautiful and appealing styles out there, sometimes just trying to land on one for your home and stick to it can be the largest challenge. That is why, in an ideal world, involving a designer at the beginning is probably the best decision you will ever make. Having that person help you chart your road, pick a path, a color palette, a general design idea that you can either follow to a "T" or use to wander to the left and right a bit while you shop on your own, can save you a lot of time, money and frustration and guide you in the direction of a beautiful home that has not only some rhyme and reason to it, but a nice flow. Flow is one of those things you either achieve or miss. Have you ever entered into a beautiful home, with beautiful colors, amazing materials, but you just don't feel restful? On the other hand, there are very modest homes out there with pleasing, timeless color palettes, well chosen materials, architectural elements and attention-to-detail craftsmanship that make you want to put your feet up on their sofa and stay awhile. A well-trained designer should be able to offer you direction and confidence.
I recently met with a family who is building their first custom home, just barely at the breaking ground stage. Both husband and wife have their own opinions. Some match, others clash. After a brief consultation, and discovering that I could handle their blended personalities, we decided to go forward working together. At this point, they are simply seeking a direction that meets both of their concerns, is respectful of their budget, and helps them create a timeless, casual, craftsman, pottery-barn type home. We agreed that I would take a stab at interpreting their desires and incorporating some pictures they gave me and present them in a few weeks with a color palette and many of the design materials for their home to get them started in the right direction. At this time, they don't anticipate needing a lot of hand-holding. But getting them off and running on the same foot, with the same vision, and most of the materials decided, seemed a good bang-for-their-buck.
This is the part I love, and being involved this early in the process is my absolute favorite. I've been busy working in a local showroom the past couple of days doing just that. I'm super duper excited and crazily anticipate being on the same page. Hoping to exceed their expectations. I like that they are wanting to use timeless materials so as not to date their home within the next 5-10 years. It's tempting to fall for the latest color schemes or mosaic, but they can date your home and breed discontent within a few short years. Following your heart, but staying more classic, is always a safe choice and results in a beautiful space and backdrop.
For those of you that may be interested in seeing how this all works, I will be cataloging and following the process on this house for you to track. I'll be honest with the customer's feedback too. :) Sometimes you hit it out of the park. Sometimes you miss. Let's hope for the best! Stay tuned.
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