I’m the Designer, But You’re the One Who Lives Here
One of the questions I probably ask my clients more than they expect is, “What do you think?” I know- I’m the designer. Aren’t I supposed to tell you what I think? And I will. I promise I’ll have plenty of opinions. But I also don’t live in your house, and there are certain things I can’t know unless I ask.
How Do You Actually Live?
A kitchen is a perfect example. I might look at a cabinet and think it’s the perfect place for a spice rack, but maybe you cook every night and want your spices somewhere completely different. Or I might be thinking about where we’re going to store all of your pots and pans, and you tell me you own three because you barely cook. Well, that changes things. I can tell you what will look beautiful. I can think through the layout, finishes and all of those little details that make a room come together. But when it comes to how your home needs to function, I want to hear from you.
That’s why I ask so many questions along the way. Where do you naturally put your things when you walk in the door? Do you actually use your dining room? Do you want everything tucked away, or do you like having certain things within reach? What do you love about the way your home works now? What drives you crazy? Sometimes the answer surprises me, and that’s a good thing.
There Isn’t One Right Way
I’ve never really believed in walking into someone’s home and saying, “This is the right way to do it.” There might be a better layout or something you haven’t thought of yet, and I’ll always tell you when I see an opportunity to make something work better. But what works beautifully for one family might make absolutely no sense for another. That’s part of what I love about this job. I’m not designing the same house over and over again. I get to learn how you live, what matters to you, and what you need from your home. Then we figure out how to make all of that work together.
Pretty Is Only Part of It
Of course I want your home to be beautiful. That part goes without saying, but I also want you to walk into your kitchen and know everything is where you need it. I want the room everyone actually hangs out in to work for the way your family uses it, & I want the pretty parts and the practical parts to make sense together.
Because at the end of the project, I go home. You’re the one who lives here. And I think that should have a lot to do with how we design it