I’ve been an interior designer from a young age, in different countries on different continents. The world around us has changed rapidly in the last few years let alone the last few decades. But one thing remains the same, my passion, appreciation and love of sourcing for my clients. Creating a collection of really special pieces, that look and feel like they belong in that home as if they have always been there. Curating a space that is perfect for my client and their family. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the interior design process, and sadly one that was not quite the same during lockdowns. So as we return to normality in 2022, I’m excited by the old way of doing things, and the new.
Where to begin
While we are designing, we begin to understand what the home ‘needs’. Once we can understand what we need for a space, we can begin exploring our resources to find the
perfect pieces and bring them together. Sourcing has an exciting element… intrigue as to what one will find for that project. When we are actively out visiting showrooms, there is always a sense of elation when you find something that is perfect for your client and the space.
Of course, during Covid, we had to quickly adapt to a new way of sourcing for our projects (which admittedly was not as enjoyable as the traditional experience). But, every cloud has a silver lining. Many showrooms now have online versions, giving us a much better resource all round (although we still prefer to visit in the real world). It also led to the expansion of our online sourcing; we’ve had a lot of success finding amazing unique items for our clients on the 1st Dibs website, and will continue to use it for our projects moving forwards.
The ‘Directory’
After many years designing for clients in Sydney, at MSID we have a (documented, and for me, memorised) directory of suppliers that we love to visit when we are sourcing for projects. It may sound like a typical shopping experience, but it’s not quite, it’s more of a ‘thoughtful’ shopping experience. When I am sourcing for a project I am in ‘the zone’, concentrating on what would work well in thespace I am designing. If I’m only looking for mid-century furniture, for example, that will be the focus of the trip and I won’t be distracted.
We like to take pictures of pieces along the way, which we can then add to the directory and refer back to. If something doesn’t work for one project, we always have the reference of that piece for another client. In fact, Stephanie has a fantastic memory when it comes to recalling pieces she has seen that could potentially suit a space. She also has a very comprehensive directory of suppliers that resonate with us. We all take an active part in the sourcing process, but it’s an asset to have someone on your team with an excellent eye and memory at the same time.
Travel and sourcing for projects
Again travel has been something that has been off the cards for most of us for a while, but as it starts to make its way back into our lives, it has to be given rightful credit for its inspiration for sourcing, whether its travel locally here in Australia or overseas. I have always found travel inspiring and often bring this into my work as a designer.
When I’m visiting certain favourite places of mine, for example, my recent trip to Byron Bay, there are usually a few places that I will make sure I visit just to see what they have. If I know a certain type of outlet has a particular style I might be sourcing for, or even just to ensure that I am across what is currently available from more unique, boutique suppliers and designers.
When it all comes together…
Sourcing for FF&E (furniture, fittings, equipment) is the way we bring a project together, and this often happens while we are out actively sourcing, more so than when we are sitting behind a screen in the studio. It’s an exciting time and there is a lot of passion involved, as you bring projects together with fabrics, decorative lighting, furniture… This is where the magic happens, and why it’s one of my favourite parts of the interior design process.
Having an eye for key pieces
I’d like to attribute my passion and love for sourcing as something that I just genuinely enjoy doing. When I see something that really stands out, I will automatically take a picture to make sure that I have that point of reference. Who knows, this could be perfect for my next project that I haven’t even started yet, or could even form the starting point of a design. Always referring back to my mantra of ‘buy once, buy right’, favouring pieces that will stand the test of time in any space.
If you’d like to work with an award-winning interior designer, you can contact our team today to discuss your next project. We look forward to hearing from you.
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