“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” –
Nate Berkus, Interior Designer.
What makes being an interior designer so special is that we are taking a space and creating a home for someone. When we are designing for our clients it’s rewarding to spend time hunting and gathering, whether that is procuring furniture and lighting, or finding unique ‘layering’ pieces to give the space personality, and meaning whilst giving the clients a home that represents them.
Meaningful hunting and gathering takes time. I am not one to go out on one day and just pick up this, that. It’s much nicer to really invest time into this part of the process. The idea of collecting beautiful pieces slowly, they are more genuine, more artistic, and much more effective.
Keeping an eye out…
As an interior designer, I am always conscious of the things that we need for each space. I have a certain project or space in my head when I am out and about, looking until I find the right piece. For example, in the process of designing a French-inspired home, I needed to source pieces of French antique furniture. I then find myself visiting different antique dealers looking for that perfect piece. Then if I am designing a contemporary home, I may go past showrooms and galleries that represent the style I am working with. Along the way we may find something unexpected such as a beautiful sculpture or book for the coffee table, those smaller items that give the home personality. I am always keeping an eye out.
Shopping with an interior designer
I encourage my clients to do their hunting and gathering with us until the house is finished. Don’t go shopping without me while I’m working with you, go with me. We can look at different showrooms or galleries, and all the while I have in my mind what would look good where. This way we work together to understand why some elements work, and others may not.
I find that after my clients have been hunting and gathering with me, they gain an understanding of what to look for and it becomes a process they enjoy. They have the confidence to buy things without me when the project is finished, some even come back to consult. What I am doing as your interior designer is providing you a good foundation to build upon. Even when your home is complete it’s really lovely to add pieces to it when you travel (even if it’s just a weekend away).
Adding the personal touches
As much as I enjoy hunting and gathering for my clients, its important that they have the opportunity to fill their home with their own memories. I give my clients advice on where they could put things and how. For example, if they have a console in a bedroom, I may suggest adding a painting or tapestry behind it. Or a vase with flowers on top, some art or a sculpture on the table with a book or two.
A bookshelf is a great opportunity to introduce personality to a space, as they look best when you have a mixture of things on them. Maybe have some books on their side and some standing up, or instead of books add a photo frame, candle or vase, keep it interesting. These layering pieces are not things the client needs ‘right now’ (i.e. shopping for the sake of it), but something they can keep an eye out for in the future, adding their own personal touch.
This isn’t the first time I’ve written about my pleasure in finding the perfect pieces for my designs. If you missed it the first time or would like to read it again, you can read my ‘For the love of sourcing’ article the Marylou Sobel Interior Design blog.
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