Seems like a simple question right? Well, for those of you who have asked yourself this question, you probably know that the answers aren’t necessarily quick and easy to come by.
Indeed the ‘simple question’ is a very complicated one. As an interior designer, I often get asked this question by my clientele. For me, the answer is easy. I always explain to my clients that my personal design style is not important, however understanding their preferred styles and desired functionality is vital. To that end, I have all new clients fill out a Client Profile that I developed to assist in finding out more about what they want to see, and how they want to feel in their newly remodeled and/or designed spaces. I ask that all household members answer the questions either together or separately.
Everybody in the household will be impacted by interior design changes, and it is essential to consider their input before those changes are implemented. To those who say “Oh, I really don’t care, it is my wife/husband’s project.” I respond, “You may care less, or differently, however for me to do the best job possible for you, it is important that I get your input also.”
Often house mates have different interior design style and functionality preferences. The interior designer (or whomever is doing the design work) should have a good understanding of what those differences are, so that everyone’s needs and desires are addressed. When each person individually answers the Client Profile questions, it is much easier to identify the key differences, and most importantly, the similarities between people. S Interior Design clients are also asked to pull out magazine pictures that appeal to them. This is another useful way to gain an understanding of what the desired outcome of the interior design project should be. Often it is difficult to articulate what is wanted, but as the famous quote goes “A picture paints a thousand words.
Important information to gather includes the answers to questions such as:
# Where is the majority of waking time spent in the home?
# What activities are being done in the different rooms that time is being spent in?
# Do you entertain? How often? Large or small groups? Casual or formal style? Indoors or outdoors?
The answers to these questions can often lead to additional questions. For instance, if one person likes to spend the majority of their evening time watching TV, it would be helpful to know if they like to sprawl on a sofa (would indicate a certain style of sofa is needed for comfort), or whether they would love a recliner chair. If someone is an avid reader, where do they do their reading? In common areas of the home such as the family room? In bed before going to sleep? In this instance, lighting and back support are key design considerations.
Without a doubt, putting in some time up-front to best understand what you want your interior design project to turn out like will pay off!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Interior Design With Pets In Mind
Living with our four legged children brings happiness and some unique challenges when it comes to the way our homes look and smell. With some upfront planning and smart choices, you can minimize the potential stress of keeping your home looking and smelling great.
Here are 5 secrets for interior design with pets in mind:
1.Skip the wall to wall carpeting-pet fur gets trapped and pet oils get embedded
2.Don't use flat finish paint-when your pets rub against the walls-the paint will come off with the dirt you are trying to clean off
3.Match the color of your upholstery and bedding to your pets fur color-yes, the fur will still be there, but it won't show as much 4.Buy attractive, patterned area rugs that are easy to clean-the pattern in the rug will hide the fur better. This isn't an excuse not to vacuum regularly, but it may reduce the frequency.
5.Most importantly, make sure your pets have places and spaces to hang out in. For example, give your kitty a good view of the outdoors in a sunny preferably high up spot. Make sure your dog has appropriate chew toys (all dogs need to chew) so your furniture legs aren't tempting.
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #1
S Interior Design was asked to complete a total makeover of a busy families’ living room and adjoining dining room. The makeover included replacing all of the 25 year old furnishings in the rooms. The homeowner was concerned that Hunter, their 8 year old Beagle would have a negative reaction to the fact that his favorite ‘nesting and resting’ place, an old barrel style chair, was going away. Recognizing that Hunter’s world is dominated by the sense of smell (dogs smell 20 times better than people), S Interior Design placed the seat cushion from the old chair in an out of the way corner in the family room. Hunter adjusted with ease since his favorite cushion wasn’t gone, but rather put in the room where his human pack members spend the majority of their waking hours. Over time, the cushion was replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing dog bed and fleece throw. We made sure that the family imprinted their scent on the fleece throw so Hunter would accept it. Happy Hunter, happy home!
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #2
S Interior Design was asked to assist in the remodel of a kitchen and adjoining family room. The family in this case includes two small dogs; Diego and Barry. In the old kitchen design, Diego and Barry’s food bowls were placed in a corner near the dining table and had the tendency to get knocked over when the chairs around the table were moved too quickly. Their dog food was stored in the kitchen under a small desk area in a functional but unattractive plastic container. To address these challenges, S Interior Design customized the toe kick (the area under the cabinetry) at the far end of the kitchen so it slides in and out and the dog bowls can be placed inside of it. When the bowls aren’t in use, they can slide in and out of site. A custom hinged bin cabinet that flows seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry was included to store the dry dog food in. Diego and Barry also got new dog beds upholstered in high performing Cryptonite fabric that coordinates beautifully with the new window treatments and seat cushions.
About the author: Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID is the owner of S Interior Design. S Interior Design makes homes harmonious, functional and beautiful for families with 2-legged and 4-legged members. Suzanne has an M.B.A. and an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design. Suzanne offers years of real world experience, giving her clients the peace of mind to know that their projects will be professionally handled from start to finish. She is an experienced residential and small commercial interior designer and is the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™ ‘Stunning Interiors with Pets in Mind’.
Here are 5 secrets for interior design with pets in mind:
1.Skip the wall to wall carpeting-pet fur gets trapped and pet oils get embedded
2.Don't use flat finish paint-when your pets rub against the walls-the paint will come off with the dirt you are trying to clean off
3.Match the color of your upholstery and bedding to your pets fur color-yes, the fur will still be there, but it won't show as much 4.Buy attractive, patterned area rugs that are easy to clean-the pattern in the rug will hide the fur better. This isn't an excuse not to vacuum regularly, but it may reduce the frequency.
5.Most importantly, make sure your pets have places and spaces to hang out in. For example, give your kitty a good view of the outdoors in a sunny preferably high up spot. Make sure your dog has appropriate chew toys (all dogs need to chew) so your furniture legs aren't tempting.
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #1
S Interior Design was asked to complete a total makeover of a busy families’ living room and adjoining dining room. The makeover included replacing all of the 25 year old furnishings in the rooms. The homeowner was concerned that Hunter, their 8 year old Beagle would have a negative reaction to the fact that his favorite ‘nesting and resting’ place, an old barrel style chair, was going away. Recognizing that Hunter’s world is dominated by the sense of smell (dogs smell 20 times better than people), S Interior Design placed the seat cushion from the old chair in an out of the way corner in the family room. Hunter adjusted with ease since his favorite cushion wasn’t gone, but rather put in the room where his human pack members spend the majority of their waking hours. Over time, the cushion was replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing dog bed and fleece throw. We made sure that the family imprinted their scent on the fleece throw so Hunter would accept it. Happy Hunter, happy home!
Pawprint Design™ Case Study #2
S Interior Design was asked to assist in the remodel of a kitchen and adjoining family room. The family in this case includes two small dogs; Diego and Barry. In the old kitchen design, Diego and Barry’s food bowls were placed in a corner near the dining table and had the tendency to get knocked over when the chairs around the table were moved too quickly. Their dog food was stored in the kitchen under a small desk area in a functional but unattractive plastic container. To address these challenges, S Interior Design customized the toe kick (the area under the cabinetry) at the far end of the kitchen so it slides in and out and the dog bowls can be placed inside of it. When the bowls aren’t in use, they can slide in and out of site. A custom hinged bin cabinet that flows seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry was included to store the dry dog food in. Diego and Barry also got new dog beds upholstered in high performing Cryptonite fabric that coordinates beautifully with the new window treatments and seat cushions.
About the author: Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID is the owner of S Interior Design. S Interior Design makes homes harmonious, functional and beautiful for families with 2-legged and 4-legged members. Suzanne has an M.B.A. and an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design. Suzanne offers years of real world experience, giving her clients the peace of mind to know that their projects will be professionally handled from start to finish. She is an experienced residential and small commercial interior designer and is the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™ ‘Stunning Interiors with Pets in Mind’.
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