Just a couple weeks away now and it seems as though everything is centered around market, That means it is about setting appointments with the different companies that you already have accounts with to see their new products. Finding new companies that you want to see their products in person. And the all important hoping that you will find those items that you know will be the next big thing and hoping that you and only you tie it up for your area. It is about fashion and design, negotiating the best terms you can and getting product that no one else has or seen. It is about finding those great unique pieces that set a room off that make everyone stop and stare in amazement. It is about surprising your clients with new ideas and it is about having a great time networking with your friends and competitors.

These are the companies that I know I will be visiting:

 If you haven’t seen their products, they are fantastic. Canadel makes beautiful dining room furniture, Chandra has beautiful stylist area rugs at great prices, Stanley is a staple in American furniture, and Younger has a great look for contemporary upholstery. Last time I was at market my two big finds were Wunderly and Bramble Co.

Wunderly has these amazing moroccan inspired pieces that add an element of surprise to any room. And Bramble Co has this great ability to put together both traditional and french country and allow for any piece to be any color.

 So the question is what will I find this year? What will be the newest and hottest trend? Will that trend catch on and become a staple or will it fade faster than it came in? Will we select the right new companies to bring on? Will our clients love all the new styles and ideas? The answers will be determined in a few weeks. Check back for all the updates on Furniture Fashion Week!

There are so many things that I love about my job/career that I thought I would share some of my favorite things. As an interior designer I get to be a part of creating an environment for my client that is not only beautiful but functional. And my favorite part is when the job is complete and I see the huge smiles on their faces because it is more than they ever thought it would be.

There are many points that lead up to this magical moment and sometimes they can be challenging. However, that is what makes that finishing point so much more worth it. Those challenges can include set backs that we didn’t know would happen. Sometimes things look fantastic on paper and it seems as though they will just fall into place. But here is the difference, paper is 2D and life is 3D. So just because a material should work in one way doesn’t mean it actually will. The heat and humidity effect products such as wood, stucco, paint and fabric. This means that a large part of our job as interior designers is the ability to think on our feet and come up with ways to make things work when the environment doesn’t want it to.

One area that I am always warning clients about is ceiling lighting. This is one area that almost always gets drawn in one manner for the plans and then has to be changed on-site once the trusses are actually in place. I am asked all the time why this is and the simple answer is that plans give you the ideal situation. If everything goes as planned we can put the lighting in those designated places. Reality is that there will almost always be a girder truss, a support that we cannot cut, in the way of the ideal placement. So how do we handle this? We change configurations, we adjust floor plans, we think on our feet to come up with something better than we thought we could do. We challenge ourselves. This part is where we excel, we get to take all those ideas that run through our heads constantly and implement them. Did you think we only had one plan for your home or office? No way, we have probably 10 for every project we do. We think about how to twist, adapt and reconfigure everything.

We get to be creative for our everyday work. Does that mean that all day everyday is just roses. No there are times that we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Hard work. I am always leery of the designer that is always dressed in the best clothes and just seems to point and do a whole lot of talking. There are many days that I have to show up to work in jeans and comfortable shoes because I am going to be on a construction site, or have to pick up a hammer or paint brush. Our job is to make sure the project gets done and in the manner it is supposed to. This means that sometimes we have to do the work that the sub didn’t show up to do. Or maybe it is just because we have an idea in our head that the only way to accomplish it is to do it ourselves. There have been many times over the years that I have painted a mural for a special client, or upholstered a bench. Sometimes it has even been to build a piece of furniture that was absolutely essential to a space but could not be found in the furniture market. And those are some of the most rewarding times. That smile of the child’s face because they love their room. That client or contractor that realizes that there was no way the project would have worked if you had not been there. That appreciation makes it all worth it.

Everyday is a different day with different challenges to accomplish. And at the end of the day no matter how hard it was and how much it did not go according to plan there is always an answer and I will have found it. And my client will have a better space because of my constant pursuit of the right answer for their space.

I had an interesting situation come up recently that had me thinking about how people view interior designers. I was reminded of a few things about the relationship between the interior designer and the client or potential client. The first is that an interior designer cannot be pushed on a person. There are some people that feel that they have absolutely no need for an interior designer. These people most of the time are really just afraid that the designer is going to do what they want and ignore the client. And I wish that this was a completely empty fear. I will say that if it is good interior design the fear is empty, however there are people in my profession just like in every profession who are not the best example of the business. Now there are also many times in which even this client that thinks they know everything really doesn’t know what they want. They probably have a great deal of pictures, and may have seen a bunch of different products that they like but they really don’t know what is tying the theme together. I have found many  times that a client will bring me a photo and tell me that this is what they want, but when we go through the photo they don’t like the architectural accents, they hate the paint color and would prefer different furnishings. Now I know what you are thinking then how could they possibly cut out a picture and love the picture but not like the element in the design? Simple – they like the feeling that is created and the way that the photo was shot but not the actual design. This happens more than you would believe. And the number one culprit of this is the person who thinks that they don’t need a designer. And in the end will they be happy with the job – they may. Would they have been happier if they worked with a designer that got down to the bottom of why they wanted certain things and made sure that everything that went into the job was perfect for them – absolutely! But again this person cannot have a designer pushed on them. In fact the more that they are told they need a designer the more they resist and think of reasons as to why the know more than any designer would.

The relationship between the client and the designer is extremely important. The client needs to repect and value the designers opinion and the design must do the same in return. It cannot be a one sided relationship. And although you would think that having complete free rein on a job is the interior designers joy in many ways it isn’t. If the client does not provide feedback it can be a big red flag. Because there needs to be that meeting of the minds in which the designer knows that they have hit the right combinations for the client. And the client needs to be excited to see the project completed. There are times when the trust gets pushed, when the designer will suggest something outside of the clients comfort zone. These can be scary times for the client and if the trust is not there then the project could fall apart. But if the trust is there these outside of the comfort zones moments are going to be the ones that create the biggest joy for the client later when the project is complete. And interior designer is not hired to do what the lady down the street could do by going to their local home improvement store. An interior designer is hired to create an amazing space that is everything the client had in mind and so much more because they never could have dreamed of all the things that actually are created.

I get asked the question all the time is there a difference between an interior designer and a decorator? And the simple answer is yes. The main difference between an interior designer and a decorator is education. And interior designer is going to have a college degree in the design field, while a decorator usually does not. Now that does not mean that the only difference is a degree but that is where the basis for the difference is going to begin. Because a designer has a degree there are certain things that they automatically do for their clients that a decorator probably will not do. Interior designers will draw full scale renderings and space planning diagrams. These can be done by hand or with a computer program usually AutoCAD or Rivet. And many designers will use a combination of both the hand drawn rendering and the computer added drawing. For instance, I will do a hand drawn rendering for a space that I will be remodeling and furnishing but I will also do an AutoCAD drawing for any tile designs so that the installer has a clear scale drawing to order product from. This kind of work is extremely rare from a decorator since they simply do not have the background.

An interior designer will have the knowledge to read and draw blueprints. One disclaimer the blueprints will still need to be stamped by an architect and/or engineer. But the knowledge that the interior designer has gained through their schooling allows then to know how a building is constructed and what building codes need to be followed. This also gives the interior design the knowledge to understand a set of blueprints and know what can be moved or changed to an existing structure. Very few decorators have the full understanding of a set of blueprints and even fewer know how to draw blueprints.

And interior designer knows and understands the construction of furnishings. When designers are in school they are required to take classes on the construction and history of furnishings. And most interior designers have at least once made a piece of furniture to complete their intricate knowledge of the product. Most decorators rely on sales people at retail furniture stores for their knowledge of furniture production.

Interior designers are trained in color theory and the psychology of color. Part of a design education is the knowledge and understanding of how to properly use color. This includes not only the best way to put colors together but also how the color combinations will effect people. An interior designer has studied what are the best colors for a productive work environment, to create an appetizing dining environment, and how to create a relaxing retreat. These skills are extremely important because how the space feels to the occupant is a major part of how it will function. Decorators usually rely on how they feel about colors when creating spaces.

And interior designer is concerned not only with how a space looks but how it will function. An interior designer understands that all good design must function properly. Form and function are one and the same with an interior designer. A decorator usually is more concerned with the overall look instead of if the end result functions properly. If you have ever heard someone say that the project is reminds them of the creator it was most likely a decorator that created it. Designers know that the design is not about them but the people that will be working in and living in the space.

Interior designers spend a great deal of time honing their craft through education. This education is what sets them apart form the decorators in the field. By working with a skilled interior designer you get their vast knowledge and skills that simply are not available to the common decorator. And considering that decorators are now charging the same as interior designers it is definitely worth the money to seek out the educated interior designer.