Your Designer Wants You to Know / Choose a Designer Based on Their Design
Here at House Seven, the New Year means new clients and fresh projects. Along with that, we’re committing to giving our blog some extra love this year. So to start, we’re beginning a new series on here to share some things your designer may want you to know. Over the years, we’ve worked with all different kinds of clients on a variety of different projects. In that process, we’ve refined our process to alleviate some of the frustrations and hurdles we’ve run into along the way. We hope some of the things we’ve learned through both small and big mishaps help improve the design process for you, both clients and designers alike.
When we first started offering design services, we found it pretty easy to get frustrated after an initial client meeting. Here’s why. The client would come in with their mood board excited to see their dream home come to life and we’d be just as excited to start drafting up that same dream home. Only to find out the dream homes we both had in mind were vastly different. We’d take a look at their inspiration and see loud colors, chromes, or busy rooms. If you’ve been following along here, you probably know most of our work at House Seven is neutral, subtle, and warm-obviously clashing with what said client was looking for.
Today’s tip is simple, but often forgotten. In your search for a designer, (we cannot stress this enough!) select someone based on your design taste. Not your budget, not your connections, not your location, etc. If they happen to fit within those categories, awesome. However, here’s a hot take: designers are not chameleons and one size does not fit all. Just like a fine artist, designers have a distinct style and process that separates them from other designers. If you want your home to have modern style with contemporary influences like bold jewel tones and metallic accents, a traditional designer who uses neutral tones and calming accent colors is probably not a good match for you. It’s important to find a designer that understands your taste and designs similarly to how you imagine your space.
Not sure how to find a designer who fits your style? Here are a few tips:
Identify your style. You can’t find a designer who fits your style if you don’t know what your style is to begin with. Explore different inspirations and make a Pinterest board to save your finds. Most likely, you’ll notice a pattern in your saves and you can start looking for designers who complement the same style.
Explore designers. Look at designers’ portfolios or websites to see their completed projects. Expand your search outside your local proximity. Most designers will travel or work with you virtually if the relationship is a good fit.
Have a conversation. Once you’ve nailed down a few designers you’re interested in. Reach out and schedule an initial conversation. Every designer’s process is a little different, but most begin with some sort of consultation or conversation. Share your inspiration and what you like about their design.
Be willing to continue your search. Chances are you will probably meet a designer or two that doesn’t really fit what you’re looking for. And that’s okay! Designers would much rather hear that than the project turn in to a total train wreck simply because it wasn’t a good fit from the start. Remember you will likely be working together for a bit of time and it’s okay to be picky.
It may be easy to choose a designer that a friend recommended or the one who works down the street, but we can almost guarantee that the process and end result of your design project will benefit greatly from spending some extra time on the front end to choose someone who you fully trust. We hope this read helps alleviate some of the stress and frustration that may come when searching for your dream designer.