When I was nine, I worked on my first interior design project, wallpapering my pet rabbit’s pen.
Because I was inexperienced and didn’t know the process, I tried to nail the paper to the frame, which of course, didn’t work. Like many novice interior designers, I knew what I wanted but didn’t know how to achieve the desired result.
Whether it is new construction or a remodel, many decisions must be made, more than the lay person can image. For example, take a chair. But let’s be specific. Let’s use an upholstered arm chair for our example. Looking at this upholstered arm chair, how many components are involved in the construction of this chair? The lay person may say fabric, trim, wood. An interior designer may submit a list something like this: fabric, buttons (what size, shape, covered, or finished), wood, shape of the legs, frame, frame construction, loose seat cushion, loose or tight back, nailhead trim (size, shape, finish), cushion (shape, size, firmness). And this isn’t all—many more details can be added to this chair and must be in order to achieve a finished product. Therefore, imagine a room filled with furniture requiring these decisions; then several rooms. Now, think of the rooms themselves. What type of windows, wall treatments, floors, doors, fireplaces, trims, etc? The list is endless and can be overwhelming to one unaccustomed to either seeing the details or making decisions on these details for a pleasing result. Professional interior designers are trained and certified for this. Asking for help is all that is required.
For those interested in reading about interior design, I will periodically share my reading list with you. Currently, I am re-reading The House in Good Taste by Elsie de Wolfe. It’s a classic and as appropriate today as when it was written in the 1950’s.
Find joy in the day.