How to get in step with your new designer
Know what you like and be honest about how you’ll use your space and you’ll be well ahead of the game when meeting with a designer, writes Katie Laughridge.
Working with a designer is an exciting opportunity to take your design dreams to the next level. A designer’s role is to help you think outside the box and arrive at a design destination that you might not have otherwise travelled.
A client-designer relationship is like a dance. We’re happy to take the lead, but if both dancers know the footwork, generally things can progress a little more in step.
If you are a little unsure of how to begin this process, you can do a bit of prep work before meeting your designer, which will help ensure your design meetings run smoothly.
Before you meet with your designer, think through these things.
Know what you like and what you don’t
If you know you hate red, it’s OK to say it. We love hearing what you don’t like just as much as what you do. It makes the process go more smoothly.
When you are familiar with and can articulate what you like – and sometimes more importantly what you don’t like – your designer can more quickly and accurately identify the right design concept for your space.
Be realistic about your lifestyle and how you are going to use your space
When meeting with you, we might ask questions about components of your lifestyle and how your space needs to function, and anything that might point us in a particular direction regarding furniture frames, fabrics and more.
If you have pets or small children, for example, we might steer you towards performance fabrics that are easy to clean.
These questions help us to better hone in on the details that elevate your design into something that is a reflection of you and how you live your life.
How do you want your furniture to feel?
Are you a fan of the feel and look of crushed velvet, or are you looking for a chunky woven organic texture in your fabric?
If you know you are needing a performance fabric but are worried about them feeling hard or stiff, I’m excited to tell you that performance fabric has come a long way in recent years, and can feel just as rich and buttery as traditional piles.
In fact, the sofas in my living room and sectional in my family room are all lightly coloured performance fabrics – a necessity with my two little ones.
Additionally, think about
what kind of cushions you are after and the kind of maintenance that you are willing to take on.
Are you a die-hard fan of down, or do you need something with more support? Do you want to set and forget, or are you prepared to fluff after each use? There is no wrong answer. All options produce beautiful results. Just know what your lifestyle requires.
Shop designer Anne absolutely adores her ticking stripe sectional but would warn her clients before selecting down for a high-traffic lounging spot.
Her small dog has taken to nesting on the top cushions of the sofa and is always leaving an Oliver-sized smoosh in one, a problem less likely to happen with a more sturdy, supportive fill.