After meeting with my client and going over the design proposal, I like to dive into who my client is and how my client wants to live. What does their space feel like? What does it look like? I’ll ask, even if it’s just a single room, what’s the function of the room? How does my client want to use this space? How do they want to live in this space? How do they want to navigate in this space? What do they want it to feel like? Who’s going to be using this room? What is it going to sound like? Are there going to be little kids running around? In a way, it almost like trying to set the soundtrack of the space. You want to get a feel for a room before you start the design. That always inspires me most when I begin working with my client.

When my client is having a hard time figuring out what direction they’d like to go in, I’ll think back to these conversations and figure out what would inspire them most. Using Pinterest, for example, it’s one of my favorite tools to use when I start a project. And it’s beneficial for my client to show me examples of what they might have in mind. It’s always finding those common denominators behind my client and helps narrow down selections. I like to think of it as creating a North Star with my client to guide them through the decision-making process.

This also helps build trust between my client and me so that when I present them with selections, they know that each can be either tied to or reflected on a specific aspect of my client. Or when my client brings me their thoughts and ideas, I can act as a mediator to steer their journey of designing their home in the right direction.

Virtual Consultation

Even during this age of COVID-19, the process remains the same because I go through the same design process as an out-of-state client by working virtually. Getting photos from my clients is a tremendous help, especially receiving photos that include any purchasing decisions (i.e., clothing, jewelry, accessories, etc.) it helps me determine what my client’s style and personality are, what their color preferences are, and what they like investing their money in. Diving into that alone, I can even get a good idea of what sort of patterns my client would prefer. Looking at those little inspirations can honestly make such a significant impact on making selections.

Sharing photos is very significant. My client can tell me what they love about a particular design they may have seen before, and from that, I’m able to deduce the design elements they were drawn to the most. If my client is a perfectionist, designs that offer symmetry and balance with a bit of contrast to offer those crisp lines would most likely be the best fit for them. However, their line of work may also come into play. For example, an architect or an engineer that spends their day working with numbers and exactness may prefer their home to be a retreat from that sort of perfectionism and may be drawn to a more relaxed and soft design style. I’ve mentioned this before in my Minimalism Design blog post!

Every client is different, and it’s so much fun delving into their world to make their house a home!