As an interior designer, my number one priority is to create spaces that authentically reflect my clients’ personalities, tastes, and lifestyles. Each house is as unique as the people who live in it, and it is an honor to have a hand in creating the spaces that my clients call home.
One of the first steps in the interior design process is the Programming meeting. This is where I meet with the client to learn as much as possible about them, their family, and the project we are embarking on together. We talk about their desired outcome for their home, how they envision living in the space, and their aesthetic preferences. We look at inspiration photos together and spend time getting to know each other so that I have a better understanding of who I am designing for. This is one of my favorite meetings because I love getting to know my clients on a personal level.
Some of the questions I like to ask in this meeting are:
- Do you like to entertain and how do you entertain?
- Will children be living in the space and, if so, what are their ages?
- Are there any pets in the home and are they allowed on the furniture?
- Does anyone in the household have special needs or ageing in place requirements?
- Do you have any hobbies that require a dedicated space, like sewing or crafting?
- Do you have art or wine collections that we need to design for?
- What do you consider your style to be?
- Do you prefer a bold color palette or more muted tones?
By attentively listening to my clients’ preferences, I am able to gain insight into their individual style inclinations and functional needs so that I can create a home that is uniquely theirs. After all, our homes should be much more than mere aesthetics. They should encapsulate the narratives of our lives, the memories, passions, and dreams.
Karen Black