I was looking for inspiration recently, and happened upon this beautiful architecturally designed home. My first impression was that this was an incredibly well designed house, with many elements of interest and skillful, creative architecture. However, I soon found myself thinking, Yes, but who would live here?
This home was designed by architect Ramon Esteve, and was featured on the Designboom website. Photo credit: Mariela Apollonio.
When I look at perfect houses like this, I can only ever imagine someone perfect living in them. I certainly couldn’t imagine anyone with a young family being comfortable here. Instead I picture someone with only one or two adult children, who spend a lot of time away from home, who do not drop clothes on the floor, and who do make the bed – perfectly! The interior would have to be styled using only the ideal accents and furniture, and everything would need to be restrained. Could the owners ever truly relax and blob out if they wished?!
As an interior designer I can do a perfect look, but the truth is no one is really perfect… In fact, so much of what I see in the industry now is celebrating imperfection. Fabrics that have slubs and texture or colour variations by being constructed from different methods are becoming increasingly popular. There are even fabrics that are intentionally rumpled through tumbling when dyed. At a time when more and more homes are being built with wall to wall glass, it is more important than ever that we add elements of interest and age to ensure our interiors are both interesting and comfortable. It is imperative that a house feels like a home.
While I believe architects do an incredible job (and I must emphasise that I am in awe of the house I have featured in this post), I also believe that the actual interior fit is not always where an architect’s expertise lies. Kitchens, for example, don’t have to be a simple format of a galley style kitchen with island bench and a small walk in pantry or scullery. In fact, I would argue that there are many other options available, and, in my experience, sometimes these ideas come about when your interior designer gets an idea of your personality, and what you are personally comfortable with. Thankfully, many leading architects employ interior designers to work with them to ensure both the inside and the outside of the homes they design are functional and beautiful (I would advise that you check whether or not this is the case if you are considering working with an architect).
The reverse is also true: Most interior designers do not have the same skill set or training as architects . So although designers can help you achieve the look you’d envisioned for your kitchen, many would need to work alongside a qualified kitchen designer in order to accurately draw a plan with correct layouts and spacing; knowing the style and look is not necessarily enough when it comes to design. Just as I suggested above, it is always worth taking the time to ask any professionals you might hire exactly where their strengths lie.
I am of the strong opinion that to create a truly beautiful yet livable home, experts in the design industry need to work together; that collaboration is often required to achieve the perfect balance of comfort and style. What’s the point in having the most beautiful house on the street, if it doesn’t feel like a home?
I pride myself on my ability to work with other professionals to ensure my clients’ homes are both comfortable and stylish. Though I am an interior designer first and foremost, I do have a range of other skills and experiences that may be valuable to you (this includes the ability to draw up a complete kitchen design, manufacture and install curtains and blinds using my own dedicated team, create exterior colour schemes, design breathtaking gardens, and more). So if you’re looking to build, renovate, or rejuvenate your house, give me a call – I would love to help you create the home of your dreams.
Interior Designer, Tauranga
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