What makes a Good Interior Designer?
I was recently asked to describe my style as an interior designer.
A good interior designer, I replied, is like a chameleon.
When clients come to me for help with styling their homes, I put my personal preferences aside and become the chameleon.
Willing and able to adapt to any environment, the chameleon transforms itself into whatever the given situation requires. From bold and brightly coloured to a more muted natural palette, the chameleon is not afraid to experiment with colour and texture – as long as they work with its surroundings.
My job is not to tell people what to do with their homes and how to do it. My job is to put myself in my clients’ shoes. I listen to their ideas and ask questions about their lives, and I use that information to come up with the design that I know will work best for them.
At times I challenge my clients, presenting them with ideas and designs that may not be quite what they’d expected. But I firmly believe that that’s exactly what a good designer should do. Like the chameleon, my decisions are not guided by emotion, they are driven by need. Interior design needs to be practical, functional and beautiful. It needs to be an expression of your self.
We all have our own tastes and sense of style, but when I’m invited into your home I leave mine at the door. Like any true professional, my work is not about me. As my client, I am inspired by you.
Interior Designer, Tauranga
