The Top 5 recommendations I make to all my clients
Consider the ‘imagine’ scenarios
There are as many imagine scenarios as there are homes, and naturally yours are unique to you and your family.
A powerful technique is to consider the different ways we live and operate in our home.
Delineating between the different realms we live in – the private moments, the social moments, the quieter times and the busier times, as individuals and as a larger family, we are able to uncover what truly means the most to us.
2. Dare to be different
Often easier said than done. Often, it’s simpler to choose a passive option for an interior scheme or one that you’ve perhaps seen in other homes.
Less overwhelm, less decisions to make in an already choice heavy situation.
However, by choosing to be guided by your specific personality and life experiences the outcome is many times more enjoyable than going with the popular or on-trend look.
As a designer it’s then my job to translate that into a cohesive and long-lasting outcome.
3. Understand the process
While you don’t have to understand the absolute nuts and bolts of construction, or the ins and outs of planning controls, I always urge a client to at least have an overarching view and understanding of exactly where they are in the process, what it means and what comes next and why.
Having that knowledge means you have more control, and therefore less overwhelm and opportunities for misunderstanding.
It’s less about getting into the absolute detail, as it is with my role, and more about enjoying the birds eye view with the knowledge that a professional is 100% representing you on the ground.
4. Trust the professionals
The right team of professionals are worth their weight in gold (and concrete).
There will come a stage where you will hand over the creation of your most beloved asset to a team of people who not only appreciate how important this is to you but have helped countless other people and families before you do the exact same.
Trust is paramount for less stress for you, and for a seamless build process through-out.
The key is informed trust as opposed to blind trust. Lastly, never ignore a gut feeling about something, queries are free, mistakes are not!
5. Pragmatism all the way
Pragmatism is practicality with knowledge, flexibility and composure.
It’s knowing that no design, build or decoration process is perfect.
It’s having an intrinsic understanding that trouble shooting solutions on a continual basis are the realistic thread that runs through the execution of your project.
It’s the attitude version of the icing on the cake.
You’ve uncovered the true purpose of how you want to live in your space.
You have infused it with your personality and unique life experiences.
You understand the stages to move through. You are backed up by a trustworthy team – and now you’re comfortable allowing the project to unfold to its completion.
