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There may be ghosts helping you make those interior design decisions
Dear Jean and Richard, How do you create a design to match someone’s personal tastes? –Bob and Eloise, Hendersonville
Jean: The cautionary adage “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is certainly true in our field, but there are levels of taste in every style. We try not to dictate the style, but rather to maintain high standards for every design.
Richard: Every job begins with an extensive interview. We ask about lifestyle, like ‘do you entertain?’ or ‘do you have pets?’ We ask style questions, too, such as ‘what kinds of wall treatments do you like?’, ‘do you collect antiques?’, or ‘do you prefer a more sparse or full look?’. We even ask what a client’s favorite colors are. Sometimes Jean gets personal… she’ll ask what’s in your closet!
Jean: And I’m not looking for skeletons. The fact is, some people don’t know what their favorite colors are, but their closet will tell us. If half the wardrobe is green, well—there’s a clue!
Richard: Also, while one of us is interviewing, the other is scanning rooms, petting pooches and looking in the medicine cabinet.
Jean: When it comes to a client’s personal tastes, often it’s a memory that haunts them. I once presented a dining room design that included large scale floral wallpaper and period furniture. The client responded with, “It reminds me of Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house. I hated Grandma!” Needless to say I moved on… It’s often about our histories.
Richard: Someone’s history can be a positive influence, too. People who grew up in urban environments often have different priorities than those who grew up in the country, for example. And their tastes in art and accessories can vary dramatically. The rules of good design still apply, though—scale, proportion, color balance, etc. And one’s grandfather’s overalls are not art. We will always push people to the edge of their taste comfort zone, but ultimately respect their wishes.
Jean: I think that’s the main reason they hire us….so their home is more fun or beautiful than they would have come up with on their own.
Richard: Somewhere in everyone’s personal taste is a level of drama, humor, serenity and comfort.