What is the First Step in an Interior Design Project?
You have decided to do an interior design project. You have hired the interior designer for your project. You have determined what the investment in this project will be. Now what?
As a professional interior designer in Bergen County, NJ this is what I do with my clients:
#1. The possibilities are endless.
There are lots of details to be addressed when starting a new project. Before the creative process can begin, I need to ask a lot of questions to make sure my clients and I are on the same path of understanding.
“Who, What, Where, When and How” not only applies to journalism. In interior design, it becomes the wish list (scope) and the to-do list comes from it. When I get all these answers, I can design for my client and know that they will be happy.
#2. There are many people involved—not just the client.
My team consists of building contractors, electricians,plumbers, HVAC contractors,painters, window treatment specialists, tile installers, furnishing vendors and other creative folks too. There is a lot of information needed to be asked and answered before a pencil gets to paper to make sure what I want to design is feasible, in code and will fit the budget.
Although I may not speak to every one of them, depending on what the project entails, if contacted, they provide practical knowledge and valuable information in formulating a design. The end result may look pretty, but a lot of input goes into the final result that you don’t see or know about.
#3. Creative design solutions result.
Once all the behind the scenes information and knowledge is gathered, it is time to put the pencil to the paper. This is when the designer’s talent and creativity is called upon. The designer’s expertise is revealed in the scaled drawing which includes all the features we determined together and even some we haven’t discussed. The visions presented to the clients for their approval come from all the work we did in step 1.
When you have a great design the rest will follow!
Now it’s time for step 2—Implementing the design. Are you ready?
