I've always loved interior design. Always!!! From my first home economics class I was drawing house plans to arranging furniture on paper as well as in my bedroom. I've always liked accessories for the home a little more than for my outfit and wood shop was one of my favorite classes in middle school.
I took architecture classes in high school. My architecture teacher, Mr. Fletter, was a great inspiration to me and I couldn't wait to go to the school he graduated from. Attending Ball State was a lot of fun, but I found that architecture wasn't really what I wanted to settle down with. While I love space planning I really love all of the aspects in interior design. Fabrics, woods, metals, cabinetry, appliances, window treatments, flooring, plumbing fixtures and accessories as well as many other things catch my eye and intrigue me. No two rooms are ever identical and each new client's home was an opportunity for challenge and creativity while bringing out their personality.
A lot of my job entails reading people. You have to know how your client will react so that you can gain their trust and friendship. Most projects take months to develop and you will be working with the client closely so the relationship must be strong. Knowing what your client likes helps you to provide better service, which is what design is - providing a creative service that they do not posess.
Understanding the fundamentals of design is just the begining. Putting together the pieces of the puzzle can be far more complicated than most people give credit for. Four months ago I was approached by a couple I know in Charleston. While Carrie had begun designing her kitchen she had several questions and wanted my professional assistance. "This is a lot harder than I thought", she said. It isn't easy. You have to know the product you are using in order to know it's limitiations and how to properly place things in your kitchen. Dimension codes change constantly and you have to account for hardware protrusion, door and drawer clearances and other details.
You can always tell when someone other than a professional has planned the space. I know some architects that may have their license but never leave enough space between the windows for furniture because it looks more appealing to be symmetrical from the outside. They have also been known to try and plan your cabinets without knowing how big refrigerators are these days or that low windows in a kitchen mean akward kitchen layout for cabinety. Builders are funn too. They ask you to design the kitchen and then they move the plumbing to another wall or ignore your layout alltogether and place walls where they want to after the cabinets have been ordered (lots of fun to explain to the client that you have to redesign the kitchen with smaller cabinets because the builder didn't listen). Not all builders and architects are like this which is why it is important to interview. I find that it is important to interview the designer yo uare working with as well. They want to know if you will work well with them too.
One thing that a lot of people don't see is that your designer often plays general contractor. We take the plans from the architect and work on the design. While the builder watches over the sub contractors to build the home foundation, the designer assists with the space and placement of cold air returns, thermostats, cabinetry, plumbing, outlets, appliances, and other permanent items. Space is limited most of the time so every inch counts. If the cabinets are off by an inch in one direction or another you could have to order a new cabinet, which may not have the exact same finish as the rest.
After eleven years of designing I have decided to take a step back breifly. I want to see where the economy takes Grand Rapids this year. While I gather information about the current design trends in Grand Rapids, I am also rediscovering what the market is like. Where do you shop for furniture now that Klingman's is closed? Will Gorman's succeed this time around? Who are the successful builders right now? Is anyone building cabinetry on site or is everything premanufactured? As I run around Grand Rapids checking out the latest shops and design studios I will fill you in on the details to make your life (and mine) a little easier.
My passion for design hasn't died and, rest assured, I am not giving up. I just need to know where Grand Rapids stands so that I can know where to begin my work. As always, you may contact me at any time with questions, concerns and comments.
