Interior Design Conceptualizing

Back in January, I booked a large, fast-paced project, giving me very little time to sit down and write anything. We are nearing completion, time is opening up a bit, and I’m starting to look again at my own home, dreaming of all the things I would love to do, and remembering how important it is that I treat my own home as I would one of my client’s projects, rather than to stumble through and impulse buy as needs arise. This is a bad habit many designers tend to gravitate toward due to our hesitance to bring work into our homes.

See, the thing that makes a design is a plan, a concept, a consistent idea that is carried through from start to finish. It should be an idea that is present in every element, in every decision. Of course, this becomes complicated when we have 1- a passion for all things design, and 2- conflicting styles between the homeowners.

Being an interior designer who is married to an architect, it is easy to get lost in spontaneous ideas of our “good taste” and want to purchase items we see and fall in love with. But the problem to that is that we have not yet developed a plan.

Enter the Design Concept
In order to create the underlying concept that will be continued through each space, I like to look at the elements and principles of design. I step away from the “design style” and the pieces I see that I like. Instead, I’m thinking about things such as line, shape, scale, texture, harmony, unity, and balance.

When I work with a homeowner, I look at their existing space (if applicable) and/or their inspiration photos, and the elements and principles that are consistent in them. In order to develop a truly beautiful design for my own family, I must do the same. However, in this case, I have the most difficult clients imaginable. Myself, and my husband. Two designers who have a vision, but apparently have a hard time merging this vision. And, so I am taking on the challenge of stepping outside the “home” and into the workplace, viewing my home and our design communication the way that I would a client’s.

In almost every project I work on, I meet couples with differing visions and styles. I study what they love and present a compliment of both styles in a tidy little package. Every time, they ooh and ahh at how I managed to convey both of them in the design and truly listen to their needs. I dated my husband for ten years, and we have been married for seven. After seventeen years, I still have not “nailed” his design style or found a way to fully compliment both of our visions.

I do know that we both like minimalistic design with clean lines. There is our line- nice and clean, simple. I know that we both revere nature and prefer raw elements. That guides my selections with texture and develops harmony in the design. I prefer rustic surfaces. I have always said the perfect furnishings for me can be hit with a heavy chain and it just adds more charm. He likes refined finishes. Here’s where we bring in the contrast in the design and introduce elements from both types.

Now, I also like steampunk styling with pipes and exposed functionality. I like bright, bold colors. He likes modern, commercial finishes and décor. He likes cool, crisp colors. Sometimes, we have to throw some of what we like out the window and know that it 1- just isn’t right for the space and 2- will not complement our significant others’ design aesthetic.  I have to do this in many homes and have never had a complaint until I started working with these two bull-headed designers (my husband and myself)!

Have I lost you yet? It’s complicated! A really great design allows time for the concept to be fully developed before taking off into design development.

While color is prevalent in any interior design concept and image, I have included my first go-round of a concept board for my stubborn clients. I realize that it may not be fully legible in print, so I urge you to take a look at the digital version of the article or visit my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/waldrondesigns) where I will be tracking the progress of our own project as well as many client projects! Of course, at this point I approve, but we’ll have to see what the other half says! It’s been a year of work to develop just this concept!

“How does this apply to my design project”, you wonder…

This applies to every design project. It is not unusual for me to get a call from a homeowner who just wants advice in selecting a color, or would like a few hours of my time. I am, of course, always happy to oblige and enjoy these small projects greatly as they produce instant gratification! However, these are not design projects. They are consulting projects where I offer my expertise based on past experiences and designs.

If you are looking to have a home that should grace the covers of the home magazines, a home that speaks a fluent language as occupants progress through it. It is my expert opinion that you first and foremost develop a design concept, and allow it time to progress and fully develop into something that moves you. It should speak to you, and be a presentation of you and your home. Take time in your projects. Do not rush them. Let them unfold, develop, and mature fully.