Being a mediator, psychic and time traveller

25 Oct

A dear friend bought me some gifts with the Emma Kelsall Interiors logo on. A notebook, tote bag and mug. They are great. The back of the mug says ‘Interior Designer, because bad ass miracle worker isn’t an official title’. It made me laugh and I bet there’s a lot of you who can identify with that sentiment, whatever your job. But it made me think about what people assume an interior designer does. It’s one of those roles where people think they know what you do, or maybe they understand part of the role, but I’m not sure that many people fully understand what is involved. Some of those TV design programmes really don’t help matters. They show people running up a few cushions or spray painting an old mirror to use in a design that has been cobbled together in two days. No wonder people’s idea of the role is often far from reality. I’ve not been near a spray can in any of my designs and I barely know one end of a sewing needle from the other.

Interior design as a profession is nothing new, though it feels like a modern development. It began as a specific discipline around the 14th to 16th centuries when the Renaissance spread across Europe. As a commercial entity, interior design came about as a result of the Industrial Revolution in the 18thC with the emergence of mass-produced goods and materials.

Today, with advancement in technology and the products available to people who want to create pleasant surroundings, the interior designer role is multi-faceted and complex, and still very often misunderstood.

So, what exactly does an interior designer do? Swan about all day in high end furniture stores? Go to lots of design exhibitions? Throw a few colour schemes together? Sadly not. Although these might make up some of the role (I’ve yet to make it to the Very High End Furniture Stores…..note to self for future goals) much of the work is the same as many other design role. Behind the scenes, lots of office based work, paperwork and time consuming admin.

Let’s explore some of the things involved in being an interior designer.

Working backwards, the interior designer uses a client brief to go back to basics to create a design for a space. This involves firstly really listening to the client, not only about their aesthetic likes and dislikes, but also how they live their life, how they use the space or plan to, what practical needs must be considered (from children and pets using the space, to wheelchair access and adaptions for particular needs). These basics must come before any conversations about the colour of the paint or what fabric the curtains should be. If you get the fundamentals wrong, none of the design will work. Learning about the client’s hobbies, work, family life and listening and interpreting very carefully are the first steps to gaining trust and coming up with an excellent design.

The interior designer implements what are known as the 7 elements of interior design when beginning to create. These are space, light, form, texture, colour, furniture and objects. I’ve talked before about light and how the quality of natural daylight can affect a room. The physical space will influence how a room flows, dictated by the size and shape of the room or building. Form encompasses the geometrical elements of items to be used in the design. Texture is often overlooked by clients who tend to focus on colour, but the differing textures in a design (velvet sofa, soft carpeting, linen curtains, fluffy throws) add depth and interest.

From these initial foundations, the designer then gets to the more practical work. Once an initial brief (and budget! Don’t forget the budget!) is mutually decided between client and designer, the hard graft, background work can begin. This starts with initial sketches and ideas, just what develops from seedling thoughts. Layout of the space and flow schematics usually follow. Flow schematics are useful diagrams produced by the designer that demonstrate how people move through a room and are particularly useful in kitchens and busy sections as they show up any areas that might cause a ‘blockage’, become dangerous or simply just annoying because the layout always causes someone or something to be in your way. A good flow diagram will help to overcome this as much as possible. A full layout design is useful for the client to see how furniture and items will be placed to best make use of the space.

A layout flow diagram A rendered layout

Some designs require the interior designer to produce lighting and electrical plans too. This is usually when a space is being physically altered in some way and building work will take place. The plan is to guide other trades such as builders and electricians as to where lighting, sockets and such like need to be placed to ensure the space works well. For example, ensuring there are enough sockets, well situated in an office space for computers, lamps, chargers etc. Or in a living room, so lamp sockets aren’t hidden behind a heavy bookcase for example.

Talking of other trades, one of the key elements of the work of the interior designer is communicating and working with a host of other professionals. Architects, builders, electricians, plumbers, decorators, carpenters and anyone else who might be involved in the design and development of a space/room/house. Organisational skills, communication skills, understanding the fundamentals of other roles, juggling time frames and diplomacy are all elements required to ensure everyone is happy, especially the client! In some design jobs, the interior designer might project manage, though not always.

Research, research, research. The furniture to be used, flooring, lighting, wall coverings, paints, rugs, cushions, curtains, accessories, the list goes on. Every designer has their ‘go to’ catalogue of places they know provide quality and service, but every single design is different and will require excellent research to ensure all the best products are purchased according to brief, at the right cost, in the correct lead time and of course, that will most suit the design. I like to use vintage and antique pieces in designs as much as I can (if clients want this) as you can really gain character from these items plus they are more sustainable. But you often have to act quickly to purchase vintage items and they need to be thoroughly researched to ensure good quality.

Helping the client to visualise the design is vital. This is where quality mood boards, design boards, drawings and 3D imagery come in. These days, designers need to be able to sketch and draw alongside having a good working knowledge of software that produces quality 3D images and rendered, lifelike pictures. Each designer has their own skills and preferences as to how they produce the imagery and will utilise different software. Coming to this career later in life meant I had to face a steep learning curve involving computer software and how to use it. I’ll admit, the air has been blue at times.

A mood board A design board

Some hand drawn images and software created images

One of my favourite elements of the job is gathering samples to show clients. Sample tiles, flooring, wall paper, fabric and paint swatches all help build a picture and can be assembled in a mood board for a client. Ordering samples always brings an element of excitement as they drop through the door. It feels like a present arriving even though it isn’t for me!

Finally, a full written report explaining your rationale for the design choices and a complete item list with costings, sizes, supplier and other details finalise the process…for now.

Once a design is complete, it’s presentation time. Always nerve wracking, the designer persistently has that moment of ‘will they like it?’. Interior designers are always prepared for revisions. There is no such thing as the perfect design. You can, however, aim for excellent design. This will always involve a revision or tweak (or several!).

After that comes making the design a reality!

All jobs are different. Some might just involve some colour advice or some layout changes. Others could be a full house redesign including building work, new bathroom, new kitchen and everything that goes with it. Whatever the task, all or some of the process described will be used.

The skills you won’t see listed in any interior design job description are these:

Relationship counsellor: Brian wants to keep his Mother’s favourite mahogany dresser. Mary hates it, has done for years and wants rid. The interior designer is stuck in the middle, mediating.

Financial advisor: the client wants to replicate a famous footballer’s mansion on the budget of £3.50

Psychic: having asked all the right questions, done the research and come up with a colour scheme of green and blue, the client announces they don’t like green. Hates it in fact.

Time traveller: the client wants a full downstairs redesign including new kitchen completed by Christmas when the in laws are coming to stay. It’s the 1st December.

It’s a great job though. Making people happy, helping them to create beautiful spaces that work for them and bring joy is an absolute privilege.

Emma x

Emma Kelsall Interiors

This week’s links:

A beautiful Victorian town house with a kitchen and walk-in pantry to die for: https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/laura-stephens-london-house?fbclid=IwAR1CF4qwpdPoSqamTn7j-k8o7p9OhizjxjWaLVpNEnGJfTZjePJko57GFkc

A link to the FB page of Southampton Wood Recycling Project who make fantastic kitchen islands, worktops, desks and other wonderful things: https://www.facebook.com/southamptonwoodrecyclingproject/posts/pfbid02rXMmc9wD3bdH73dYYvGojLZWzhQXmhaFvMXRCpNX3WAHQ3cFu4kBSxkFgXayzEf3l

If you like Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club books, number 4, The Last Devil to Die is out now, half price in WHSmith. I’ve read it and would say it’s his best yet. https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-last-devil-to-die/richard-osman/hardback/9780241512449.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw-eKpBhAbEiwAqFL0mjDwGtFduIziaskld7ePsTLI9q3iKhVWKa_qxxK2L7_w5AD7Lf0qhRoCcGsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This looks like a real autumn warmer. I haven’t tried it, let me know what it’s like if you do! https://www.dorsetseasalt.co.uk/blogs/recipes/mushroom-ragu-with-polenta-and-watercress-mash