There's something exciting about new projects. I love meeting new people, figuring out what they like, how they live. How they want their home to feel. But there's also a sense of exhilaration. (or is it panic?)
I go into a meeting not knowing any of the answers and somehow after a process it sorts itself out. This process, trusting the process, is very satisfying. I have no idea what clients will want or how I will solve their design challenges. But I always know that I will solve it. So I guess it's a panic wrapped in confidence. The two work well together, actually.
It's like in art school. Each project you start with the worry that you have no idea how to solve the assignment and then you do. That panic/worry drives the creative process for me.
Coming up with a color scheme that makes a client's heart sing is so fun for me. So how do I start from nothing? How do I get the vision? I have a designer friend who walks into a house and sees it completed. The first time she walks in the door. I do "see" it completed, but not on the first visit. How do I get there? Many clients ask and I can only sort of explain. There's no exact science to it, but there are steps:
I start with a floor plan. Architecture drives a lot of layout as does a person's lifestyle. While I am working on that, I work on color scheme for the fabrics. I look to what undertones people like and what kind of patterns…If you like grey-ed out color, or pastels, for example. If you hate green (sad but sometimes true), if you only like cream and shades of tan, if you like patterns that don't actually match, if you like high contrast, low contrast, geometric patterns, regular patterns, irregular repeats. Then there's the type of weave you like: chenille, woven, damask, etc.. Unless you are a designer of some ilk, these considerations may not even come into your consciousness — really who goes about thinking about these things? I do. Every day, actually. I am a design geek.
Most people are consistent in their taste, and after a few fun exercises, we sort it out. All the options go in. The solution comes out like a sieve. It's so exciting and fun to figure this out with my clients. One of my current clients says: how do you know that about me? Well, that's what I do for a living and hopefully she doesn't feel too analyzed. 🙂
Thought I'd share with you a current project. I am totally excited about it. Here's the gold, grey-blue and rust color scheme. These colors will run through the house in different proportions in different rooms. It's really pretty, don't you think?
Repeating colors is not boring. It feels good and is consistent. It's not a color palette that is fashion-forward. I had a hard time finding any fabrics that contain all the colors, so we are mostly mixing solids which can be pleasing done in the right proportions. Here are the fabrics laid out on the sectional in the family room.
I still have some fabrics to find. Bed skirt fabrics, a chair in the library, but it's coming together and we are so excited. I'll post as we go a long.
PS The rugs on the floor are choices for the stair case that will be in the entry way. We need to look at it all together in the new house — next week. Can't wait!