LOOKING FOR AN INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR YOUR NEW HOME IN BANGALORE? READ ON TO KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR INTERIOR DESIGNER AND HOW YOU CAN ENSURE THAT THE DESIGNER ENGAGEMENT DELIVERS THE VALUE YOU SEEK.

 LOOKING FOR AN INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR YOUR NEW HOME IN BANGALORE? READ ON TO KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR INTERIOR DESIGNER AND HOW YOU CAN ENSURE THAT THE DESIGNER ENGAGEMENT DELIVERS THE VALUE YOU SEEK.

When working with an interior designer, homeowners typically expect only good woodwork and carpentry. The following Q&A discusses why clients should expect more from their designers and why this is not only good for the project, but also for the collaboration between homeowner and designer. In addition, good interior design can change the lives of the occupants and help create a home culture that will stay with the family for a lifetime

Some time ago, a journalist from a newspaper sent me the interview questionnaire below for an article on what homeowners should consider when looking for an interior designer for their home. Excerpts from this interview did appear in the publication, but as with all press articles that are edited and misquoted, some important points we had discussed were omitted. I found this questionnaire while cleaning out my computer and felt that with so many new homes for sale in Bangalore, this information would be important to most readers of this blog.

As always, I welcome your feedback and comments

Cheers

Nandita

PS: If you would like to ask a question, please click "Leave a Comment" on the left side of this blog post. I go through every post that comes in from readers and do my best to respond within 24 hours.

1. How can an interior designer help homeowners decide on the best designs for their home?

Most clients often equate interior design with good looking furniture and carpentry. In reality, good design includes 5 elements, namely furniture, furnishings, lighting, painting and decorating. A good interior designer helps connect these 5 elements to the life and lifestyle of the owner family - things like hobbies, elderly presence at home, grocery shopping schedule, guest stay, etc. to create customized, cozy and warm living spaces for the family. Therefore, when working with a designer, you should expect more than just good carpentry and good looks.

2. How important is the role of an interior designer in the design of a house?

The critical part is the designer's knowledge and skills related to the 5 elements described above, and their ability to understand and build upon the family's lifestyle needs. Since the interior design industry in India is still extremely unorganized and lacks quality workers, working with a designer is helpful because they bring a skilled team of craftsmen and a vetted supply chain that minimizes the risk of counterfeit materials and work delays. However, clients who are only looking for someone to execute predetermined designs should avoid hiring a designer, as the lack of creativity can lead to designer disengagement, which in turn results in poor quality work.

3. What factors should a homeowner look for before choosing the right designer for their home?

When evaluating interior designers for their homes, clients tend to compare estimates first, but estimates can be misleading and based on completely different assumptions. My advice is to first check if your wavelength matches that of the designer if you feel at your first meetings that the designer will be able to create the positive living space you want to spend the next 8 - 10 years of your life in. Second, you should check to see if the designer has dedicated craftsmen and skills to deliver all 5 elements - furniture (woodwork), furnishings, painting, lighting, and decorating. Third, you should check to what extent the main designer is personally committed to your project. Last but not least, your house must reflect your taste and lifestyle. Therefore, you should avoid choosing a design based on a predetermined catalog of the designer or on the Internet.

4. Where can homeowners find the right interior designer? What essential research do homeowners need to do before choosing an interior designer?

Profiles of almost all designers are available on the Internet these days. There are also websites like Houzz where most good designers showcase their work. Look at previous projects and published literature about the designer on the Internet and find the ones that suit your taste. Set up an initial meeting with the designer to discuss his/her approach to interior design and determine if the wavelength matches - something we discussed above. Also, check what materials they will use to complete the work within your requirements and budget

5. How can the interior designer and the homeowner work together to bring the design to life, because collaboration is key in any field?

Any turnkey interior project that includes design and execution requires a certain level of commitment and time on the part of the designer and lifestyle input from each member of the homeowner's family. Involving clients during the design process can align their needs with the end result and ensure there are no last-minute surprises. Building a home is also a very personal experience and something families only do once or twice in a lifetime, so it is important that the outcome is right for the family. It is therefore important that the designer interacts with the particular family member who will occupy a particular room in the house, for example, for the children's room it is important to talk to the children to understand their hobbies, similarly for houses where parents live it is necessary to talk to the elderly to discuss any special needs due to their age or health condition.

6. What are some of the first things homeowners need to tell their interior designer before proceeding with the designs?

In the initial conversation, it's important to state a clear budget that you have budgeted for the interior design, as this helps to have a focused discussion about options and next steps. It is also important that the designer knows your lifestyle and tastes, your hobbies, the type of home appliances you want to have at home, etc. This is an important input that will help the designer tailor the home to your needs. Finally, it is important to tell the designer your ideas and the theme of the house, e.g. white (contemporary/straightforward theme), brown (Victorian/classical theme), grey (Zen theme), blue (aqua theme), etc., so that the designer can build on this, saving multiple design iterations and time.

7. Is there anything interior designers need to tell homeowners?

Yes, the designer needs to clearly express his/her own design style, the materials he/she plans to use for the interior, the payment schedule, the milestones at which joint inspections will be conducted, how the designs will be shared - in 3D or 2D - and what input he/she expects from the client at what stage

8. How does the design process work?

Below is the typical flow of a design brief for a residential interior design project

Complete site survey - > Detailed requirements gathering (needs/tastes/lifestyle) - > First level design in 3D - > Design walkthrough - > Second level and final design - > Design sign-off - > Start execution.

9. What are some of the misconceptions people have when they contact an interior designer? How can they be overcome?

A) Most people believe that interior designers in Bangalore and elsewhere are expensive and that they cannot afford one. With realistic budgets and expectations, almost anyone can afford to have their home designed by a designer. A designer also brings explicit expertise to refine your thoughts, and specialised craftsmen to ensure that those thoughts end up with a suitable result. Also, the fact that you can rely on the efficiency of the designer's supply chain ensures genuine material, timely execution and lower costs

B) The second misconception that homeowners have is that interior designers do not consider the client's needs and impose showcase designs that do not meet the client's requirements: This is a historical problem in the interior design industry, where designers have sometimes imposed their own tastes and desire to showcase their creativity against the needs of clients. On the other hand, there are clients who prefer and are more than happy to have their home designed like a designer's showcase. Customers must therefore make a judgement  at the first meeting and have a frank conversation with their potential designer to decide accordingly

C) One of the biggest misconceptions and something that has prevented good design from catching on is the belief that interior design is glorified carpentry and that you can do the designs yourself or copy them from the internet and have a carpenter do them or give them to the designer to do. Do not hire a designer if you are only concerned with executing given designs. Good designers need a certain amount of flexibility to benefit the homeowner and need to be creative with each job.

D) With the modular furniture revolution in Bangalore (you can find a modular kitchen shop almost every 200 metres in Bangalore), many people believe that interior design is all about modular furniture. As mentioned earlier, the field of interior design includes the five elements of furniture, furnishing, painting, lighting and decorating, and good design requires a deep understanding of the client's taste

10. How important is a well thought out design for a house? Can you give some tips on what a good design can look like?

A well-designed house can change the life of the family that lives in it. A good design not only helps to improve the mood and positivity of a particular space, but also ensures that the occupants can live comfortably and safely. For example, a child- and senior-friendly design can help prevent injuries and falls that can affect self-esteem and life expectancy in the elderly. Good design helps create a certain home culture and feel that will stay with residents throughout their lives.