MORE THAN JUST FURNITURE
Image: Recent product launch at a trade showroom
The other day I caught up with some friends for dinner. I’ve known these friends since I was a teenager. We’ve been to each other’s 21sts, weddings and everything in between.
As we were catching up, I was asked how work was going. I talked a little about what I was working on; an apartment, a heritage home and a few other projects. Somewhere in the conversation I got the feeling that one of my friends thought that what I did was essentially choose furniture.
I felt my ego deflate just a little. And, if I’m honest, a bit misunderstood.
Because yes, I do select furniture. And I’m very fortunate to help people make decisions about one of their biggest assets, their home. But it made me realise that perhaps there is a general assumption that interior decorating is simply about choosing lovely things and putting them together.
Recently I’ve been working with a client who wanted help with a few rooms in her home. She was feeling overwhelmed by it all and needed someone to give her some direction (and perhaps a little motivation).
When we first met, we talked about the practical things. She told me she liked green. She didn’t want her home to feel fussy. But as we talked more, the conversation became less about how the rooms should look and more about her.
We talked about the things she enjoyed and what was important to her. She told me how much she loved hiking, although she hadn’t done it for some time. She realised how much she loved being in nature and amongst the nearby forest, but that life had become so busy looking after everyone else that she had almost forgotten how important that was to her.
And suddenly "I like green" meant something more.
From those conversations, I start to weave together the threads that give me a direction for a home. How does this person want to feel when they walk into this room? How do they actually live? What colours, textures, materials and pieces might support this?
And yes, eventually, that leads me to furniture.
What’s in the showrooms?
Over the past few weeks I’ve been visiting some of my favourite trade showrooms, seeing what’s new and what’s currently available. I love this part of my job! There is some beautiful furniture, lighting, art and rugs around at the moment and these are a few things that caught my eye.
But choosing a piece because I like it or ‘it’s on trend’ is very different from choosing it for someone’s home.
I’m thinking about the room it will sit in, what they already own, how they live, scale and proportion, colour and texture, suitability and importantly, whether it feels like them.
A beautiful sofa might be completely wrong for one home and exactly right for another. And sometimes the best choice isn't necessarily the most obvious one.
Does furniture need to match?
Definitely not.
In fact, some of the most interesting rooms are those where the pieces don’t obviously “match” at all. Different shapes, materials, colours and styles can sit very happily together. The art is knowing what connects them.
I wrote about this a little while ago in Does Furniture Need to Match? To read the article, click below.
So yes, I choose furniture. But before I choose anything, I want to understand the person who is going to live with it. Because a beautiful home isn’t simply a collection of beautiful things. It’s a collection of things that feel right for the people who live there.
Thinking about your own home?
If you’re feeling unsure about where to start, or would simply like some direction, I’d love to hear about what you’re working on. Schedule a no obligation phone call below.
