Tag: antiques

Everyone Has Needs

When a client calls a designer for an appointment to interview each other, it is somewhat understood they need your help otherwise they would not have called you. While some clients don’t know how to express themselves, a designer MUST know how to interpret their comments and ask the appropriate questions.

For the Designer

Some clients will say the most outrageous things to their designer trying to get the designer to know what they want, but they don’t always use the correct terms. Once a client told me she “HATED” Art Deco, however whenever we shopped together, she only like those pieces which were Art Deco inspirations. When I pointed this out to her, she was astonished….what she really hated was early American…go figure. Some clients will tell you they hate antiques while their spouse loves antiques. Suggest a compromise, not one which will create one room of antiques, but integrate antiques in a contemporary manner, such as a French Bombe chest with a contemporary painting, lamp and area rug in a hallway, or minimize the amount of traditional or antique pieces so there is a well-rounded balance of contemporary and antiques.

The key is to listen and give them what they want, however it has to work well together and meet with your approval as well as the client’s. While you should never compromise your beliefs, you must always convey your opinions in a direct yet courteous manner to your client and your client should do the same with you. Often, I can’t get a client to do what I know to be the best options for their home, however I will let them know this is not what I think is best, but that they have to live with their decisions…I then at that moment will know if I will be able to photograph their home for my portfolio or not…some clients won’t care but they should have what they want.

For the Client

When you decide to work with the designer of your choice, discuss with them any and all issues facing the overall project, whether is it differences you and your spouse have, pieces from Grandma, budgets, and expectations, but remember, you will get an opinion which is not yours and you need to be open and listen to the suggestions. You may be surprised your designer can do this with such little effort, but if you know you won’t like these ideas, let them know in a polite manner for we don’t read minds, and we only give opinions which will work if we know all of the parameters. Changing your mind is okay, but making this a habit will drive your designer crazy and if you plan any deceptions, it will backfire…be open and honest without any fear…if you are, then there should be no surprises.

For the Designer

Sometimes it is a question of expense, or a reminder of their old Aunt Jane’s house, or some other preconceived influence over their decision process. Give them alternatives they can afford or a piece which will achieve their idea of how they see themselves. Remember, you don’t live there, yet you do need to be proud of your work…sometime it simply won’t work, so then it is only a paycheck and a satisfied customer. One of the worst experiences I’ve ever heard involved a wonderful designer who is a friend of mine…his client fired him over a discrepancy over costs. When the designer originally asked the client what his budget was, the client responded….”we have no budget.” What the designer heard was, it was an unlimited budget and found astonishing things with high price tags. When the client saw the prices, he thought the designer was trying to take advantage of him. The designer was not being unfair, but those costs were not for the timid. You must always make your opinions, your thoughts, your ideas and concepts very clear to your client…some will never understand specific issues, so then you need to ask them to trust you, and then you can’t disappoint, and take my advice, always let a client know how expensive items are when you show them the pieces…that way you will not shock them with your proposals.

For the Client

While a designer will always want to finish your project with the best intentions in mind, don’t be afraid to tell them something is too costly or not your taste. While most designers can do some things less costly, if you only choose the cheapest items they show you, your project will most likely look like a budget project rather than a well balanced piece of work. If you control your designer too much, it won’t be something special. Once client begged me to not let her fall into the same old trap of being boring…she then only approved things which were cheap, beige and boring…guess what, it was really boring…the same as she had before, but beige and not grey, and she was unhappy with the results, but she knew why and could not break her streak of being boring.

For the Designer and the Client

One of my most successful projects was one that I did not like how it turned out…while the client was wonderful, their taste was too wild for me, but they knew what they wanted and I gave it to them in full. They have gotten me more referrals, not for how lovely the apartment was, but because they were so happy working with us, that others hired us to work with them as well, and those projects were some of our most successful collaborations. Remember, compromise and understanding is a two-way street…

Next up…how to use those irritating old pieces from “Aunt Jane”…

Beginning the Relationship

I became great friends with these clients after spending nearly three years together designing their duplex high rise apartment and sharing a passion for Art Deco

Welcome to the debut of We Hear You!  As a successful, interior designer who has been in the industry for more than three decades, many of my clients, friends and colleagues have encouraged me to write a book and share my knowledge and musings about interior design.  While I’m not quite ready to embrace an entire book, I am ready to write a blog.

Furthermore, through the years my clients have told me over and over again that not only do I listen to them but I actually hear what they have to say.  I hear their dreams, their worries and their ideas and ultimately guide them to what they really want.  I think this is one of the main reasons I excel in my career –I believe I’m a talented interior designer, of course, but I really do hear my clients.  This is why we say at Cannon Frank “We Hear You” and thus, the name of my blog.

There are many interior design blogs and I hope this one offers a unique perspective: actually two of them!  With each blog entry about a particular design-related topic, I will write from the designer’s viewpoint and also from the client’s viewpoint.  Why write for both?  Well, my goal is that a designer reading a client’s viewpoint and a client reading a designer’s viewpoint will help both parties understand each other better and help build a successful relationship…with the end result being a gorgeous project.

Through many years of business and relationships with other designers, I have learned that whenever you get more than a few designers in one room, add a few cocktails and the stories begin to “fly.”  Usually they are the same…only the names and a few details change, but it has always struck me as odd…the relationship between what the client says and what the designer hears…the same can be said of the opposite.  Follow the blog to see if I can represent both viewpoints.

For the Designer

When a client says they want to get the most out of their project, you first need to understand what they are asking for.  Do they want you to work for low fees, do they want a lot for the budget they have or are they looking for the maximum impact they can achieve….hopefully the latter, but this is the first rule in a good client/designer relationship — clear and concise understanding of what they want and what you can provide.  Don’t be afraid to discuss the ugly topic of compensation.  You need to be paid for what you are giving and if they want to negotiate your fees, determine if you can, but don’t give yourself away and become enslaved to a project.

Clients usually don’t know how much work is required for their project…don’t be afraid to let them know what you are doing and why it needs to be done and always keep them informed of any issue which may come up with your suppliers…you don’t want to pass on to them any false information you get from a vendor, but as we all know, sometimes vendors tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth.  You also need to let your vendors know how to work with you…you won’t tolerate lies…it makes you a liar to your client, so teach your clients and teach your vendors how you expect them to work with you.

For the Client

When you decide to work with a designer, be concise with your information and if you don’t know what to tell them, try to formulate at least what style you would prefer even if it means cutting out magazine articles with something you like as a reference.  Try to figure out what you can spend and always tell the designer what you expect them to provide to you in terms of drawings, services, samples, concepts and what he or she is to include in their presentation.  Also, please remember your designer is only the designer…he/she does not make these pieces, ship the pieces nor is he/she the one who will take these pieces back if you decide you don’t like them, and all shipping dates come from the manufacturer, so if the piece is late, your designer most likely had nothing to do with that as well…. Also if you come to an agreement with your designer, keep the terms of your agreement with that designer because the first thing a designer won’t do is work for free when you decide to hold back on your payments. Since you are in control of your checkbook, if the designer shows you a piece which is over the budget, you need to decide how this affects your overall budget…can it stretch or does Peter need to pay Paul?

For the Designer and Client

Giving a client what they want is always very important, but don’t give them something you don’t believe in…if she wants Lucite chairs on castors at her dining table, you may have to discuss other options or tell her to go shopping for herself …that you just won’t be a party to bad taste!  If you discuss certain concepts with a client, don’t be worried about telling them how you really feel about some of their ideas and adapt to give them what they want albeit within the realm of good taste.

Having a designer do what you want is all well and good, but remember, you hired a professional to give you his or her opinion. If you choose not to listen to your designer, don’t be surprised if they lose interest if this is outside their realm of a great concept.

I will be posting more information and discussions on Client/Designer relationships on We Hear You in the near future.