The relationship between the designer and the client is all about trust, says Auckland interior designer Yvette Jay. “Designing the interior of a home is an intensely personal experience and the designer needs to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. They need to understand your vision and will be relying on your input throughout the process to help realise this.”
She says that when briefing the designer it’s vital homeowners ask questions if there is anything they’re uncertain about or don’t understand. “At the same time, expect to be challenged by your designer — it’s their role to push your boundaries with their seasoned aesthetic skills and professional expertise. It’s always a good idea to involve an interior designer sooner rather than later when undertaking a new build or renovations as many of the finishes decisions are made during the consent documentation phase. This will ensure that the key early aesthetic decisions are on the right track for your overall vision for your home.”
What should homeowners consider when setting a budget?
It’s important to be upfront with budgets from the start of any project. I often prepare a preliminary budget for my clients as part of the initial investigation of their brief. It’s a useful tool in helping them understand what the cost are likely to be and how they are spread over a project. It’s a good reality check for them.
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There’s a preconception that only wealthy people can afford a designer’s services... true?
When clients budgets are tighter, it often falls to them to do more of the sourcing. My time is focused on meetings with them where we review everything and then refine the path forward. That way they benefit from my expertise without blowing their budget before their design is fully realised.
What if the client has unrealistic expectations?
Every so often I do come across clients with unrealistic expectations and it’s important to be upfront with then about it.
Do you work closely with them throughout the design process?
It’s the best part of my role. There are so many decisions to be made and clients are often overwhelmed so I need to guide and advise them throughout the process. It is a big time investment for clients and takes commitment. It’s really satisfying at the end of a project to see how all of those small decisions add up to a magnificent whole.
Of course every job is different but do you have a broad design philosophy that you skew to?
I like to keep things simple… beautiful, thoughtful and functional are the concepts that drive my interior design decisions. Everything is considered and designed to as a tactile, layered expression of the architecture and the clients themselves.
What if there are problems — or the clients keep changing their minds?
Every client is different, so I have to work with them at their own pace and give them what they need to feel confident about the decisions they are making. If clients keep changing their minds, or struggle to make decisions, then naturally projects are drawn out and there are cost implications.
Four hot interior trends for summer
Optimism: It is the mood for summer 2018/2019 and it is expressed with bold, confident and graphic colour-blocking treatments and a playful, happy design aesthetic ... green is a thing ... and minimalism is still as chic as ever.
Maximalism from the 1970s is back: This means lots of texture, patterns, bold graphics and colour. Embellishment is everywhere, wallpapers, mirrors, marquetry and fringing ... go heavy on the glam.
Conscious colours: There’s a growing popularity of green and earth-toned colours. Timeless beige, minimal grey, and linen are coming back as neutral tones to balance alongside the flame reds, richer terracotta, deep blues and water reflection greens and chartreuse.
Minimalism’s new movement: This combines the traditional elegance of Japanese culture with the modern and slight dark Scandi Noir aesthetic — Japandi. Japan’s sleek and rich colour palette, refined elegance and curves, and accents with screens and vases is contrast with Scandi rustic details and neutral colours, relaxed farmhouse flair, and accents with blankets, throw pillows and rugs.
