As a creative person I don’t like the use of the word perfect. Recently I had to explain to a client an interior design decision I made about her kitchen splashback. The issue was how the tiles would be cut. She said she was disappointed. That she wanted the house to be perfect. Simply there’s no such thing as a perfect space.
Boundaries of a space
Every room is different, and has it’s own interior design quirks. For example, the TV point on the wrong wall or no wall for a TV. A super small sink in a kitchen, angles and corners, too many windows and so on. The job of an interior designer is primarily about correcting these quirks to optimise functionality.
It doesn’t matter how beautiful a room is, if it’s not functional, it’s a failure. But we have to work within the boundaries of the space. In the example I mentioned above to avoid too many cut tiles around the window we decided to have a larger architrave.
The architrave would not be even all the way around the window, but the decision was made based on what would be less weird,. As well as what would be more seamless and what would be the best compromise.
While I am solutions focused there are always restrictions in a space, and we need to find a compromise to make it work.
Compromising on interior design
Often after learning what the client’s goals are. We talk through the possible solutions within the boundaries of the space. At this point the client understands there needs to be a compromise.
For example, I worked with a client on their master bedroom (above). The layout of the room was odd and the wall for the bed was only big enough for the bed not bedside tables.
We looked at changing the location of the bed but that would mean permanently closing a second doorway. Then we discussed a floating shelf above the bed or baskets below the bed. Neither of these ideas where optimal but there was no other option.
So the client had to compromise and chose baskets under the bed because they wanted an uninterrupted feature wall behind the bed.
It always works out in the end
I’ve found in all my experience that even though we must make compromises in an interior design project or a take direction we didn’t anticipate it always works out in the end. Often it works out better.
While there is a plan and a process to working on an interior design project, we allow room for the space to develop organically.
This way we can take the opportunities presented we didn’t know at the outset. So, while there is no such this as a perfect space I always aim to provide my clients with their version of a perfect space.
We can achieve this after explaining the boundaries of a space and together working out the best compromise that doesn’t compromise functionality or aesthetics.
