Let’s get started…
In fact, there’s a lot anyone making decisions about their home design can learn from today’s top gourmet chefs. Here are a few:
1. START WITH A RECIPE
Even the best chefs start with a recipe. The same can be said for interior designers. When a chef begins his decision making process, he usually starts by asking himself: What kind of dish will I prepare? Beef? Seafood? Pasta? Is it traditional? Is it eclectic with a hint of Moroccan, etc.?
Similarly, a high end interior design professional will always start with an overall concept of where the design is going. Is it traditional luxury? Is it contemporary? Concentrating on general direction first before getting into specific details makes sure you stay on track later when things start to get hairy.
No matter how involved you are with making design decisions about your home, you should take a page out of these professionals’ cookbooks. If you walk into a design project without a basic guideline, you can expect the results to be all over the place. It should be the designer’s job to keep the project moving forward, but you’re the one who has to live there.
2. DON’T BE AFRAID TO VEER OFF COURSE
Gourmet chefs recognize when magic is happening and follow its lead. An unexpected hunch may lead to an ingredient that takes the dish to a whole new level.
Don’t be afraid to do the same.
Once you and/or your interior designer have established a plan, don’t feel like you are bound to it. Even if you think you know what you want at the beginning, keeping your mind open to all the possibilities will let your project evolve and progress organically.
If you’re making interior design decisions for your home, learn to think this way.
3. COMBINE VERY DIFFERENT FLAVORS
Some of the most memorable and flavorful of dishes combine ingredients from different cultures and styles of cuisine.
I happen to live with a chef. Sometimes he works magic with flavors that I never in a million years would have thought to put together.
Now as a high end interior design designer, it is fun and exciting for me to tap into my creativity by combining pieces and styles that “the rules” say we cannot combine. This is the beauty of so many things–cooking and design included–that there really are no rules.
Taking a chance and being bold with our flavors and choices can often result in a quality interior design that cultivates all the different aspects we desire.
4. IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS
Gourmet chefs create individual works of art that come out on a fantastic plate and are presented beautifully before being savored by each of us. I know I have certainly seen dishes so beautiful that I actually felt bad wolfing them down. I didn’t want to ruin the presentation. What a shame! Because when it comes down to it, food is really about eating.
This is a concept we deal with in the high end interior design world as well, but we must learn to take a different approach. Some interiors look so picture perfect that you feel you wouldn’t want to even sit down on any of the furniture for fear of ruining the look. This is not real life.
When making decisions about home design, remember it’s where you’ll be spending a good deal of your time. As such, it has to be comfortable and provide a safe and happy atmosphere for you and your family.
5. DISCIPLINE IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT
We all know the best results come from hard work. Some of the most innovative, beautiful and delicious meals begin with a small idea that takes long hours, sweat, and many tries before the perfect combination emerges.
This is no different than the most innovative, beautiful, functional, highest quality interior designs. It all begins with an idea, and it takes the right team— including the designer, the client and all supporting crew members to do their part to make it happen.
No matter what your role is in the process, have fun, but also take it seriously if you want a home you’re proud of.
Bon Appétit and Happy designing!
As an interior designer, I consider the most important part of my job to be learning about how my clients live. I cannot design a quality home without knowing who my client is as a person first. High end interior design is only high end when it has been tailored to suit the individuals who will be living there.
A family with small children and dogs can want a white fabric sofa, but will I tell them that it isn’t right for them? Definitely.
Sure, I have seen bad design where everything just doesn’t “flow” right. Worse, however, is when I see a home that is gorgeous but has nothing to do with the personalities of the owners. Your home should reflect you and be filled with things that make you feel comfortable and content.
If you don’t feel this way in the place where you are supposed to be most at ease, your home could actually be harming you. Here are four easy ways to tell if your interior design has the potential to hurt your mental health, along with a few tips on how to get back on course.
1. IT’S NOT CONNECTED TO YOUR PAST
Your home should be connected to the things that make you who you are.
For example, one of the things that I treasure most is my grandmother’s quilt. Each patch came from one of her childhood dresses, and the quilt was sewn with love by her mother, my great-grandmother. While most of my home is modern, this one item draped over my sofa keeps me feeling close to my loved ones and reminds me of the bigger picture of life.
This example is very literal, but you can achieve attachment to your history through your interior design in a variety of ways. Maybe you incorporate a piece of memorabilia from your hometown or some material from your country of origin. Perhaps you simply display personal photos or feature a new piece of art that you connect with feelings from your youth.
Again, quality interior design means expressing who you are and who you have been. Neglect this and your internal state will end up suffering.
2. IT’S SEEMS LUXURIOUS…TO EVERYONE
While I occasionally enjoy going to a fancy restaurant with china and crystal, I could never live in a place that resembled one. For me, luxury means having a place where my friends and I can put up our feet up and drink a glass of red wine without worrying we are going to ruin anything.
My personal definition of luxury at this time in my life is about comfort, so my home reflects that. For others, fine china at home makes them feel the way they want to feel.
The point is just to make sure that you are focusing on your personal definition of luxury instead of the idea of what everyone else thinks is luxurious. Let that be a guide for the design of your home instead of making your home perfect for everyone but you. If you look outward first, your internal state will feel the brunt of it.
3. NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THE SQUISHY STUFF
Some designers are extremely creative and talented but still can’t help but make all of their projects scream their style instead of their clients’.
Take one of the best, Frank Lloyd Wright. Amazing man and designer, but he was so enthralled with his own work that he even “designed” the clothing of the homeowners for parties so that they would coordinate with “his” space. Thanks Frank, but I would prefer to dress myself.
Let’s not let that happen to you. Looks are not the only part of what drives the entire mood of a space; things have to feel right. Your designer has to be sensitive to these feelings and make sure to incorporate the elements that make you happy or you will never enjoy your home. It may seem obvious, but not when you don’t actually enjoy spending time in your own home, it makes it a lot harder to enjoy your life.
4. YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND
Interior design in Miami is known for being all about white on white on white… all the time. Living here, we encounter the trend every day. While we are fond of this clean look when appropriate, we also love color.
There are all sorts of scientific tests that show the different ways that color affects our moods and attitudes. So make sure to incorporate your favorite color or colors (even for those of you working with Miami interior decorators). This does not mean that your home needs to look like a Skittles commercial, but even whites have shades of color.
All of these need to be customized for you personally. While lots of people like blue, there are millions of blues. Which shade is going to make you happy as well as look good with your environment and your thousands of other design choices? Color is a great way to show who you are and to make you smile, even if it’s just small accents.
Quality interior design starts and ends with the person who will be living in the environment. There are so many beautiful spaces in the world that I love looking at yet have very little connection with personally. Keep an eye out for these 4 signals to help you achieve a home that expresses who you are. Because you never can be too (mentally) healthy.
Come inside to see what he thinks about the central element of quality interior design…furniture.
Premium interior design is always a result of myriad influences and sources of inspiration. In my own work, I’ve always drawn on history.
You can do the same. If you try to copy a period’s look wholesale, it will come across as an imitation. The trick is to get familiar with a broad range of historical periods known for fabulous high end interior design and to pick, choose, and combine your favorite parts to come up with something new.
Here are four to start with…
1. 17TH CENTURY FRANCE
The French have always had a flair for style. Nowhere is this better reflected than in their high end interior design.
Romance is an important part of this era. Typical of French style is ornate designs using intricate patterns from talented craftsmen. Think of Baroque ornamentation in ceiling and mirror molding applications. Colors are subdued to reflect a conservative setting.
Typical are light interiors dominated by white, cream, light grays, light blues greens, and pink. As the French would spare no expense in their furnishings, we also see large “French” doors, high ceilings, and ornate pattern work, expensive tapestries, and elegant fabrics. The high end interior design style from this period in French history is extravagant in the best possible way.
Your eyes are immediately drawn to the importance of the fireplace, mahogany doors, limestone and lavender touches equally share in deign and incorporates the elegance of the other furnishings. Today, by incorporating elements of this style with modern furnishings, you can do amazing things.
2. THE ROARING 20’S
The Roaring 20’s, also known as The Jazz Age, was the period in American history; beginning shortly after the end of WWI and lasting until the beginning of the Depression.
This era is reflective of good times, increased prosperity, and brand new high end interior design trends. The recent movie version of The Great Gatsby captures the essence of interior design that was typical of this age.
What is called the Contemporary style of high end interior started in the Jazz Age, both in its streamlined elegance and use of new materials like linoleum.
Some of the elements I like best from this era are the colors of the time, such as the striking highlighting use of black, white and gold in combination with pastels like pink, purple and light yellow. I also love the use of glass and mirrors to reflect lighting, provides a hypnotic effect.
One of the most enduring interior design legacies of the Jazz Age is the Art Deco style. As Miami interior designers, we’re fortunate to be near the Art Deco capital of the world—South Beach.
If you want to get some really great ideas from this era, then South Beach is the place to go. You can even take a guided tour and spend walking around South Beach and read the many books that have been written about this vibrant area to get some ideas.Art Deco style hotels welcome visitors inside their lobbies.
You’ll encounter terrazzo floors and neon signs—chic, eclectic, vibrant and airy interiors with tropical flare that is reminiscence of our proximity to the ocean. Light color pallets on walls and stones flooring are are favorite choices. I’m thankful that this historic part of Miami interior design has been preserved for us to admire and to learn from.
Here are a few ways you can start incorporating Jazz Age interior design into your home:
Try linoleum flooring. A black and white checkerboard pattern would be a good start. Classic furniture typical of the time can be found in thrift stores for a good price or at your local antique stores. Use plenty of mirrors and chrome to get that extra edge.
3. MID CENTURY MODERN
I really enjoy the mid-twentieth century interior design style. It’s a modern look with streamlined looks and organic shapes. Scandinavian furniture is a favorite trend of this era and influenced the American way of design thinking for years to come.
The style gives everything an open, airy feeling. It’s a fresh look that is soothing and comfortable. Visitors to homes from this era are always impressed by people who can maximize the look of this era with carefully placed fixtures such as lighting, and clever use of decorations such as animal skin carpeting.
This era shows that you can do a lot of design with just a little input. Exotic woods such as teak and mahogany are incorporated in all aspects of the furniture and in wall units.
Truly this is a classic look that remains very popular to this day.
4. 21ST CENTURY NEW YORK
There are fantastic things happening in design right this minute. And just as in so many other things, when it comes to interior design New York City is making it happen.
When I think of New York, the first thing that comes to my mind is a place that is historic, iconic, timeless, diverse, artistic, evolving, always fashionable and a relevant cultural capital of the world. In one place, we find classical, avant-garde, eclectic architecture and design style that combines vintage and modern elements.
And that New York is prime real estate, they tend to be masters at maximizing every single inch of a space.
Here are some elements of New York interior design you might be able to borrow:
Spectacular views of the City are enhanced by the use of large glass windows that give an open airy space providing a feel that more space actually exists. As a nerve center to the arts, interiors reflect an artsy, intimate surrounding that tune out the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Hardwood floors, counter stones like marble, granite and onyx, brick , and concrete walls expose the building structures’ popular design elements. Neutral palettes accessorized with vibrant colors on the walls can make artwork stand out but not so much that would take away from the spectacular views of the City.
By looking beyond your on era for inspiration, there’s a great chance you’ll end up with a home that you’ll be thrilled with for many years into the future.
Well, they have truly outdone themselves this time.
The folks at Quintessence have just launched their brand new “International House Guest” video series, and it’s a real winner.
The first episode is hosted by high end interior design expert Susanna Salk, who receives a personal invitation from designer and author Timothy Corrigan to his restored Chateau du Grand-Luce.
You’ve got to watch this video if you want to find out what true luxury means. As Timothy says, “any home can be the coziest of homes, it really is all about making it a place of comfort.“
Miami interior designer Steven G. talks about why you might want to explore porcelain for yourself.
The story of how I chose high end interior design as a career has many twists and turns. But looking back it seems inevitable because of one trait I’ve had for as long as I can remember.
In short, the thought of becoming an interior designer never entered my mind until I reached a professional turning point at age 28 (another great story, actually, but I’m saving that for a future post!). The reason was simple. I had zero exposure to the world of interior design. It was as if it didn’t exist at all. However I always observed my surroundings without knowing where it would lead.
I grew up in a very small New England mill town, in a remote part of the city, in the woods, on a dead end street, with a nuclear family that stayed at home and rarely left the neighborhood. This probably sounds like a lead in for a bad Lifetime movie, but this underexposure did have its benefits.
Being forced to be a “loner” taught me something fantastic; something that has been a key ingredient to my success. I became an observer. A silent outsider looking in.
It wasn’t until I entered the premium interior design world that I found that I had learned how to store visual stimuli into a mental idea book through the art of observation. I found that as I needed inspiration, a stored image would come to the rescue.
So here are some tips on how to harness your own power of observation to empower you to pull from the “files” within your mind.
OBSERVE WHAT’S OUT THERE
By nature, we have the ability to enter a space that we have never entered before and map our way through it.
For example, let’s say you’re on a road trip. You need a break so you take the exit to “multi-plex” rest stop. It’s a place you have no former knowledge of. Subconsciously your mind immediately starts to drop pins to establish where you parked (second row next to the trash can, third spot by the tree), where the entrance is (by the knock-off sunglass cart and bank of vending machines), where the coffee is (next to the cheesy display with brochures of what to do while in the area).
You established where you were within a new space while being completely unaware you were doing it. Steve Jobs and Apple didn’t invent this idea of dropping pins. Your brain did.
We all have the ability to be in the moment. It’s just a matter of reigning in that power to observe, learn, and gather ideas. How? When you enter a space, when you take a moment to really look at it, use the reactions that you feel.
If you feel that “something”, take a minute to soak it in. Drop your pins. Don’t just feel the “WOW” of the space. Understand it. Examine the shapes. Examine the scale. Look for repeated themes and what they are. Look for the message because usually there is one. The space is speaking to you. The challenge is this: are you listening?
OBSERVE OTHERS
When a space feels special, chances are that others are experiencing it too. When you observe not just your surroundings but how others are experiencing it as well, you will see how you are not alone in your reactions. This will help you crack the code.
Observe body language. Do people seem comfortable? If the answer is yes than try to see why. Is it the lighting? What area are people drawn to and what is the reason? How are people moving through the space? Is it effortless or does it seem staggered? If staggered, what are the obstacles causing the backup?
What seems to work and what doesn’t? Remember, the décor isn’t the only factor that can establish the mood of the crowd.
Listening is key. Do the acoustics add or subtract to the space? The roar of the crowd is great for football games but not so much for a nice dinner. A dance club is great to feel the bass, but not great when you want to pull off and have a sidebar with a friend.
If a crowded room doesn’t seem overpowered by the sound, observe why. Are there upholstered walls? Drapery as dividing walls? Millwork screens? Do these tricks help or hamper the space? Look to see if people seem enthralled in conversation or preoccupied with their IPhone. The way others react will tell a big story.
OBSERVE YOURSELF
Listen to your innermost thoughts. If you feel uneasy, there is a reason. If you feel like you want to stay and unwind, then get inspired by that. Observe your reactions. It’s different for us all. But when something speaks to you, listen to it! Get intrigued. Get curious. Get mischievous. Dig down deep. Have fun with it.
I usually take about 5 minutes upon entering a new space and “semi” zone out if I am with friends or fully zone out if I am alone. It’s ok that I look like a lost tourist sometimes. My eyes and my mind are working in tandem by speaking to each other.
It is possible to look and not think. Have you ever looked for your keys to find that they are in your hand?
If I am having a strong reaction to a space (that WOW), I must devour it.
I am a visual junkie and proud of it. After all, that is what’s so magical about any art form. It has the power to alter the way people feel. Once you understand what visually speaks to you, your experiences will take on a whole new level. You will discover how interior design is a very powerful art form.
Hey, it’s not for everyone but if you’re still reading this, chances are there’s a silent observer in you too.