Look Before You Leap
Last year I was contacted by a client who, with the best of intentions, passion and energy and, believing he had everything sorted, threw himself into his property’s refurbishment. His builder was given full responsibility for the day to day project management. After just 2 weeks into the project, the cry for help came in. Engaging an interior designer at this late stage is not uncommon but, is fraught with problems. The client may not know the interior designer’s work and approach, the existing design may lack professional aesthetic and practical input, and the space for conflict and/or compromise is wide. The purpose of any refurbishment is to fulfil a human need. Having early professional input is critical in the design and delivery of an outcome that successfully satisfies that need. The project contained perfectly suitable technical information for any builder to follow. What was lacking is what turns a house into a fully functional and comfortable home. Lighting would have failed to meet the required outcomes for ambient, accent or task needs. Electrical sockets were …
