As odd as this may sound, being an interior designer can be frustrating at times because a lot of people don’t really know what we do. The impression we encounter the most is that majority of our work comprises of selecting colour palettes, picking out curtain fabrics and arranging furniture, throwing in a few accessories here and there to spice up the space. However, interior décor is just a drop of an interior designer’s scope, in fact, it probably makes up less than 10% of it! The reality is that our role is more of a detailed process that blends creativity and functionality in order to design the perfect space.
Think of it this way, you may have an image of exactly what you are envisioning for your space, but the truth is you can’t just hold up that picture to a contractor and ask him to build it for you.…que in an interior designer; we bridge the gap between the client and the contractors/suppliers in order to turn your dream into a reality.
Our design process usually starts with space planning to determine the appropriate layout for functionality and circulation, as well as visually conceptualising it using our innate gift of creativity to harmoniously coordinate all finishes and materials.
We then proceed to drafting construction drawings to communicate the design to the contractor in the implementation stage of the project. These include specifying finishes for the flooring, ceiling, lighting, walls, furniture, equipment, and accessories, and meticulously detailing the doors, bathrooms, kitchens, wardrobes, and joinery for production.
It also includes coordinating with the other consultants on the project to ensure that all the services work together to further enhance the usability of the space. If the architect is the lead consultant pertaining to all matters of the exterior of a building, then the interior designer would be lead consultant pertaining to its interior. Though both roles rarely overlap, they work together to produce the intended design.
Get a better understanding of what our design packages include in the following two-part series videos below:
Written by;
Wanjeri Gatheru, Senior Interior Designer
