Interview With My First Client Whose Bedroom Design Was Saved To Over 25K Ideabooks in Houzz

l thought I would do something a bit different on my blog by interviewing my very first client! Nicola, who is an HR Director for tech companies was my very first client who gave me an opportunity to design her beautiful sunny 1920’s Marina-style home in Potrero Hill. Continue reading to see what design problem she needed help with and why she hired an interior designer to transform her home.

Nicola, why did you decide to hire an interior designer?

I hired an interior designer because I knew I didn’t have the expertise to design my new home myself which had a completely different interior architecture than the loft I used to live in.  I started going through magazines and looking at designs that I enjoyed. But, after spending hours looking for sofas, I realized I could be shopping all day long and still wouldn’t get it right, so I thought why not get an interior designer with the experience to help me? Plus, I just didn’t have the time. Between work, my son, friends, and social activities, I didn’t want to make a mistake by trying to do it myself.  Plus, I didn’t know where to start and had no clue how to put everything together so my new home reflected me.

Where did you start looking?

I started by first asking family and friends. I also looked on Yelp, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and by searching online.  My friend is actually an interior designer, but I didn’t want to work with friends. I’ve worked with friends in the past and it never went well. I didn’t want to lose a friendship if something happened. 

Why did you choose me? 

I interviewed about 3-5 interior designers, and I ended up choosing you because I knew you were a fresh and young interior designer who had your own business and was able to think creatively outside the box. I thought you were extremely professional and what blew me away was that you asked me to complete a design questionnaire asking me about my style, budget, materials, colors, etc... I was impressed with that because no other designers I talked to had a design questionnaire they asked me to fill out right away. I was also impressed with the initial consultation not only because of the questionnaire, but you were also very clear about the design process. I had no clue about the process or that even floor plans were important at all or that it was needed to design rooms. It’s the design process and the fact that you were very technical that helped me decide to hire you.

What was the design problem you had?

I used to live in a loft in the Mission, and when I bought a 1920’s Marina-style house, it had a completely different interior architecture than the loft I used to live in. Plus, the furniture from the loft didn’t fit in my new home.  The aesthetic was very masculine with dark espresso wood, sharp edges, and lots of reds, oranges, and blacks. When I moved into my new house, I wanted to design it for myself, and I wanted to make it my own. I knew I wanted it more feminine, soft, with curves, and I wanted to put my signature style/signature stamp on it. I knew I didn’t have the expertise to do it, especially when it comes to interior design.  With fashion, no problem, but with interior design, I was completely lost and didn’t know where to start. How was I going to make my new home reflect my personality?

How did I solve your design problem?

You created each room to reflect my personality. You considered the colors, flow, furnishings, and accessories that represent me and created a feminine and soft design that I truly wanted. When you put together the design concept, measured each room, drafted the floor plans, and created the visual mood boards, that blew me away because I had no idea what the process was. It was so helpful for me when you put pictures of each item together on the mood board so I could visually see how everything would come together in each of the rooms.  Plus, it was easy for me to select and buy things with the shopping list you provided. The end result came out even better than what I expected, and each room is absolutely a reflection of ME.

How do you feel about your home now years later? 

I absolutely LOVE it!  It is SO ME.  Everyone who comes into my home compliments it. They say they love my home because it’s so me and they can see my personality in every single room.  In fact, during a past get-together with girlfriends, one of my good friends said that the minute she walked into my house, she loved it and she wanted to move in with me!  It reminded her of a “Sex and the City” inspired design which was a huge compliment for me because I love “Sex and the City”. Some words my friends used to describe my home were sunny, pretty, cozy, romantic, warm, friendly, and positive energy which described my personality and who I am.  In fact, my home was selected for Airbnb Plus.  Airbnb Plus is a very selective program that recognizes homes known for quality and design and hosts known for great reviews and attention to detail. I feel like my home is truly an extension of who I am and years later, I still love it and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

What else would you like to share about working with me?

You are very technical in how you design spaces, and you are very good at making sure my personality is reflected in my home.  You have serious attention to detail, and you create accurate floor plans and mood boards to visually convey your design concepts. Also, you are very mindful of the budget more than I am, which I found surprising and refreshing. You provided options for furnishings and accessories that were affordable yet stylish and didn’t break the bank. I appreciate that you weren’t forceful with your ideas and visions. You don’t push people to buy expensive items that will break people’s budgets. Some designers out there who will push clients to purchase super expensive items like a $10,000 sofa for example because they get a commission from the sale.  You are a very fair and honest person and very transparent in your billing.  I like how you do business, and you sincerely care about making sure I was happy with the end result. My next big project is my kitchen which I can’t wait for you to design!

I hope you enjoyed the interview and that it gave you some insight into what it’s like working with a designer. If you still don’t know where to start and need a designer’s help and touch to transform your home, please schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call here.