How to Communicate Your Vision to a Houston Interior Designer
There’s nothing quite as exciting as starting a new design project—and your interior designer is likely just as thrilled to be working on it with you. But as much as they would love to come up with your dream interiors in a snap, unfortunately, they aren’t mind readers. When it comes to creating anyone’s ultimate space, clear and effective communication matters just as much as design expertise.
In an ideal scenario, recreating the space of your dreams would be a linear process from research to installment. But in reality, the process comes with some twists and turns. That’s what your interior designer will take care of, but what they do need to navigate smoothly is *your* vision.
Telling your interior designer what you want doesn’t have to be an arduous task. In fact, with the right guidance, these conversations can feel like swapping ideas with a reliable friend who also happens to be an expert in interior design. At the end of the day, all that interior designers want—or at least the Holloway Design Group—is to capture that image of the home you’re imagining and bring it to life.
Before you start talking plans with a Houston Interior Designer, here are a few tips to keep in mind. From the first meeting to the turnover, these pointers will ensure clear exchanges throughout the entire design process:
Conceptualization/Research
Before you book a consultation, you must be able to articulate what you want to some extent. Don’t worry—there’s no need to take a crash course on interior design.
Keep in mind that interior designers are typically very visual, so they would love to get a glimpse of the ideas in your mind as early as the first meeting. You don’t have to be the best at drawing, sketching, or even describing interiors since there are ways to gather inspiration and get that vision across.
What is most important during this stage is to be able to identify what you want out of a space, what kind of designs or styles you like or don’t like, and what your non-negotiables are. These are essentially building blocks that set the stage for what your design team can work with. And have fun with it—this is the time to get absolutely inspired.
If you need extra help with technical concerns, your interior designer can help you figure things out as long as you stay engaged and responsive. Here’s how you can do that:
Collect design inspiration. This can strike anywhere, so flip through architectural magazines, Pinterest boards, celebrity homes, or pay attention when you’re out and about. Even if you don’t have an eye for interior design, exposing yourself to all sorts of styles, palettes, and interiors is a great exercise for beginners. Notice what kind of rooms, pieces of furniture, or colors you are drawn to, and save it as a reference. If you’re looking for some design inspiration, our gallery is a good place to start.
Study your interior designer’s portfolio. Their previous work might be a great start-off point for your project, and it gives you an idea of what they can and have done. If you liked the way they did a modern living room for a previous client, ask them about it. If you like the wooden panels they used but wonder if they can be styled in a different way, strike up a conversation. It’s also a great way to get a sense of their design preferences. At the Holloway Design Group, we like to keep our clients updated on Instagram and Facebook. Have a look, and feel free to bookmark anything that speaks to you!
Ask all your questions. This is the time to ask away—whether it’s a design question, a practical one, a logistics one, or quite literally anything under the sun. The “ideas” phase is the best time to bring them up, as they might just impact the design plans moving forward.
Put it all together on a visual board. Remember all that inspiration you were collecting earlier? Gather all your images, textures, and furniture references and place them in one visual board or mood board for easy viewing. It’ll be helpful for you and your interior designer to have a frame of reference in terms of the look, feel, and overall creative direction for the project.
Come up with your design brief. Now, this is where things start to get official. This document acts as your project’s bible. A brief must be accurate, detailed, and direct. This is where you’ll include all your property or space requirements, plans, specific personal preferences, and must-haves for the project. You may also want to include details like color schemes, materials, furniture choices, and other special features you want. Don’t feel overwhelmed, we can help with this too!
Have an open conversation about budget and expectations. As you head to the development stage, stay as open and honest as possible about the practical side of things. How big do you want this project to be, and how much budget should you set aside to make that happen? How soon do you want things to move along, and will that timeline have any implications on cost?
When it comes to budget, going from a blank slate to a finished space, the cost will ultimately depend on the size of your home or property, your personal design choices, materials and other preferences. It’s good to keep this conversation open right from the beginning to help manage expectations and find the best solutions to fit your budget.
While the conceptualization phase begins with you, the team at Holloway Design Group will be working side-by-side. We’ll be doing our own share of research, too. We’re with you every step of the way, asking questions here and there and engaging in insightful conversations to get to know you better and help create a clearer picture of that home you’re imagining. And if you need help or assistance at any point, we’re ready to give you practical solutions, interior design expertise, and advice.
Development & Procurement
For this next stage, it’s time for your interior designer to get to work as they turn your vision boards and wish lists into an actual, working design plan.
During the development stage at the Holloway Design Group, our interior designers will typically come up with a design presentation. This is essentially where we take everything we know about interior design and apply it to your space. It’s our first step in giving your dream home shapes, colors, and textures and slowly bringing it to life.
While we take the stage, your feedback is just as valuable. Don’t hesitate to do the following:
Tell us a little bit about yourself—no, really! As your interior designer develops your design plan, it would be extremely helpful to know more about your lifestyle. Do you enjoy slow, quiet mornings with a cup of coffee? Or is yours the kind of household that hosts big dinner parties? Vivid details like these give interior designers specific insights on how you’re going to use the space, and that can inspire a lot of design decisions. This can ensure that the home is as you as it can be.
Be honest with your comments. Interior designers can build your vision as clearly as you can describe it, so be vocal about what you like or don’t like. If the design plan looks exactly like what you imagined—perfect! If it’s a little less ideal, let them know what can be improved on so the team can propose the right fixes.
Stay open and flexible. As the team crafts a tailored plan for your space or begins the process of sourcing out your items, be open to their input and feedback. Sometimes, design plans can change based on what’s available in the market or what’s within the budget. Trust that your interior designer will always give recommendations based on how well they know you, your taste, and what you want out of this project.
Decide on your preferred communication channels. Things may start getting a little busier at this point, and a good way to get through it with as few miscommunication issues as possible is to decide how you and your interior designer want to talk. Does email work best? Or would SMS be better? As messages and updates get more frequent, it’s good to know the best way to reach them.
Know when to let go. This is a tough one, we know. But sometimes, clients can go to interior designers with a thousand and one ideas. And while they all may be good, it can sometimes be too much to squeeze them all into one room. Your interior designer is looking out for your best design interest, so if they have suggestions that may include paring down some of your initial ideas, try to keep an open mind. Know that their input is backed by design principles and years of experience, all to give you the kind of space that evokes the right emotions.
At the Holloway Design Group, we take care of everything from vendor coordination, contractor coordination, and more. We keep an eye on purchase orders, logistics, and order progress so the plan stays on track. In case of any issues, you can trust us to handle the situation with full professionalism.
Installation
Installation depends on the scale and the number of moving parts. To guarantee consistent design, large pieces are typically positioned first, and then the details follow. Here are two key things you can do to make sure everything is going to plan:
Drop by for regular site visits. Checking in to see the progress is a great way to actively engage with the team and offer valuable input, especially in the case of longer installations. Details are everything, and it’s another opportunity to let the team know that everything is coming together according to plan or if there are some things that need changing.
Document everything. From agreement changes to design decisions—it’s a good practice to keep receipts just in case you need them for the future. It’s a great reference point for you and your design team and a good way to keep things in order as the project all comes together.
From centerpiece installations down to the finishing touches, this stage is all about making the space as perfect as it can be. When it’s time to hand you the keys, we want you to feel like you’re finally coming home.
Let’s Build Your Dream Design Together
If you’re looking for a Houston Interior Design group that specializes in modern and luxury interior design services, then schedule a consultation.
Holloway Design Group offers full-service interior design, from renovations to full-on constructions. Our seamless services cover everything from in-home consultation, floor plans, and rendering to vendor and contractor coordination, down to finishing. We’ve helped many clients in Houston bring their dream homes to life, and our in-depth design process and comprehensive services can take on any project you might have in mind.
Let’s get started on your dream space together!