What to Expect from an Interior Designer

What to Expect from an Interior Designer?

Whether you’re involved in a large-scale design project or simply looking to transform an existing space into a new experiential level, making sound decisions to bring your vision to life can be a challenging task. 

There is a budget to manage, a functional layout to plan, and, of course, there’s ordering, tracking, assembling, and hoping that the end result reflects your design aspirations. Bringing these details together can be overwhelming.

Engaging an expert interior designer is an integral step that carries with it endless benefits. They can help you save time and money by avoiding expensive mistakes and oversights —  guaranteeing an experience that’s smooth and successful with remarkable aesthetic results. 

Here, we delve into the process; particularly what to expect when you take the leap into an interior design project. It is crucial that the designer and client be on the same page about what each design phase entails and the potential peaks and pitfalls that come with each individual project. 

There are five phases to the Interior Design process:

1. Planning and briefing (initial briefing and exploration, programming, preliminary budget)

2. Concept design and proposal (space planning layout, consultant’s coordination, material proposal, creative mood boards, furniture proposal)

3. Schematic design (3d visualisation, final material, and furniture selection)

4. Detailed design documentation (updated 3d perspectives, specific furniture, and fixture layout, preliminary FF&E specifications, detailed design documentation)

5. Design implementation (site visits and management, overseeing progress schedule)

Phase 1: Planning and Briefing — understanding the client’s goals 

At the start of every project, the interior designer gets a thorough understanding of your needs, taste, and style; this includes asking questions, listening, absorbing, observing, establishing your budget as well as sharing and enlightening. Thereafter, they can begin to consider the scope of work and your aspirations, analyse the site location, set down a budget for works and the time frame in which the project must be realised. 

Whether undertaking a residential, commercial, or hospitality project, the client’s needs serve as a great launching pad for innovative design solutions. They are the fuel that spark distinctive and clever concepts that meet functional, aesthetic, and financial goals. In the beginning phase, establishing a two-way communication is essential for a successful collaboration. 

Phase 2: Concept Design — creating a design concept with purpose

After the initial collaboration is underway, the interior designer may consult with the architects and any other professionals needed to fulfill your design vision. Moreover, this design phase involves proposing any schematic designs that will solve spatial problems, as well as an estimated budget for all components of the project. 

For an idea to come together, the designer needs to pay close attention to the different principles of design: scale and proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis, and harmony. It is with this systematic approach that leads to the most thoughtful and successful interiors. 

During this time, a preliminary design concept for the space can be presented through creative mood boards. This may include inspirational images, as well as potential colour schemes and finishes: walls, lighting, floor finishes complete with fabric samples, and tear sheets of furniture. 

A visual presentation offers you the opportunity to experience the colours, shapes, weights, and textures. It’s also a fantastic way to get the client’s input and make them feel like they are an active part of the project. 

Phase 3: Schematic Design — transforming the client’s vision into a design plan

For clients who want more help visualising how all the colours, materials, finishes, and furniture pieces will fit together in a proposed space layout, the interior designer may create a computerised 3D rendering. 

Revisions to space planning and furniture layouts may necessitate multiple meetings during this phase. Colours and finishes are refined, furnishings, fabrics, and decorations are picked and cost estimates are put together. The resulting design is presented to obtain your review and final approval.

Phase 4: Detailed Design documentation — using experience to formulate a detailed package

The detailed design documentation phase should include the following:

• updated 3D perspectives to give you a clearer understanding of how the space will look and function.

• complete specific furniture and fixture layouts.

• preliminary indicative FF&E specifications that are functional and meet the sustainability, budgetary and life safety needs of the project.

• final detailed design documentation outlining all the materials, finishes, and installation methods.

The interior designer will complete and provide the final design development package that includes floor plans, door and window schedule, interior elevations and sections, material and finish plans, millwork plans, reflected ceiling plan (showing lighting and ceiling fixtures) and any other drawings as required. In the final part of this stage, bids are obtained, contractors selected and purchase orders are issued. 

Phase 5: Design implementation — ensuring craftsmanship quality matches the envisioned design

This phase marks the realisation of the design; where the interior designer assists you with selecting the right craftsmen, suppliers, and subcontractors; review proposed timelines and drawings based on the original detailed specifications and layouts to ensure that they meet the project’s design intent for materials, finishes, and dimensions.

The design team is often on-site to administer direction for installation, inspect the quality of workmanship, resolve any on-site issues, oversee that the work is progressing on schedule and documents have been followed as planned.

Final Thoughts

A design process is put in place to ensure that a project runs smoothly, from the initial planning phase through to completion. Above all, the design process is the road map to realising the client’s vision and creating a space that meets their unique needs, lifestyle, and design aspirations. Of course, every client is different and project requirements are diverse, so a professional interior design team can offer a variety of optional services tailored to your needs. 

Sleep 2015: what lies ahead for innovative hotel design?

Sleep 2015: what lies ahead for innovative hotel design?

The Event:
SLEEP 2015 ~ The Hotel Design Event
Location:
London, Great Britain
Event link:
www.thesleepevent.com

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Time to reflect: mirrors in professional interior design

Time to reflect: mirrors in professional interior design

Using mirrors in professional interior design is not only a great way to accessorize a project. The Mirabello team also uses varying sizes of mirrors to create beautiful plays of light and vibrant contrasts within interior spaces.

Mirrors hold a few key advantages: they allow rooms to look more spacious and bright, while visually increasing spaces. Wall mirrors and beautifully crafted mirror frames offer fantastic interior accents that can set the entire mood of our design concepts.

Designers are almost like psychiatrists, artistic psychiatrists. We get to know some pretty personal things about our clients: personal needs, corporate needs; likes and dislikes, etc.

So when you’re looking at an interior space make sure you keep in mind what your client wants to express in that space and make sure it is something you both come to share a vision on. You need to get into their hands if you’re going to have a productive relationship.

Decorative wall mirrors and beautiful mirror frames can be used in creative ways to jazz up modern interior design ideas and create unique and dramatic room décor.

In our experience, clients love the use of mirrors in innovative and abstract ways. Look at our photos from the Al Thuraya Penthouse project.

The diamond shaped mirrors covered the entire wall in a vivid display of elegance and creative diversity.

What’s most impressive about this space is when the penthouse is lit up: this wall particularly comes alive and gives a beautiful contrast of light and dark with bold shadows and colorful highlights.

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Some other examples of fascinating mirror use include using large mirrors in unusual frames to become the focal point of interior space. Large mirrors are perfect for living rooms, where you want to define the central point and decorate your fireplace.

Especially in open spaces, attractive large mirrors can look wonderful on empty walls, increasing rooms visually and creating stunning centerpieces for modern interior design and decorating.

We often try to use mirrors as bold statements that help to stir a bit of conversation. Also, as a personal preference, I love brightly lit rooms.

The trick is to not have an overabundance of lights or switches for that matter. The easy solution: use a few mirrors and have them reflect the light to help build evenly distributed lighting throughout your interior space.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall … With so many shapes, sizes, and styles, mirrors are a versatile decorative element that gives instant polish to a room with little effort.

They can do wonders! From illuminating dark corners and adding elegance and drama to an area to creating the illusion of space. They can even serve as works of art. There’s a mirror for every taste.

The trick is to find what style works best in your space.

Eye of the beholder: a quick look at abstract art in design

Eye of the beholder: a quick look at abstract art in design

When working on a project, there are two schools of thought on the matter of using abstract art in design.

The first train of thought is that like any art piece, the design should stand on its own merit. As to what that merit represents is another question.

However, bold statements and unique perspectives have driven our art appreciation and culture for centuries. So isn’t it about time that interior designs evolve to those standards?

The second school of thought is that the art should reflect its surroundings by harmonizing with the colors of the space you are designing, to provide a cohesive environment. In short, art should sit where it’s placed as the place should equally fit the art it houses.

Now, this does not dictate that all art should match its surroundings, but rather “fit” and/or complement its surroundings.

For example, in the image below you will see an industrial space that we had worked on. On the wall, a motorcycle. Now as far as art pieces go, it may not hold its own against Picasso.

However, the analogous color scheme and symmetry it produces in the space create a bold statement. Which brings us to the most important part of the interior design; Is abstract art in design pleasing to the eye?

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– Mirabello’s Bachelor Apartment Interior Design –

Whose eye you ask?

Well, everyone’s. But especially the owner who lives in this space.

An interior designer might want to make a big pop or major statement in space by selecting a piece of abstract art that adds impact, both in size and color.

In this case, you could argue that the motorcycle is simply a pop and awe tactic for space. This can create a kind of subjective reaction between the viewer and the subject matter.

However, speak to any motocross enthusiast and you begin to see the inner workings and beauty that go into a motorcycle design and iconography. Sure, it’s bold; art is bold.

But more than that, it expresses the owners’ appreciation for art, as they see it. Not as society dictates.

Art, abstract or not, should intrigue and challenge the mind to rethink traditional views. Yet, at the same time, the designs should be pleasing in an emotional way to each and every viewer.

There is so much more to modern art than meets the eye. Yes, Matisse, Dali, Warhol, and Picasso often top many critics’ lists, but Buell, BSA, and Luigi Colani are just as revolutionary in their designs and aesthetics.

Modern spaces deserve the best that art and design can offer, so when looking for abstract art, keep in mind there is a purpose and meaning in the pieces you choose.

The question should be, what are we really trying to say?

Luigi Colani’s Recorded Breaking Ferrari Testa D’Oro

Focus on bold patterns in the design world

Focus on bold patterns in the design world

Bold patterns are a very popular interior design trend at the moment. They are versatile, dynamic and when used correctly, they can enhance any work or living spaces.

Geometric patterns are nothing new in interiors – we have been seeing them for millennia. They have been used to decorate homes and palaces from as far back as the Sumerian civilizations of 4000 BC.

The Greeks and Romans, of course, used them abundantly, and in medieval times, they saw the light in tapestries and floor decorations.

P95 Apartment Design

More recently, the Cubist and Art Deco movements revived these patterns and influenced the geometric styles that we see today. When searching for images on the internet, you are sure to come across many popular trends.

But when you look closely, you’ll realize that nothing is indeed new and that most of these so-called trends are just old versions of something that have been re-imagined in a new way. Designing with geometrics give structure to space.

Like our designs below, vivid lines and compelling shapes create unique spaces with true elegance and creativity. Geometric lines are often seen as formal, but it is clear that they can have a deliciously playful quality as well.

The Majestic Rooftop

Patterns on walls, floors, and ceilings can create a great background for a room. Geometric pattern and lines can also cleverly be used to compensate for less than desirable architectural features in a room: a vertical line will visually lift a low ceiling and the right pattern can make a room appear bigger or smaller.

The pattern, however, should be chosen with care. There is a fine line between bold patterns and overwhelming interior designs.

Geometric prints, painting ideas, and artworks are a great way to add an individual style to your home. Modern living room designs with geometric patterns on walls, floors or home furnishings are bold, fresh and dynamic.

However, this is only a starting point. Expression and creativity need inspiration to take shape.

Mirabello’s Dynamic Vertical Guest Services Design

At Mirabello, our work is created by our diverse and innovative team. Each member is an artist at heart.

Their designs push the envelope, not because it’s expected, but because it is what drives us. You have to love what you do after all.