Title: Top Designers Share Their Toughest Client Requests
When it comes to residential interior design, professionals are driven by their creativity to turn clients’ homes into dream spaces. Despite their passion for creating beautiful settings, designers often face challenges when clients request design choices they may not personally agree with. In a field focused on client satisfaction, designers sometimes need to compromise their preferences in favor of meeting the clients’ needs. Below, we explore some design choices that designers are weary of due to being outdated or subpar, along with their preferred alternatives. Let’s delve into some of the interior design pet peeves shared by experts in the industry:
1. Accent Walls:
Designer Maggie Dillon expresses a common sentiment among her peers, stating that accent walls are not a favored design element. While they were once a popular trend for adding visual interest on a budget, many designers find that accent walls often leave a room feeling incomplete. Dillon suggests a more contemporary approach by wallpapering the ceiling instead, creating a unique focal point that adds character and charm to the space.
2. Ceiling Fans:
While ceiling fans serve a practical purpose in hot climates, designer Avery Cox prefers to opt for elegant light fixtures over ceiling fans in living spaces. Cox acknowledges the importance of cooling mechanisms but advocates for selecting aesthetically pleasing options when necessary, particularly in shared areas of the home.
3. Engineered Quartz:
Designer Cox raises concerns about the dated appearance and potential health issues associated with engineered quartz countertops. Instead, she recommends natural materials like butcher block, concrete, tile, and natural stone as superior alternatives, emphasizing the beauty of materials that age gracefully and add personality to a home.
4. Red Oak Cabinetry:
Designer Sarah Latham expresses her disdain for red oak cabinetry and outdated wood tones prevalent in past decades. Guided by her commitment to creating timeless designs, Latham encourages clients to part ways with faded materials, guiding them towards more modern and versatile options that align with contemporary tastes.
In the dynamic world of interior design, professionals navigate various challenges to deliver spaces that reflect both their expertise and clients’ preferences. By sharing their perspectives on design trends and client requests, designers offer insights into the evolving landscape of residential interiors and the art of balancing creativity with practicality.
Mosaic Tile Shower Accents
Latham is not a fan of the eye-level strip of mosaic tile on the shower wall, considering it to be an outdated trend that is still lingering. This is not a critique of the tile itself, but rather a belief that there are more beautiful and creative options available for bathroom design.
Matching Furniture Sets
When redecorating, it may be tempting to purchase a complete furniture set from one source. While the coordinated look may be appealing, relying too heavily on matching furniture sets won’t impress designers. Instead, incorporating complementary pieces in the same color palette adds more character and personality to your home.
Extending Dining Tables
Designer Denise Morrison is cautious when it comes to client requests for dining room tables that extend, as they can disrupt the aesthetic and spatial balance of the dining area. A well-proportioned table that can be used year-round is preferred, with curved or oval tables offering flexibility for adding extra chairs without compromising the design.
Faux Luxury
Designer Olga Doykhen emphasizes the difference between something that looks expensive and something that truly feels refined. Opting for materials and items that age well over time is preferred over faux luxury items that can cheapen the overall aesthetic. Quality pieces that develop a patina are worth the investment in the long run.
Trendy Everything
While trends can be exciting, designers caution against designing a home exclusively around viral trends. Incorporating trendy elements as accents rather than the main focus helps prevent a home from feeling generic. Creating a home that reflects the owners’ personalities rather than following trends is key to timeless design.
All-White Kitchens
While some consider all-white kitchens to be timeless, others find them lacking depth and warmth. To avoid a sterile look, designer Doykhen suggests balancing light hues with warm tones, natural materials with movement, and varied textures in cabinetry to create a more inviting and dynamic kitchen space.
Creating a more welcoming and less like a showroom display environment is essential when working with interior design experts. The subtle nuances that can trigger their discerning eyes are not always about specific design requests. Bankston May emphasizes that asking for discounts during the purchasing phase can devalue the designer’s expertise and the quality of the materials chosen. To address this issue, May highlights the long-term value of the recommended pieces, framing them as investment products. Instead of offering discounts, she suggests providing value through alternative means, such as phased payment plans or selecting different items that still align with the clients’ objectives.
When it comes to window treatments, designer Gabriela Eisenhart from Silo Studios advises against using prefabricated drapery and shades. While these ready-made options may suffice, they lack the tailored touch that can truly enhance a space. Eisenhart strives for window treatments that are customized to fit each specific window, recognizing that budget constraints may limit the ability to invest in fully bespoke solutions. She recommends opting for custom hardware instead of generic brackets to add a personalized touch to the room decor.
Steph Schlegelmilch of Studio Seva shares a similar sentiment about area rugs sourced from retail stores. She finds stock rugs lacking in proper fit and quality, favoring hand-knotted wool rugs for their uniqueness and superior materials. Understanding that custom rugs may not always be feasible within certain budgets or timelines, Schlegelmilch collaborates with local carpet stores to create custom rugs from broadloom carpet. This tailored approach ensures that the rug fits the space perfectly and allows for greater flexibility in choosing the ideal color palette.
For more inspiring design tips, follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok. Explore the latest trends, from home bar gifts for cocktail enthusiasts to low-light indoor plants that thrive in dimly lit spaces. Discover the top 50 paint colors to transform your living room into a stylish and inviting oasis.
