Unlocking Your Unique Design Aesthetic: A Simple 3-Step Guide to Transforming Your Space
Home is more than just a showroom; it's a tapestry woven with adventures, memories, and experiences. We firmly believe that the foundation of a beautifully designed and cherished home lies in guiding our clients through a journey of self-discovery. We understand that this method may not be for the faint of heart; it requires our clients to join us in a collaborative space of vulnerability and trust.
However, through this unique approach, we gain an intimate understanding of the design elements that will infuse your space with moments of surprise and delight. As part of this self-discovery process, it's essential for you to communicate not only what you love but also what you dislike. This information will enable us to pinpoint the design styles that will truly delight you. Here’s how it works…
Step #1: Find Inspiration that Feels Intuitive
My best advice is to take your time and avoid getting too bogged down in the details as you dive into the process of finding imagery that resonates with you. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Don't try and define a design style for yourself. That's our job.
Instead of fixating on just one item in a room that catches your eye, aim to identify an overall vibe or color that resonates with you.
On Pinterest, search by a "vibe," not a style. For instance, type in "laid back style," then add the images that speak to you to your design style board that you can share with us.
If you love magazines, tear away; it doesn’t have to be a Pinterest board.
Step #2: Curate Your Images to Determine the Common Denominator
Once you've assembled a Pinterest board or have a stack of magazine pages torn out, step away for a day or two or more and return to your selected images. Now delete the ones you really don't love and curate the board or clippings to tell a story, your why.
For example, why did you love all the images of the open doors leading to the manicured garden? Do gardens make you feel peaceful, or do you love the colors and textures you see? If you tell us that you want to bring the outdoors in with color, that narrative, not just the image, is the information that we are looking for.
Step #3: Define Your Concept Board with Keywords
Once the concept is clear, it becomes our responsibility to define and assign names to the styles we believe are most relevant to the project. We don't believe only one style name is suitable for your project; instead, it's often a fusion of several elements. Then, those keywords and design styles are used to help make every single design decision going forward. This helps create a clear direction. For instance, keywords for a home's interior style could be:
Easy breezy
Scandinavian and cozy
Family-friendly
Sandy beach hues
Warm and light-filled
Always remember that there are no wrong or right images that inspire YOU. You don't need to have all the answers; you just need to have a visceral reaction to what you see, even if you struggle to articulate why. We will ask questions to dig a little deeper. So take a deep dive into the proverbial rabbit hole of Pinterest and use our tips to help make the journey of self-discovery a little less daunting.
Have a question about this process? Reach out, and we’d be happy to assist you.
Warmly,
Justine
