Interior design is the lens through which a team’s work is viewed.
We interviewed Bjorn Bjornsson to learn more about the best approach a designer can take to make sure the finished product aligns with the client’s vision and reflects the quality of all that came before.
Norman: Tell us about a time when you had to do some mind reading in order to get the results that the homeowner wanted, but didn’t know the best way to go about it.
Bjorn: The last thing a homeowner wants is a prima donna, an overbearing service provider that only sees their own vision. I’ll give you an example.
I was doing a very large job in Pinehurst, North Carolina. It was the summer home of a family from New York. It was designed by an architect, and I was the Interior Designer.
One day, during construction, I was shown two things that I disagreed with. There were exposed beams on the outside of the roof. On each beam were little round 6-inch “picks”. I wanted to know what they were for. I was told that they were purely decorative. They were $600 per “pick”. 140 of these were scheduled to be used. I immediately said, “No. We’re not doing it.”
Also, the driveway was set to be pure cobblestones. The cost was $400 or $500 per square foot. Ridiculous, because you only see the top of the stone. Cost is something that clients are always asking about. From my understanding of this particular client it was obvious that this was not going to fly.
So I suggested using fabricated ones. They are only $16 or $17 per square foot and would still provide the same effect. We went with the fabricated stones and they looked beautiful.
The architect ended up being fired.
Norman: What is the #1 thing clients want from a designer and how do you make sure you give that to them?
Bjorn: Other than the obvious of wanting a livable space that is their “dream home”, they want the job done in a timely way.
Managing time is many times the most difficult aspect of the job. I am always looking to manage circumstances that very often are not under my control. We’re working with many vendors that have their own time lines. Many NY City buildings have limitations on the hours you can do work. I do my best to have everything in order (with the building and the city) before the project begins so that things can run smoothly.
When it comes to a time schedule, it is always dependent on the selections that the clients make. Sometimes a particular tile will have a 6-week delivery time. I advise clients during the process to manage their expectations as the work evolves.
Norman: What do homeowners have the most questions about?
Bjorn: How is it all going to come together? So I try to teach my clients how the process works.
I put together a complete schedule for them. There are always questions that come up, and having a set timeline makes it easier for the homeowner to conceptualize the process.
Norman: What do you commonly find gets overlooked and how do you address that in advance?
Bjorn: The floor outlets are never, never in the right place. Architects and developers don’t think about this kind of thing. If I am involved in the planning, I’ll suggest places for the outlets because I know where they’ll be most useful. I know where I’m going to need to plug in a lamp. That is because I do a furniture layout ahead of time.
They also overlook the entry of a home as well. Many times a small vestibule leads into a larger foyer which minimizes the effect of a grand foyer.
Kitchen layouts are not always planned properly. And then the room isn’t easy to work in.
This is why it’s critical for me to be involved in every step. When I’m included in the planning I can help nip these problems in the bud so that the homeowner isn’t dissatisfied with the end result.
Norman: How do you manage your vendor partners? Talk about how you address problems that inevitably come up.
Bjorn: A trusted vendor gives me the best result and makes my life easier. A vendor has to protect me and my client, be sensitive to my vision, my pricing, and my reputation. I must have a personal trust in that vendor.
I am typically very calm. I realize that my attitudes will impact how the rest of the team acts. So I don’t get excited by problems. And if I stay calm, usually everyone else stays calm. I try to address issues as quickly as possible to alleviate any stress it might cause.
Having worked with many vendors over the years, I have confidence in my partners to get the job done right so that I don’t have to micromanage. Having long term relationships with my vendor partners, they understand my expectations and they accommodate them.
For example, I expect them to be committed to getting things done. If a shade is installed the wrong way and I say it needs to be corrected, I don’t want the vendor to complain. I just want them to take care of it.
I expect my vendors to operate how I operate with my clients. That way, we align. No excuses. No whining. I don’t want to hear things like, “The electrician was there or the painter was there and we couldn’t get it done.” At that point, a red flag goes up.
This works very well because then I can let the professionals do their job. I’m not on top of them. If you say you’re an upholsterer, then you go ahead and upholster the chair. I express my vision and they take over. I want recommendations from them, not the other way around. They are the experts in their field.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on what it’s like to work with interior design professionals. Drop me a line at norman@roseintech.com.