Collaboration
Beautiful interiors are the result of individuals working together. Interior Designer, Architect, Builder and……… THE HOMEOWNER
Each of these individuals, working in harmony, brings a unique perspective to a project which can spark further dialog and new ideas. In the process, each learns from the other. As simple as this may sound, it does not always work this way. Too often each has their own agenda and does not appreciate the benefit of working as a team.
The process starts with a preliminary meeting of all parties to discuss how the space will be used and then how we want it to look – light and airy, dark and cozy, etc. This is also the time to review material choices for everything so the architect and builder can work to establish a budget for the project. Having your Interior Designer in at this stage is very important as they will direct you to the appropriate finishes for the look you want to create. They will also talk about traffic patterns, window placement, room sizes, furniture requirements and a very important and often neglected detail – lighting. They assist you in coming up with a clear vision of what you are trying to accomplish – in other words a Master Plan. It is so disappointing to build your dream home or the perfect addition only to find out it is not what you expected. Following this process also avoids costly change orders in the midst of building.
Once the plans are fine tuned and the budget established it is time to start the design and decoration of the interior spaces. We start with the background – flooring, tiles, cabinets – finishes that are permanent – then move on to furniture placement. The layout and scale of furniture is crucial to each room. We do floor plans and elevations to create the ideal layout. Only after this is complete do we create “THE LOOK” you want. There should be design cohesion in all the rooms, not always obvious, but a subtle feeling should unite the spaces.
Hiring the right designer to assist you is so helpful in making the many decisions necessary to create your dream space. Most clients are comfortable only with what they know and see around them, making it difficult to create really great interiors on their own. Advice from friends and family can only confuse your goal. I view a large part of our job as Interior Designers as being a filter for client’s ideas, impulses and suggestions from others – helping to create a truly beautiful and unique interior.
Schaper Associates Interior Design: Residental- Commerial- HealthCare- 716-627-4697 ![]()
