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When transforming spaces, it is necessary to start from a concept, a vision, and most importantly, a dream. But executing a total conversion of a site and achieving our wishes is another story. Just ask anyone who has decorated their own space and invested a fortune to do so but not necessarily achieved what they hoped. That is why creatives study the interior design profession for so many years. These skills are cultivated, honed over time, and masterfully chiseled through experience.
They have a certain magic when entering and leaving a space they have worked, as an artist, in front of a blank canvas. Even the simplest of changes might be enough to correct the aesthetic balance. Something that only a trained and experienced eye can do.
Selecting an interior designer to work in your new or renovated space is a fundamental decision. You are creating a partnership with a company tasked with realizing your custom design ideas based on your style, values, and aspirations. Be aware that the design will influence the atmosphere of the space and the mood of the users.
It is crucial to investigate the possible designer you are interested in hiring. Review their profiles on social networks, websites, and any published medium about their achievements or work. It will give you a great idea of who you are dealing with and what level of work you can expect. Redesigning or even designing from scratch is an incredibly stimulating experience for both you and the person you choose to guide you. Both form a creative association of shared and understood wants, needs, and images. Having confidence in the team is essential for the project to flow and above all so that you can enjoy the process.
A fantastic example of a trusted professional in the interior design industry is the expert Mariangel Coghlan, a global icon with decades of experience producing innovative design results. As a Mexico City resident, she is fortunate to live immersed in a multicultural environment full of rich traditions and bright colors. Always attentive to capturing beauty, she has a vast collection of photographs taken by herself of the astounding riches of her country. Architecture, natural landscapes, flowers, colors, textures, and shapes are something she likes to capture to inspire herself when creating her design projects. That’s Coghlan. She expands her creative reach every day by offering stunning designs.
Naturally, we approached Mariangel to find out the most critical aspects to discuss with a designer before starting the creative process. Here they are:
Have a clear vision
Before arranging an interview with the selected interior design company, it is advisable to identify your vision. Figure out what you love, what you don’t love, what you want to achieve, and what you want to feel in this new space. This part of the process is essential, as it lays the foundation for building the project.
Traditionally, people collected magazine clippings with inspiring images to convey the style of what they wanted. Today, however, we have a myriad of instant inspiration at our fingertips.
It is very convenient to select images of styles, designs, and ideas from sources like Pinterest, Instagram, or any interior design and decorating online sites. Also, try visiting art galleries, antique stores, or any design showroom to get a good idea of what is out there. All this contributes when defining our interests and tastes. Exercises like this can awaken the imagination or new images in our minds that will be useful to compile and explain the desired design idea.
A good designer will help you identify your tastes and guide you through your identity path. It will help to create a guiding concept or idea from which to start your design project.
Setting your priorities
Some clients want to achieve all of their goals for their home at once. It can help to prioritize which spaces are critical for that.
Some find that the most practical rooms are those in which guests first see when they enter the house, and others feel that the places in which they spend the most time are the ones that ought to style first.
Conversely, others believe that certain rooms with a grander investment appeal, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are at the top of the list. Ultimately, the designer must understand what space is a top priority for homeowners.
Investment
The investment is a crucial piece of information vital to the success of the design. Many clients may have gradually filled their space over many years without a plan. That often means that the cost factor has been diluted or forgotten. Once a designer is on board, the investment comes up-front. So, all parties must know the actual costs to make the project sustainable and keep the working relationship and process running smoothly at all times. The experience of a professional will ensure that the project budget is realistic to meet the objective and that all design elements complement each other.
Designers often advise spending on the culmination of a space rather than making small areas in multiple rooms, as this provides much greater perceived value. They can also provide valuable guidance in purchasing décor items.
It reduces the chances of buying things that end up not working in space and that, in the end, you will have to give away.
Know the space
A helpful activity is that the future inhabitants of the project take a tour with the designer through their space. Even for the areas surrounding the property, they will give you a greater understanding of the general context and lifestyle of the place, neighborhood, or neighborhood. A tour also provides an in-depth insight into different aspects of the client. Their style, their tastes, and of course, offers conversation opportunities to discuss myriad ideas. Understanding the two parties is fundamental, and fluent conversations and brainstorming are a great way to nurture the project.
What to ask your designer
While the home or business owner focuses on the creative side of the project, the designer becomes entrusted with delivering on all fronts, even considering the invisible aspects. Those could be topics like property access and availability times, the start-to-finish timeline, who exactly handles each factor of the project. If there are any challenges and possible solutions (weather restrictions, pets, safety, etc.) Feel free to ask your designer about their particular style and exactly how they want to operate and manage the project. It is advisable to clearly understand how all these phases that make up the process work.
Every detail must be in accord before starting a project. And, of course, keep asking until everything is well assimilated and understood. Clear and accurate communication is the key to success.
Mariangel Coghlan moves quickly through one design project after another. She knows how to reach the hearts and desires of her clients; and has the creative, strategic, and managerial skills to tie it all together. Earlier this year, the firm that bears her name was awarded the «Best Luxury Design Firm in Mexico» by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards. An astonishing testament to its authority in the industry.
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Mariangel Coghlan / Ana Tinoco
