Homework

At HDD our aim is to work with our clientele closely, and on their terms to create unique and exciting design. Part of this consultation relationship requires a few exercises for clients. In order to get the most out of your consultation, here are three things you can do to prepare:

Make A Wish List

If your budget were bottomless, what would you do? If you could only pick three things to change, what would they be? Think about what needs you would like to address, and jot down some ideas. Don’t worry about censoring yourself at first, list all the things you’d like to discuss or learn more about. We’ll work to narrow and prioritize your list in our meeting. Remember, this is a working session, preparing your list ahead of time will allow us to come with ideas to share–paint chips, fabric samples, references for contractors, samples from decorative artists, etc.

Look For Ideas

Spend some time looking through magazines and keep clippings of paint colors, room styles, and fabrics that you like. Also, be on the lookout for styles that don’tappeal to you. Often, these can be helpful in identifying the style that suits you best. Keep everything in a file. Not only will this be a good resource for the consultation, but it will also come in handy when you are out shopping for yourself.

The HDD method of looking for ideas uses the postie system. We are happy to send you these fun packs of posties to complete your homework, or you can use your own at home. Start with the vomit postie and have a magazine or web page in front of you. When you come across an element in the room that would make you ill if it were in your home, write the name of that element at the top of the postie. Below that line, describe with subjective detail what it is that drives you nuts. For example, write “color” on the top line, and below write something like “this color is the same as my grandmother’s kitchen where I got sick on fruit cocktail when I was 7. I’ve always associated this shade of yellow with getting sick.”
Happy posties are the opposite: write the element that makes you happy on the top line and describe it below. Be careful, and be specific; descriptions like “this room makes me happy” aren’t helpful because they don’t attribute the feeling to an element. Is it the lighting? The furniture plan? The color? Think hard about why you react positively to a space so we can emulate the results.
After about 5 of each type of postie, a pattern will appear that will help guide your consultation to give you the best results.

Give Some Thought To Function

Pay attention to how you and your family use the room or spaces that you’d like to change. Often, function is given a back seat in the quest to design a beautiful room. But a room that works well is much more likely to become a well-used and well-loved space in your home.