- To look at most decorating magazines and television shows, you would
think that rooms are meant to be seen and not used. In fact, often the picture
you see is not how the room looks most of the time. The contents have been
rearranged, possibly even enhanced, to improve the composition of the picture.
Once the photographer or cameraman has gone, the room will be changed back to
the way the interior designer envisioned it, as a place for people to use and
enjoy. After all, the real test of a well designed room is not whether it is
photogenic, but whether it works as it was intended for the people who live
there.
Magazines and decorating programs can show us what is possible. They can
inspire us to think differently about the space we have. But when it comes time
to make changes, it is important to think beyond the frame. While we want our
homes to be pleasing and attractive, we need them to be functional as well. That
is where the expertise of a professional interior designer can prove invaluable.
Unlike many home remodeling or decorating services that may advise you on a
particular aspect of your home, a professional interior designer can help put
your home project in perspective. Will that “dream” room that looks so great in
the magazine also meet your needs on a daily basis? An interior designer will
want to know who is going to use the room and how, whether it will accommodate
your guests and visitors, and what changes you may be planning for the entire
house that could affect the design over time. Like a chess player who is always
several moves ahead of the game, a professional designer has the training and
experience to anticipate how lifestyle changes can affect the use of space and
vice versa. He or she can ensure that the finished project not only looks right
but performs to your expectations now and for years to come.
Going beyond the big picture, a designer is familiar with the thousands of
details that make the difference between a good project and a great project. In
addition to advising on color, fabric, furniture and furnishings, professional
interior designers have an in-depth knowledge of flooring, wall coverings,
windows, finishes and sealants, hardware, flooring, lighting, acoustics and many
other elements involved in completing a room. He or she also will address safety
and health issues, such as indoor air quality and protection against fires or
falls.
In a recent survey of homeowners conducted by the American Society of
Interior Designers (ASID), nearly nine out of 10 homeowners who had worked with
an interior designer on a home design or remodeling project said their
experience was highly satisfactory, and more than half (54 percent) said it was
“Extremely Satisfactory.” Almost all (92 percent) said they would work with an
interior designer again.
To find out more about how to work with and locate a qualified interior
designer in your community, visit the ASID Web site at www.asid.org, or obtain a
free copy of the new ASID brochure, Designing Your Space, available for download
on the Web site or by sending an e-mail request, including name and mailing
address, to arc@asid.org.
