Xxx furniture shop can buy la...cheh

It's such been couples of month did not update my blog...

What's make me feel like blogging again?
Firstly, Hehe..thanks to one of my client, who told me she actually read my blog..:).
Secondly, that's something which i really wish to share again about issue on id scope.heheh..issue..sound serious ah...hahaha but no right or wrong again, just a matter of discussion ..

That day, come across this discussion with friend who is also a designer. He told me that, one of his client complaint this to him

" ai yoh, overall the design u proposed for my house le.. me and my husband quite like it la...but hor..my study room! Ai yah...the thing u proposed, i able to buy off the rack from xxx furniture shop la! What for i pay u to design my study room leh...." said client A.


It's pop up in my mind...and i begin to question myself..what is a interior designer role?
A) We are not a furniture maker neither a furniture designer.

Then , you might question then? What is your role ? Aren't u design kitchen cabinet? Wardrobe? Like what kitchen speciallist did? Aren't they call themselves designer too?
Yes, we design kitchen cabinet, but we design it as whole; flooring to ceiling to wall to lighting every single detail; but not only design kitchen cabinet and put in the space that you have.

Again, to me no right or wrong..but there is something which i wish to again emphasize here, what is a interior designer role.

As refer to the web defination source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interior_design

Interior design is a multi–faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment.
The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis, and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.[1]


To build a interior environment- meaning, the entire interior but not A piece of furniture.

In a more simple word - designer task is to create the comfortable ambience for the user.

Therefore, it is not a neccesity to customade everything when you can purchase a suitable item from the furniture shop (which is probably 50% or even 100% cheaper compare to customade) yet, the entire interior remain as per the concept that fit owner preference and expectation. No right or wrong, but something to look at.

In conclusion i wish to emphasize on a designer role.
Please forgive us, we are interior designer...or probably this group of designers are not a good businessman. We don't know how to maximize our profit margin ( or don't wish to) by convince our client blindly spend unneccesary money to customade every single item(in respect to their expectation).
We are just a simple designer who focus on the entire ambience of the space, but not a furniture maker.

"wow...now THAT is really expensive....my opinion...just get an ID to design and discuss wif ID the exact measurements and details of the drawings and then engage a carpenter yourself. Go direct is better.if u go thru ID, they will "up" the cost. but make sure the carpenter knows and has the material you want. That's what i did for all my furnitures....mostly are built in. from cabinets to beds."

I got this comments from one of my client (she come across this from one of the forum in town.) No right or wrong, to me everything come with pro and cons.

To hire a ID in renovations works.
advantages:

• time saver
• cost saver (at the end of the day to avoid repeat work, i believe those who handle renovation themselve will understand what am i talking bout "double work").
• designer will always make sure the fabrication of the designed furniture meet their requirement.
• end user need to spend lots of time dealing with carpenter/contractor and it usually take very long time to deal with contractor unless end user very familiar with renovations works
• designer able to give you option in site problem - which will take design concept into considerations.
  

disadvantages:

• the renovations cost might be slightly higher in compare direct with carpenter (if renovations goes smoothly).
• end user will be able to involve every single detail in renovations which it will be an unforgettable experienced if you able to manage it and be able to spare your time for the renovation works.
  

oh...is dangerious!

"Oh ...don't u feel insecure to post your design photo/drawings in blog? Reader can just copy your design without hiring you.."

That's a sincere advised from a good friend of mine.

"Don't worry, if they experienced in renovations process before, they will understand it is difficult to transform the design direct from the book/photo to reality as it is involve lots of consideration, and at the end...it will be disappointment with the outcome and double work."

She still seem not understand what i am trying to tell her..

i show her an example:
"do your purchase anything clothing from internet before?"

"yes. i did"

"do u experienced this.......from the picture it look nice and fitting onto the model, but when you received the particular dress it is oversize or smaller as what you expected? or..the material is not really comfortable to wear..and etc?"

"yes..but how does it relate to our topic then?"

i illustrated it as below:

clothing = design that "copy" from blog/website/book

fitting (body shape) = interior spaces (the size of your house/retail/office...etc)


When we buy clothing from internet (design that copy from blog...) ,the clothing (design) is nice on the model (interior space that you seen in the photo) but, when put it on us ..it might not fitting or as comfortable as what we thought..

conclusion:
we might copy the interior idea from the book/blog/etc...but, with that particular design..we never consider that, it might be slightly too small, too bulky or not practical for our house/office/retail...and it involved even more practical issue in compare to dress..:material, measurement, durability, handling contractor, how to assemble every single thing together...

And of cause, we might be saving the cost in hiring a designer at first........ anyhow, everything come with pro and cons....no right or wrong..but something to look at..

Lifestyle vs interior design

Sometimes i feel little heart pain when revisit my formal client house which design by myself..

Reason being, i found that..that's lots of "new furniture " appear in the particular space. Frankly speaking...to me..it is really such a waste ,where, paying so much to refurbish the interior...but at the end, due to the maintenance issue..and..its look kinda messy and pack with those unexpected new furniture and yet it seem necessary to be there to full fill the usage issue.

I found that, it's happen due to lack of understand of our lifestyle, that's also the common question we ask our client before start do design the area for them
"Do you understand your lifestyle?"

Why does it important and relevant in understanding lifestyle vs design?
1) Its helps in storage planning.
Where we can actually adopt your daily behavior into storage planning. So that you can have your storage area which sufficient for you and easy to access.

2) save $ and time
Yes, we need your help to tell us, how you use the particular area, from there we will be able to design a space which is suitable and convenience for you.
Therefore, those unwanted stuff we can ignore(less item to be done). Also, it will be save your precious time and $ search to search for additional storage furniture in future (and..it might not suit the interior that renovated few months ago) in a way..it does not fit your purpose of getting a interior designer for your house..(you pay for it..so..use us!! let us do the planning for you!)

3) less maintenance
by knowing the your daily activity eg:
from the moment you park your car, get in to ur house, looking for a place for your key ....

that's where we proposed the furniture layout which you can have a flow, that match your lifestyle. And you will have less maintenance once you understand your own lifestyle(close storage?open storage?..)

How to justify my lifestyle?
Just take current house/working space as a guild...

• Anything that make you feel annoying.. ?
• The particular cabinet where you hardly reach due to inconveniences?
  
• The stuck of clothing which meant to be in cabinet but it is not?
  
• The pants/t shirt which you will wear daily but too troublesome for you to place it back to wardrobe daily?
  
• Your shoes..?keys?
• Book shelve too dusty?
  
• Too many decorative cabinet? hard to maintain?
• Current living too deep for reading?

.....it will lead you on what you need...

Please allow us to understand you more and transform your need..into the space that soon to be your dream.

Show.....House...?

Today one of my friend asked me this question..

"what's the design trend now ar? I heard that nowadays not so "hing" strong colour for house interior ya.."

Trend? what is trend? It is the main consideration in design? To me..especially for house design...the main consideration is always on how comfort the space is for end user.
I should emphasized, as designer our main duty is to transform your preferences to your dream home. Make it a home which is customized for yourself, but not the trend.

Please don't blindly follow trend..it is a home to stay but not a house to show.

$$

case 1

"doctor, i hav cough.."
"ok..let me check..k...take this medicine .."
"doctor, can i pay u after i cure from my sickness? cause i not
sure your medicine will help.."

case 2
"master, so what are the alternative name suit my new born son?"
"ok .these few name suit him very well"
"oh..thanks master. i will pay you if i pick the name you provided me just now.."

what come to your mind after reading these 2 cases?