As Interior Designers, we have the distinct privilege of being invited into your home when you are on the cusp of a major change, and after over 40 years in the business, we have talked to so many families, walked through so many homes and renovated thousands of spaces, and there are many details we care about during the interior design process… but there are also a few things we don’t care about at all:
Things we don’t care about as Interior Designers: The size of your project
Every time you open the doors to your home and start any kind of home renovation project, it’s a disruption to your life and we take that very seriously. Whether your project is small and simple or massive and extravagant, you have trusted us with your home and it’s our goal to ensure that your trust in us is warranted. No matter how much you’re spending, or how extensive your renovation is, it’s a big project for you, so it’s important to us.
Big projects give us opportunities that small projects don’t, and interestingly the same goes the other way around. Sometimes the smallest projects result in unexpected clever ideas and solutions that no interior designer would have thought of if we’d been working with all the space and budget in the world.
Things we don’t care about as your Interior Designer: Your starting point
We hear it all the time, the obvious discomfort and self-consciousness when we walk into your home for the first time and it’s not the space you wish it was. Maybe it’s cluttered and inefficient so you have trouble keeping it tidy, maybe it’s so dated you haven’t wanted to entertain guests. You’ve invited us into your home and you’re feeling not-quite-up-to-snuff or even a bit vulnerable. Whatever your feelings are telling you, please know… judging you or your space is the furthest thing from our minds. We’re just happy you called.
Being able to see your space and how it’s working (or not) can help interior designers immeasurably when it comes to identifying trouble spots, bad flow, storage needs and more. Fully understanding the starting point is the first step in getting to your goal, so embrace it as the first step and let’s just focus on where we’re headed, together.
Things we don’t care about as Interior Designers: The trends
This one seems funny to say, because of course we’re always watching the trends and looking for the next, latest or newest thing, but the truth is that those trends comprise only a small part of the thought and creativity that goes into helping you design your space. Trends will come and go so quickly that it’s impossible to catch all of them, and we’re pretty sure your goal is not to create a space in your home that will already be dated by the time you move your things back in.
Home renovation, and especially kitchens and bathrooms are big investments that can last decades if done right. It’s impossible to fully embrace every trend in that time, so it’s far more important for an interior designer to build a space that’s focused on the most crucial ingredient: You.
The best way to create a space for you that outlives the trends is to look for two things: classic, lasting profiles; and the things you love. If we build the bones of your home around those two things, the trends don’t matter.
Things we don’t care about as your Interior Designer: Our Portfolio
When you’re scrolling websites or social media, especially in the design space, it’s sometimes easy to get the impression that the work we do and the final products we showcase are there for us, and in some small ways, that’s true. We need to photograph spaces, and we need to show the world the things we can do, or no one would know about them, but our goal is not to build our portfolios with the images we love and the styles we prefer. Our goal is to build you YOUR perfect space.
The first step in our interior design process is listening, and not only listening, but truly hearing you. We want to understand your needs, your style, and how you hope to improve the function of your unique household in this renovation process. We want to know your fears and concerns and make use of our wealth of experience to overcome them and celebrate your success with you.
We love to take your ideas and bring them to life. We have succeeded in our job when you can walk into your newly renovated space and feel like you’ve finally come home, no matter what that looks like to you.
Things we don’t care about as Interior Designers: Whether you like the first design.
Obviously, it feels great when you love the first shot, and our goal is to listen to what you’re saying so we can get as close as possible, but design is a process. Getting a design on paper is just the first step and you shouldn’t feel bad about sending us back to the drawing board with changes. Getting your renovation right on paper is what sets the rest of the project up for success, and it’s cheaper (and less frustrating for everyone) to make changes in the design stage as opposed to while we’re standing in the middle of a construction zone. Mid-reno changes usually result in added costs and delays while we order new material or build new cabinets, so don’t hold back! Let’s get this right!
Things we don’t care about as your Interior Designer: How many family members are home.
It’s your home and you never have to apologize for living in it. Whether you have small kids at home, other family members working in the space or a menagerie of pets, we’re here for you and your needs. While we may have recommendations for when the renovation commences (safety is a top priority, and we take that seriously), when we’re doing interior design walkthroughs, measurements and other site visits, your life in all its chaos and glory can help us determine your needs for the space. There’s no sense hiding it away.
So, what DO we care about at Gateway Kitchen + Bath?
The answer is remarkably simple: You.
You honour us by choosing us and trusting us to come into your home, your space, your sanctuary. From the first design notes on a page to the first sounds of demolition to the final walk-throughs, this is YOUR project. You are in the driver’s seat and your goals are our goals. We strive to take your ideas and give you an honest and collaborative design experience; detailed and thoughtful project management; and an accurately-built and professionally-executed renovation. That’s what we want for your experience at Gateway, and whenever you want to start, we’re here!
If you have questions about an upcoming project or would like to talk to a member of our Design Team, please fill out our contact form, or schedule an appointment for a free one-hour consultation. Let’s get working on the things we both care about most!
