Renovating
The Pro Panel: "The Best Advice I Ever Received"
One question, seven expert answers
We ask seven Houzz professionals the words of wisdom that have influenced – or transformed – the way they do business.
What’s the best design advice you ever received? Tell us in the Comments.
What’s the best design advice you ever received? Tell us in the Comments.
Building Designer Royston Wilson of Royston Wilson Design: Undoubtedly the best advice I ever received was to be a sponge. I love art, design books (often older ones) and historical buildings that allow me to look at details and appreciate the journey that was taken prior to the final design. If you can understand the details of so many things, you will find a common link deep down that is disguised by the new style of ornamentation. The function is generally quite unchanged but the form is not over time.
Architect Scott Weston of Scott Weston Architecture Design: I had a very wise, now retired builder who encouraged me to treat all tradespeople on projects as equals and to learn from their profession/trade. I have since developed a philosophy to put all egos aside and, when on site, listen, continually ask questions about the best possible way something can be constructed, and never take no for an answer. By becoming a person’s equal, you diffuse a person’s opinion or past history of dealing with an architect, and this enables you to develop a trusting relationship. As my builder once quipped, “You are only as good as the team you have around you.”
Architect Dominic Bagnato of Bagnato Architects: When I was an undergraduate, I was called into a meeting to review a project, as part of a team, that I thought was way out of my depth. The senior project architect asked me various questions and sought my opinion about the design. I was baffled as to why he would ask me, a student with limited experience. He noticed this strange look on my face and asked me to stay behind when all others had left and proceeded to ask me about my puzzled look. I explained that I didn’t have much to offer in regards to the task at hand because I was only a student. With that he gave me some advice. He said “Dominic, if the cleaner was in the building at the time, I would have asked them to also join in on the meeting. Everyone’s opinion is valid and is neither right nor wrong. We all have a brain and can contribute.” He then went on to ask the following: “If you don’t know the answer to a question or a client asks you to undertake a task that you are not familiar with, what do you say?” He said, “You tell the client the truth and say, ‘I don’t know the answer to your question; let me get back to you after I do some research.’” This one single piece of advice has stayed with me. When I don’t know something I seek out the answer, and I’m not afraid to take on anything, even if I believe it’s outside my skill level. The answers are out there to find.
Interior Designer and Decorator Karyn McRae of McRae + Lynch Interior Design: The best advice I received when starting out was to never assume or generalise anything when it comes to interior details. When you assume, there is the risk of making costly mistakes for the client. We have to be thorough with every element of our designs. Careful planning and documentation is a priority, leaving little room for error. While it takes a little longer initially, it saves time and confusion down the track. This clarity means fewer questions by builders or other trades on what we wish to achieve with the intended design.
Landscape Architect and Designer Johanna MacMinn of My Verandah: Early in my career as a landscape architect, I was lucky to have three mentors who all had different lessons to teach me. Firstly, my good friend and classmate, Shaun Walsh, drove home the importance to believe in myself as a designer and know my worth as a creator of beautiful gardens. That was a tricky one for me at times, but I finally got it. Secondly, I won the ‘graduate lotto’ and landed an enviable position in the design studio of Vladimir Sitta. He is an utterly amazing artist whose ability to create hauntingly beautiful landscapes blows my mind. I learned a lot under his mentorship but the one piece of advice that stands out for me is, regardless of the complexity of a design, it is only successful if it appears simple – that was my ‘aha’ moment. My third mentor was garden designer William Dangar. From him I learned the importance of getting on with the job. He taught me that you may not always be the best but if you get in there and give your best to everything you do, success will follow.
Closet Designer and Professional Organiser Sally Hart of Clever Closet Company: I was once told that I have two ears and one mouth and to use them in that ratio. The fact is, a lot of people can’t ‘see’ the way designers do, and some find it difficult to visualise drawings. In addition to that, as a designer, many things are really obvious to me but are not obvious to the client, so to assume we’re on the same page without checking can lead to confusion. Asking thorough questions about what, why, where, for how long, how much, etc. are really important questions to cover when getting a brief from a client so that I can design the closest thing to their needs. For example, a client might point out that they really like a particular wardrobe in a photo and that they want it exactly like that. When I look at the photo, I see a whole lot of detail which they don’t. When I ask what it is about this particular wardrobe that they like, often it will just be the style of door, rather than the type of decorative base, or the capping or the proportions. If I didn’t ask for more information and just copied the photo, it’s quite possible they wouldn’t have noticed those features until installed.
Interior Designer and Decorator Anne Ellard of Anne Ellard Design: The best advice I ever received was to never ask a client what their budget is. There are plenty of ways that you can determine a client’s budget without directly asking them. It’s such an awkward question that no one likes to be asked and it can make clients feel very uncomfortable. I can always determine a client’s rough budget by discussing different options with them and talking them through the pros and cons of each along with approximate price points – that way they can make an educated decision as to what the best option is for them depending on their budget.
CALLING ALL PROS
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What’s the best design advice you ever received?
MORE
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From the Pros: How to Work With an Architect
An Interior Designer’s Guide to Arranging Cushions