Collaborate or Call the Shots? The Ways to Work With a Designer
Some architects and designers love to collaborate with clients, but others prefer to call the stylistic shots themselves
Julia Fairley
31 December 2018
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
I once met an interior designer who ‘fired’ a client. The reason? ‘Stylistic differences’. And the offending object? A sofa, which the designer vetoed and the client purchased regardless. “But it’s my home,” the client protested. “But it’s my design,” her now ex-interior designer replied. While this scenario leaves most people aghast, many a seasoned architect and designer nod in recognition of the stylistic tug-of-war that sometimes transpires when two unique styles come together under one roof.
Some professionals strive to tailor the style of their designs to their clients’ individual likes and dislikes, while others take pride in remaining true to their distinctive aesthetic signature across all projects. Both approaches are valid and each can yield beautiful, and visionary, results. But the question of whose style you’re paying for – your own, your designer’s or a combination of the two – is a sticky little subject and one that deserves to be explored.
In early 2018 we called on the insights and experience of the Houzz community and asked you, our loyal readers, to share your thoughts on the subject in an informal poll. At the time of writing, many people had commented and over 230 Houzz users cast their vote (this number is still in flux as the poll remains open).
In early 2018 we called on the insights and experience of the Houzz community and asked you, our loyal readers, to share your thoughts on the subject in an informal poll. At the time of writing, many people had commented and over 230 Houzz users cast their vote (this number is still in flux as the poll remains open).
A vast majority of over 160 Houzzers expressed that they have an idea of what they want in terms of style, but are open to collaborating with a designer or architect.
In second place, more than 50 people responded that they have definite likes and dislikes and prefer to call the creative shots themselves.
And a minority of 20 users said they are not confident in their own style and feel more comfortable engaging an architect or designer whose work they like to make the decisions for them.
Take Houzz’s poll and see the results
In second place, more than 50 people responded that they have definite likes and dislikes and prefer to call the creative shots themselves.
And a minority of 20 users said they are not confident in their own style and feel more comfortable engaging an architect or designer whose work they like to make the decisions for them.
Take Houzz’s poll and see the results
Professionals who work in design as well as consumers commented on how vital it is for people’s tastes to converge as much as humanly possible. “I know what I like but I feel it is important to first choose an architect whose work and ideas I respect and who I feel is on the same wavelength as me,” one Houzz user responded in the poll.
But determining if you and your architect or designer think you are on the same wavelength or know that you are is an issue unto itself. “I don’t want to live in someone else’s style,” countered another Houzzer. “I often find that it is difficult to discover whether [designers and architects] are on your wavelength – as people often indicate that they are – but I have discovered over the years that it isn’t necessarily the case.”
Detailed documentation and architectural drawings go a long way to helping both parties determine whether or not they’re on the same stylistic wavelength, but the truth is there is always a leap of faith involved. Thankfully, that leap has been curtailed to a small step due to advances in three-dimensional modelling tools, though nothing can ever compare to the real thing.
How to Write a Design Brief for Your New Home or Reno
How to Write a Design Brief for Your New Home or Reno
“That is the issue for me and why I am yet to decide if we need an interior designer involved with our project,” reveals another user. “How do you tell if a designer will work with you or want to control the design themselves?”
Throughout history, great architectural masters became famous for pursuing their own unique stylistic signatures – often ahead of their clients’ – so it’s not unreasonable for designers to have an individual aesthetic that distinguishes their work. But interestingly, no designers were comfortable with going on the record for this story saying they prefer to retain the power to veto clients’ suggestions if they compromise a design. Off the record it was quite a different story, but in our consumer-driven world where swathes of architects and designers work hard to survive, their reluctance is understandable.
Throughout history, great architectural masters became famous for pursuing their own unique stylistic signatures – often ahead of their clients’ – so it’s not unreasonable for designers to have an individual aesthetic that distinguishes their work. But interestingly, no designers were comfortable with going on the record for this story saying they prefer to retain the power to veto clients’ suggestions if they compromise a design. Off the record it was quite a different story, but in our consumer-driven world where swathes of architects and designers work hard to survive, their reluctance is understandable.
“When you engage a more ‘branded’ designer, their particular ‘product’ (or services weighted towards their style or result) is what people are (consciously) buying,” responded one Houzz user who works in interior design. “There’s a certain expectation or understanding of what you’re going to get or end up with from previous work. Alternatively, however, pursuing design specifically customised to the client requires a different approach and sensitivity, probably from both sides, and it’s not for everyone due to the unknown or open-ended factor.”
While the collaborative approach may not always appeal, having a different style to your architect or designer does not always result in conflict. Instead, it can pave the way for unforgettable designs. “I have strong ideas about what works for me and my design aesthetic but I’m not a designer,” writes one Houzz user. “I appreciate and am paying for their expertise and don’t want to create unnecessary constraints on their creativity. Essentially, I’m employing a designer to find solutions that I could never come up with.”
We would be remiss to assume that all designers and architects prefer to pursue their own renowned style over those of their clients. In fact, many designers have made a name for themselves by having wildly varied portfolios of work where no two homes are alike, such as managing director of Decus Interiors, Alexandra Donohoe Church.
“One of the things that distinguishes our work is that all of our spaces look very different from one another,” says Donohoe Church. “As a sweeping generalisation, if you look at most firms there is a strong link that runs through all their projects. That’s not to say that there isn’t a common thread to ours, but I think our projects are much more diverse and differ significantly from the next because so much of our work is driven by our clients’ personalities. I’ve always enjoyed that because it makes it more interesting.
“If you look at hospitality, retail and other commercial projects, there are multiple end users and they don’t necessarily have a genuinely personal connection to the space; whereas with our clients they live there 24/7, so it’s important that they love it,” says Donohoe Church.
“When they wake up or when they come home from work at the end of the day, [it’s important] that they feel it is really ‘them’. That’s crucial for the happiness of the client. You’re dealing with people’s hard-earned money and it’s a huge investment both financially and often emotionally as well.”
An Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor Plans
“When they wake up or when they come home from work at the end of the day, [it’s important] that they feel it is really ‘them’. That’s crucial for the happiness of the client. You’re dealing with people’s hard-earned money and it’s a huge investment both financially and often emotionally as well.”
An Architect Reveals: How to Read Floor Plans
Regardless of whether you gravitate towards minimalism and your designer has a soft spot for maximalism, or despite your fondness for coastal design and your architect’s preference for industrial, it is entirely possible for different styles to coexist within a space and even enrich it. Perhaps the more important question is whether or not you and your architect or designer are open to collaborating… but that’s a whole different story.
Tell us
Do you prefer to delegate the design decisions to a professional whose style you admire, or do you like to call the creative shots yourself? Tell us in the comments, like and share this story and save your favourite images.
More
Who’s The Boss? When Different Styles Clash at Home
Tell us
Do you prefer to delegate the design decisions to a professional whose style you admire, or do you like to call the creative shots yourself? Tell us in the comments, like and share this story and save your favourite images.
More
Who’s The Boss? When Different Styles Clash at Home
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When we planned and built our dream home a few years ago it was very helpful to browse thousands of Houzz photos and put the ones we loved most in Ideabooks. We also found some very useful floorpan ideas in the books from Sarah Susanka. We presented "our" ideas to the architect and he designed a floorpan/house that worked out on our small section and with the constrictions we had from council. We did the same when we worked with the joiner who built our kitchen and several pieces of in-built furniture.
We are more than happy with our house. It is very individual and we would not change a single thing after living four years in the house!
Just make sure what you really want and what is important to you and how you want to live in your house. It doesn't matter what is in fashion now (unless you plan to sell the house quickly).
We had some discussions with the joiner, who likes the minimalist look. We prefer a more individual style and everything needs to be practical. So we compromised a bit. But in the end it is your house and you pay for it. So it has to fit your lifestyle and taste.