Design Talk + The Haven Workshop - You're Invited!
Laura had such a great time talking about all things design this past weekend at the Washington Winter Antiques Show in DC! We love sharing design insight whenever we can so we thought what better way to share some of our favorite questions than through a Q+A? Keep reading for some really informative design talk…and be sure to check out our exciting announcement at the end of this newsletter!
A forever favorite find, this early 1900’s antique oak mirror from France is one of our most loved moments from our #WalnutHillProject | Photo: Jennifer Hughes
Q: So much about design and decoration is about the client – their wants, needs, and desires. It’s pulling out their personality and filtering it through your lens. How do you drill down into their personal design essence in a very short amount of time and know that you’ve gotten it right?
We love collaborating with our clients in the beginning of the design process to really make sure that we understand their own design taste and aesthetic. We do this through asking them to gather images they’re drawn to via Pinterest and then we comb through them to find a through-line of common styles. We’re really looking for how our clients want to feel in their home, not just what they want it to look like, and that comes from taking the time to talk with them about their lifestyle, interests and day to day activities.
This antique French stool needed some love and repair, so we reupholstered it for this modern bathroom space at our #WalnutHillProject | Photo: Jennifer Hughes
Q: Sometimes design is difficult in that there are immovable hurdles – kitchen cabinets that cannot be removed, bad architecture, someone’s Grandmother’s Victorian tufted settee – how do you work around those issues?
We always look at a space and consider how we would design it if there were no issues to work around. Then we go back and consider how those issues impact the preferred design direction. We’ll look at how we can still achieve the look and feel our clients want while working around those hurdles. Often, adding beautiful architectural detailing or repositioning furniture can overcome unfortunate space planning and architecture. Furniture can always be reupholstered but if we feel that the size or shape doesn’t work with the client’s ultimate goal for the space, we will always be honest about the best guidance… which might be not to use it.
Q: A lot of design is also taking people’s life-long collections or possessions and working them into a house in a new and chic way. What are some of the best ways to display collections? What if the collection doesn’t have a unified theme – rather it’s something like “a knick knack from every place I’ve ever traveled!” Is there a clever trick to making it all work together?
We love to work with our clients’ collections, especially when they’re very meaningful and special. When the items are on the smaller side we’ll suggest grouping them for more impact, and possibly using fewer overall in order to give more importance to each one.
The Art Studio shelves at our #OxfordProject photoshoot were so much fun to style with vintage and antique pieces. We were able to curate from our own vintage collection at Domain, as well as local antique shops along the Eastern Shore… | Photo: Jennifer Hughes
Q: What’s the one thing clients always dismiss during the process that is, in fact, critical to the success of the project?
Styling! Building a new house or starting a big renovation is an overwhelming task for most clients so looking all the way to the end of the process to consider styling the shelves and surfaces is understandably the last thing on their mind. However, just like a great outfit has the finishing touches of beautiful jewelry, styling and artwork are the finishing touches to your home. Typically, we will encourage our clients to just let us fully style their home with their treasured items and new/vintage pieces, as needed, and they always love the life it brings to each room.
Since we love sharing all things design, we excited to announce that Laura will be included in the speaker lineup at the next Haven Workshop! The event is from May 17-19 in Newport Beach, California and if you’re an interior designer or home industry creative looking to upgrade your business strategy and form meaningful connections with other creatives, this workshop is meant for you!
There will be a variety of sessions, from systems and operations to client growth and marketing, plus lots of time for Q+A sessions and building connections!
We encourage you to visit the Haven Workshop site to see the full breakdown of this 3-day workshop and what you can expect. PS – there are 36 spots available for this workshop and you can use our discount code LAURA300 for $300 off your ticket price! If you have any questions, please reach out to us via Instagram @laurahodgesstudio!
And if you’re not already, follow along with us on Instagram to stay in the loop about all the things (but especially this workshop) as we will be sharing more leading up to it!
xx LHS Design Team