What is the key to a successful interior design project?
Listening to the client's wants and needs and helping them sort and prioritize them. Many clients get confused or overwhelmed easily. I like to break it down for them and get them to focus in stages. I find this keeps things manageable for the client and we stay on track and most times ahead of schedule.
What is one important mistake many interior designers make? How have you overcome/avoided it?
The number one mistake I see designers make is not listening to what the client is really wanting. Interior designers often become interior therapists. They need to get the client to talk about what they want. Many clients are confused, not sure what their look is, the husband and wife don’t agree, or the budget doesn’t meet the wish list. With new clients it can sometimes take a lot of patience to help them speak up about their wants and wishes and not be afraid to discuss a budget that truly fits the project.
Interior designing for others has shaped your career. How does your design aesthetic appear in your own home? Are you as passionate in designing your own personal spaces?
My office is in my home so I like to make sure it reflects the quality and thought I put into all of my projects. Many times my home is used to give examples to my clients who have a hard time imagining the finished product. My clients love seeing what I have done for my own personal spaces. It gets them excited and helps them visualize their own project.
For more information on Noelle Hernandez, visit her Haute Residence profile and website.
