Sometimes when I get to the “Here’s what my fee’s are” conversation with a client, they say “But I just need colour/s”. And it seems really simple and straightforward—like anybody could come over and just choose a colour. However, rarely do the people that hire me have a simple colour problem. If colour was all that was required, you could take your sofa cushion or drapery fabric and head over to your nearest paint store and get a colour chip.
No, you hire me because what you want to create in your home is a look and a feel which (as I have said in previous posts) equals atmosphere. My clients have said “I am tired of thinking about my house, I would just like to enjoy it!”
Sometimes I’m called in to choose colours from scratch. ‘It’s an empty house and we’re moving in’. In this case, major colour decisions regarding furniture have yet to be made, and I am a part of that conversation. Sometimes it's tile or granite (or which colour cabinet?) that's about to be installed and you want to be able to sleep at night!
Sometimes, major purchases (sofa/loveseat) have already been made and my client is convinced they have made a mistake and they are stressed out!! My job then becomes about pulling in all the missing elements of a room that have simply not been purchased yet. Maybe the drapery is still old and needs to be replaced before the new furniture has context in the space, maybe toss cushions are missing, or coffee tables, etc.
Years ago (in my 20’s) I bought a sofa for my apartment. When it arrived and I placed it in my living room with my existing furniture, I was horrified. Convinced that I had made a terrible mistake I was about to return it--thanking the furniture God’s that the department store had a return policy--I got on the phone with a designer friend of mine who came over, re-arranged my furniture, took me shopping for end tables and lighting (which were sorely missing) and suddenly my sofa looked right as rain.
One client called me, worried that she had bought too much brown furniture for her living room (as her blinds were brown as well). We went shopping, bought a great striped area rug in blues, toss cushions, an upholstered slipper chair, lighting and accessories and then her living room too became a sanctuary to relax in. (sorry it was too long ago for a good picture, if you want to see my work click here.)
The main living areas of your house, the kitchen, great room and living room are the most important because that’s what all your friends see when they come over and a True Colour Expert needs to be a designer too, otherwise you will be left with pretty paint chips and no plan to pull it all together.
So, before you start throwing good money after something you think is bad (because now you are willing to spend anything to take away the pain), it’s best to call me (or your designer) first to see what can be done that might not be obvious to you. After all if you don’t like your house, you won’t want to spend time in it.
If you want your home to have atmosphere including colours that flow to fill you with happiness every time you walk in. Contact me by email info@mariakillam.com for on-line rates or call me at 604.318.9725 if you are local.
Related posts:
The 3 Most Important Words in a Consultation
Is Hiring a Designer a Luxury or Necessity?
The 5 Designer Secrets that will Make or Break your Paint Colours
Insider Secrets to Testing and Selecting Paint Colours
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