By Design

It was becoming clear that I’d need assistance to achieve my goal of blending several design themes and influences.

On the other hand the thought that “it’s my home, I can decorate it how I like” kept surfacing. Besides, how much would an interior design consultation cost? Surely I’d do better to use those funds for items of furnishing? Furthermore, for such a modest property – and an owner whose desire was to live quietly – might it be perceived as a little pretentious to commission the services of a professional designer?

Then I thought back to my Victorian house renovation experience – the one which didn’t go so well – and I remembered that it had been a lack of consultation which had led to so many costly mistakes. I realised I was mentally writing off an interior design appointment on the grounds of price when I didn’t really know what the price would be. Even though I had no idea where to start in identifying a suitable Interior Design Consultancy, I resolved to begin doing research.

Image of John Lewis department store in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Image shows galleried restaurant area overlooking the concourse in Eldon Square shopping centre. — John Lewis, Newcastle upon Tyne

A day or so later, I needed to refer to some information I’d scribbled in a notebook and I rummaged in a bag to find the book. A leaflet fluttered out of the bag onto the floor. The leaflet had been handed to me by a counter assistant on my most recent visit to John Lewis (a UK national department store) and it contained information about their Home Design Service.

All sorts of questions – mainly negative ones – entered my mind. Would the Home Design Service just be an exercise in “up-selling”? Might I be subjected to persuasion to go with current trends rather than my own, somewhat idiosyncratic styling ideas? Would any Home Design Stylist afford the time ( and have the patience ) to listen to my mish-mash of ideas and then have the experience to pull them together into a harmonious scheme?

Just what would an Interior Design professional think when approached by a client who wanted to draw on inspiration from Art Deco, the Arts and Crafts Movement, English Country House Styling, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and shoe-horn the whole disparate bunch into one house whilst attempting to respect its 1930s heritage?

Despite my many concerns, I concluded that it wouldn’t hurt to enquire further about the service.