Journeys of discovery

Few people have the expertise or patience needed to create a dream home, let alone a simple renovation, into reality. This is where architects, interior designers and/or decorators can make a difference.

Greg Pearce, managing director of One Space, started his business 10 years ago with “the vision to design excellent architectural interiors.” A licensed architect, he believes interior design and architecture are inseparable, with interior designers allowing function to drive their creations.  In an initial meeting with Pearce, clients will discuss how they live and how they want to live in the new environment. “It's less important to bring images of what you like – those will be important later – than it is to come with dreams of how you would like to live each day in your home, what are the needs of each family member, what things bug you about home life, and in what ways you'd like to reduce the burdens of your domestic life”.

J.J. Acuna, studio and architectural head designer at LWK and Partners (Hong Kong) and creator of theWanderlister+, would like to see floor plans and any due diligence that has been done related to government and building development rules. Acuna says: “This information will give the consultant a better idea on whether the client’s dreams and budgets are aligned.  If the client has none of this information, a pre-contract job can be done to help them figure out what can be done for the parameters they’ve got. If the client can clip images from a magazine or the internet with references that aesthetically they admire, that will help the design consultants to benchmark a budget and timeline for the job.”

Pearce cautions clients on asking about a designer's “vision”. He believes that allowing a designer to jump into solutions and preconceptions will hamper any effort that could lead to a creative and functional concept catering to special needs. “Ask [the designer or architect] to describe how he will interpret your needs and wishes without pigeonholing you into a preconceived home design,” he advises.

Achieving consensus is a key part of any project and should be established in the first meeting, Pearce says. “We once had a residential client, a couple, who came to the first meeting certain that they were aligned in their dream, only to find that they had different wishes. We ended up helping this couple define a lifestyle goal they strongly shared. A designer who effectively says, ‘you two don't seem to agree, why don't you talk about it, come to an agreement then let me know’ is shirking the architect's important role of helping your family build a shared vision.” 

Pearce compares the design process to “a journey of discovery, together, with open eyes for unforeseen possibilities”, thus it is important for all parties to be comfortable with each other.