As an Interior Designer, where do I get my inspiration?
You might be surprised to learn that, as an Interior Designer, I do not spend hours trawling through Instagram or Pinterest looking for design inspiration!
I have done this in the past, and I found that I ended up down the equivalent of an inspiration rabbit hole - where everything I thought of was exactly the same as the best images that I saw on social media. So a few years ago this meant ‘les carreaux de ciment’ (cement tiles with geometric patterns) and that lovely dark blue-green color. And more recently, it would have meant that warm peachy-terracotta color and vertical wooden slats!
There are two problems with this:
What is on social media isn’t necessarily what the client likes, or what would suit their space - so that doesn’t meet with my criterion of making the client really, really happy!
If the style is uber-on-trend, it’ll be uber-passé extremely quickly! And once again my client isn’t going to be at all happy!
So where do I go, as a professional Interior Designer, when I need inspiration?
Usually there is something about the space or about the client that inspires me directly. For example, if the space has a wonderful view, I’ll design the space to optimize and reflect the view.
Or the client can provide the inspiration through what they do or enjoy. For example, I’m currently designing some offices in Versailles. The client builds sustainable infrastructure (they’re currently working on part of the métro Line 18). I’ve taken that as the inspiration for the design - most of the furniture references the raw materials the client uses. So Spoinq are supplying tables and chairs whose legs are in natural-coated steel. And desk-tops are made from Valchromat (a wood composite which looks almost like concrete) in gray to match the corporate color palette. Sustainability and eco-responsibility are part of both suppliers’ culture, which is also important for my client.
But if nothing comes to mind immediately, I generally need two different kinds of inspiration - functional inspiration and aesthetic inspiration.
As you might already know (from my articles on how to design a living room and a master bedroom), when designing a room, I always start with the functions (ie. how the space will be used) and then the biggest pieces of furniture needed for those functions. So my functional inspiration might be, for example, a 12 seater dining table. I’ll work out how big the table has to be, and then find the type of table, then the chairs that go with the table, following my client’s preferences (eg. with armrests).
Functional inspiration is needed when, for example, in a small space (eg. in a Parisian apartment!) I need to fit in several functions so that my clients can use the space to its best advantage. So this would include how best to include a table in a small kitchen, or how could my client work from home, comfortably, in a bedroom.
Once I know what I want to do functionally, and have tried out a few different rough floor plans, then I can then turn to the Internet for inspiration if I need it. This tends to be for a particular type or size of desk or table, for example. Although I frequently propose semi-custom pieces to my clients, as, if space is at a premium, custom sizes are often necessary to achieve the result we want. So I’ll put together a table or desk with legs from a table leg supplier (in France, my go to is La Fabrique des Pieds) and have a desk or table top made to my specifications (for example by Adrien and Mitia at Mano).
This functional inspiration often helps with the aesthetic inspiration. At the beginning of each interior design project, I always interview my clients extensively to understand their functional and aesthetic needs. So I know how they want to use the space. And I also question them on their aesthetic tastes - do they want Classic French or Chic Eclectic ? Do they want to mix in a bit of the Empire or Art Deco styles ? Or are we talking Industrial? Or, dare I say it, Relaxed Farmhouse (whatever that means)?!
With this in mind, I can then choose, for example, a raw edge table top from Mano, and some fine legs from La Fabrique des Pieds. And then in my head the whole room and style will evolve and come together.
I’m not often ‘stuck’, actually, now that I think about it! I think this is due to regular exercise (yoga and lots of nordic walking in the woods near my coworking space and near home) and to the variety of my days. To absolutely loving what I do. To lots of cultural visits - temporary exhibitions and museums - not necessarily interiors related, although I generally love whatever the Musée des arts décoratifs (at the Louvre) has on.
Recently, a client said - ‘oh I forgot to tell you, I don’t want any ochre in my space’, I had put some in the scheme as the client likes warm colors. It took me a little time to reimagine the space without the ochre, but I got there! And the client is delighted.
This is possibly not hugely helpful if you’re looking for inspiration for your interiors… sorry about that!
So what advice do I give if a friend is stuck designing a room?
Start, as always, with function - what do you want to do in the space?
List the furniture linked to the functions, and find the biggest piece first, making sure you like the aesthetic
Go from there!
And if you’re still stuck, try to let it percolate and not actively think about it - visit an exhibition or go for a walk in the woods!
And if you’re really stuck, I can help!