American Residential Design Award Winner!
Yesterday morning, as I sat at my desk, ready to take another NCIDQ practice test, I quickly scanned my email, when I saw a subject I absolutely did not expect,
Congrats! ARDA Winner
Wait, what?! Of course, the fist thing I did was to text my husband, "I WON!', then I had to go back and look at what exactly it was that I won. I mean, I remember submitting projects for an award, but well... I generally do this thinking winning isn't really an option. Let's face it, there are hundreds of designers who enter the Seattle competitions. This submission was national, and it wasn't just interior designers. It was all of those in the building design industry- architects, engineers, interior designers, etc. How could I possibly be selected?
But, I was. And, I didn't take that practice test. I was way too excited. First, I yammered to my poor husband about the gala and how it was to happen at the same time as our family vacation... while he was trying to work. Then, I had to post about it on Facebook (everywhere). Then, Instagram. Then, I had to tell my neighbor.
You know when you give a young child something they love, and they run around telling every stranger what is so cool about it? That was me yesterday.... and today... because now I'm telling you.
The project that won n (as I recall) the renovation category was the Westside Farmhouse. Check it out if you haven't already. It was a lot of fun!
Ready for your own award-winning project? Here are some tips for a wonderful, successful design that I have experienced in all my most successful projects:
Trust and release! Release the control. You hired your designer for their expertise, not their computer software. Let them use their creative brains to develop a beautiful space that suits your style as well as your home's aesthetic.
Have an open mind: Chances are good that the design presented will not be what was expected. Designers are trained to think in new and unique ways and already skip over the many obstacles you may not be aware of. Live with the design for a while before rejecting it. Chances are, if the first presentation is rejected entirely the client is not ready for a designer.
Don't rush it: All good things come with time. When a designer has time to mull over your space, chances are they'll come up with something better than if they were put on the spot.
Be upfront and communicative: We need to know restrictions, limitations, goals, etc. Without this information, chances are good that we will miss something important!
