Daniel Slowik’s decorating do’s and don’ts

I always think it’s more helpful to focus primarily on the ‘dos’, and hopefully that way a lot of the ‘don’ts’ won’t come up. I tend to follow my instincts when decorating – often that’s an instinct for what particular design aspect a client is really into. Sometimes fulfilling what they want means breaking so-called rules, but context is always crucial: what looks great in Palm Springs may look decidedly different in Helsinki!

Talk a lot before the project starts

A successful project is one that has a consistent and natural direction. In my experience, a client may agree with things initially, but if they never like a house, it may be a short-term relationship! I normally develop a clear vision quite quickly about how something could turn out, but I expect to explain this carefully to a client. Ultimately, my vision must be supported by the client’s idea of ​​how they want a project to work for them. A successful relationship can continue across multiple projects because you can build on all your previous conversations!

Be sure to carefully get to grips with a room’s functionality

We can choose beautiful colors and hang beautifully made curtains, but if the room doesn’t function properly, you haven’t done your job. Decorating is not just specifying details, it is understanding the details. I learned a long time ago that in addition to making the necessary plans, it is very useful to actually model scenarios in a room. When you walk into a room, where do you expect to find the light switch? Once you’re seated, which side feels most natural to put down or pick up your drink? Where can you charge your phone? Recently I was asked by a client to stress test a guest room design for someone who stumbles getting to bed after a cheerful evening. We stumbled around the room pretending to be drunk and swiping at things, and we had a good laugh about it!