Achieving Authentic Design

Photo by An Indoor Lady

THE BEGINNING

I think my passion for authentic design began in architecture school. Students & teachers of the built environment eschewed anything unnecessary or ‘faux’, pointing out ‘columns that supported nothing’ and ‘shutters that weren’t functional’, leading us young academics to laugh about the ridiculousness of such things. The desire and awareness in me for true purpose of form was born.

WHAT IS AUTHENTIC DESIGN?

So what does it mean to pursue authentic design? For me it has 3 facets:

1)    Authenticity of Form - Materials represent themselves (i.e. If it looks like stone, it IS stone!)

2)    Authenticity of Function - Elements have a purpose (example: You wouldn’t add a corbel to something unless support is truly needed.)

3)    Authenticity of Personality - The home represents what the homeowners love. They haven’t made decisions to impress the neighbors or because Pinterest told them to; they were true to themselves in their decision making.

WHERE DO I START?

Delving  deeper into these concepts, here are some tips on how to achieve authentic design:

Authenticity of Form

1.    Think about what materials you gravitate toward: Polished marble? Rough limestone? Aging brass? Find a way to incorporate them appropriately rather than using copy-cat materials. I’ve had clients who love marble, and since it is considered too porous for a kitchen counter, I suggest they find other ways to use it in its natural form, such as a backsplash or a bathroom surface. I always prefer to go natural rather than use a look-alike, no matter what the budget, even if it means we have to use it in smaller doses.

2.    Another element to this is the aspect of quality. Quality materials are usually more expensive, but also more elevated and timeless. I am a firm believer in “you get what you pay for”, so I am rarely tempted by a “look-alike” product. I always want the REAL thing, and I will wait for that rather than settle.

Authenticity of Function

1.    Examine your environment and identify anything that’s unnecessary: are there elements you don’t use? Too many pillows that require re-arranging in order to sit or lie down? (apparently couples have arguments over such things), or a lamp that never gets turned on? A candle that looks nice but hasn’t been burned? Consider taking those things away and pairing down to only items that serve a purpose.

2.    If you are building or remodeling, think about how your family lives. Do you have kids with busy extra-curricular activities and need a place to store soccer gear or musical instruments? Do you entertain frequently and need quality appliances, surfaces for serving, and plenty of seating? Now is the time to address these issues and design with your family’s lifestyle in mind.

Authenticity of Personality:

1.    When you make a purchase, think about why you like it. Does it truly speak to you, or has social media been telling you to like it? I have had clients say to me “Suddenly, I think I like gray”. In contrast I have had client’s say “I’ve always loved green, and I don’t care if it is in or out of style – I just like it”. Get in tune with your likes and dislikes.

2.    To help gain an awareness of these preferences, collect clippings from magazines, or pictures from a hotel you visited and loved. It gives a broader representation of what speaks to you than a collection of images trending on social media. Also – take your time. I have found that images gathered over time tend to best represent a client’s preferences.

SUMMARY

The bottom line is – your home is your haven, and it should represent you for years to come. If you are building or remodeling, take time to understand what’s important to you. Be patient and steadfast and aim to achieve it no matter how the timeline and budget evolve. In our current industry, availability of materials is limited and lead times are at an all time high. Don’t settle for something just because the item you want will take a few extra weeks to arrive. You’ll be so much happier with the end result if you stick to your guns and stay true to yourself.

Home Improvement in 2021

Even minimalists hope to receive SOME furniture within weeks of moving in. We promise to do the best we can to help! (Project Architect: Rick & Cindy Black, Builder: Enve Builders)

Have you started a home improvement project or attempted to purchase new furniture in 2021? If so, you’ve likely found that resources are limited (both products and labor), and patience is a virtue. It’s an environment unlike anything I’ve seen in our industry, and it’s a result of a perfect storm of global issues. Read below for a better understanding, and tips to help avoid frustration…

THE STORM - WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?

COVID – Of course you would guess this, but the results of the pandemic have been far-reaching in ways beyond what might seem apparent. Not only did factories shut down and in many cases staffing reduced, but the quarantine created a situation where homeowners have been using their homes in different ways than before (ex: multiple family members working from home & looking for quiet and efficient spaces to work or do homework, cooking at home rather than eating out, etc.), and inefficiencies have been highlighted. In some households, limitations in travel resulted in an increased budget for luxury spending, and home projects have become prioritized. These conditions resulted in unprecedented demand in the building industry.

Freight and Shipping Delays – Several conditions have prompted shipping challenges, but the primary cause is a combination of soaring consumer demand, creating mountains of freight at ports and warehouses, and too few employees to move it. For example, there is a shortage of truck drivers in the US, so even when items are ready to ship, the truck with your items will take longer to arrive. To exacerbate the problem, in March there was a cargo ship blocking the Suez Canal and billions of goods were held up. Delays at the receiving ports (already existing due to COVID affects) became even more extreme.

The Texas Freeze – in February there was a historic freeze in Texas (being based in Austin, most of my readers are familiar with this unusual event) with power outages and unexpected setbacks across the state. What you might not realize is that the chemical plants that provide necessary ingredients to create foam needed nationwide are located on the Gulf Coast & were shut down. This affected many products in our industry: spray foam insulation, cushions for upholstery, and mattresses, just to name a few. We learned from one furniture manufacturer that they have been on an allocation of 50% foam for months! Weird, right?

Industry experts predict that catching up on the backlog of orders, and getting closer to pre-Covid lead-times, will likely take until late 2022.

WHAT CAN I DO?

To minimize frustration, I suggest planning ahead, being flexible, and keeping your expectations in check. If you absolutely want a specific sofa in a certain fabric, be prepared to wait. If you want something faster, adjust your requirements, such as defaulting to a different frame, a stocked fabric, or an item off the showroom floor (we received emails from vendors in May warning that upholstery lead-times were 4-6 months out, and to place orders asap for furniture needed by Christmas). There is a similar situation with lead-times on tile, lighting, plumbing, and other building products. In many cases re-selections have been required to get projects to the finish line, and some vendors have reduced their offerings in an attempt to catch up.

If you are building or remodeling, start putting your team together months in advance. Most designers, builders, and architects are booked out in time, so begin reaching out to the professionals you hope to work with and get on their calendars. Plan at least 6 months buffer for getting started (in addition to your team’s availability, the permit process is also bogged down), and prepare for budget adjustments and selection changes due to product shortages and price increases.

CONCLUSION

Hopefully a lesson we’ve learned from the new world of COVID is to be flexible, and to realize that the frustrations of our project delays pale in comparison to challenges being faced by others in the world. We’re all in this together folks! And patience, as always, is a virtue…

Thank you to Christy Caffrey (co-owner of Caffrey Co Furniture) and David Burton (co-owner of Enve Builders, AND my husband, so we get to whine about these things together in the evenings) for collaborating with me on this article.