HGTV Interior "Designers"

Today’s media sheds a negative light on the Interior Designer’s image. Common shows, like HGTV’s Design Star, do not appropriately portray Interior Designers, but rather depict ordinary decorators. No wonder our society has the wrong idea about Interior Design!

The media causes some all too common misconceptions about Designers. Some of the major issues I noted are the following:

·         The “designers” are always portrayed as either posh, super fashionable, fun girls with lots of personality…..or gay guys.

(I think we all know by even our experiences at school that there are all different personalities and styles for Interior Designers, and it is a shame that they are so simply categorized by the public.)

·         The “designers” only make minor selections in their design process. They are literally picking paint colors, curtains, and throw pillows for a space.

(What about all of the other material selections that we make? And more importantly, what about WHY we select them. There is no mention of choosing materials based on ratings, lighting, or any other reason other than “it looks pretty”)

·         The “designers” never mention anything about schooling or their education. There is never a license # shown, most likely because they are not licensed Interior Designers.

·         There is no mention of designing for safety or the psychological aspects that are involved in a truly good design.

·         There is hardly ever any construction involved, or mention of structurally sound importance.

Some things that I do like about what the media has to say….

·         Transformations- the media shows the ugly BEFORE and the beautiful AFTER.

We do that, but it’s so much more! Ugly to us means: dysfunctional, unsafe… and we transform it to make it functional, safe, and an overall better environment according to each client’s needs.

·         The “designers” do usually very simply de-brief the client about what they want out of the space and what their personal taste is.

That is a good start, but we have to dig deeper. We have to really find out what their wants and needs are for the space, and figure out how to make it happen. We have to find out why they feel that way….see the problem and come up with a solution.

Logic behind "Going Green"?

Strategies for improved building performance from the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) :

Energy savings 

Water efficiency

CO₂ emissions reduction

Improved indoor environmental quality

Stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impact

According to The Interior Graphic Standards, technology is increasingly being employed to augment natural processes rather than outdo them, and materials are being utilized with greater efficiency and more in harmony with the Earth’s ecology.

 Sustainable Development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

There are four primary areas of focus when considering sustainable design efficiency:

• Energy- conserving it to improve the building’s overall environmental performance while reducing operating costs
• Recourses-by preservation and conservation strategies, the health and balance of the Earth’s ecosystems can be preserved
• Water-sustainable sites encourage natural water filtration processes and reduce overall use of potable water, conservation results in savings in operating costs
• Health- maintaining the environment

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Its rating system is used to ensure that the design is as sustainable as possible.

It has five categories:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Materials and Recourses

And several things to consider when specifying interior finishes and specs:

• Recourse Reuse- salvaged or refurbished materials
• Recycled Content- used in building materials
• Local/ Regional/ Materials- 500 mile radius
• Rapidly Renewable Materials- able to replenish themselves naturally
• Certified Wood-encourages the use of forest products

Hopefully, the Earth’s future, and the health of future generations are important enough to you, as a designer, to at least consider these things when you are designing. I cannot possible see how anyone could put up a legitimate argument for why each and every person should not go green in every way that they possible can.

O Wait…..People don’t like change.