How I Create Perfect Designs for Partners with Different Style Preferences

Modern living room for an active family.

Designing residential interiors often involves mediation skills. I find myself mediating between clients and builders, vendors and clients, and quite often between couples whose tastes vary widely. Everyone should have a say in how their home is going to look and feel. It is possible to create designs that meet everyone's expectations. The key is having all interested parties involved in the decision making from the beginning.

I Always Welcome & Encourage Complete Honesty

At the beginning of the project it's important to hear what everyone's goal is for their home. You will get the greatest value out of the professional design experience if you are open and honest about what you like, dislike, love, hate, want, can afford, etc. Even if not everyone agrees, everyone should be heard. Clients are often surprised by the designs I come back with that fulfill very yin and yang requests. But unless I know about everyone's hopes and desires, I can't design with them in mind.

This family room combines the vacation house feel with shiplap ceilings and decorative pillows using family friendly materials.

I Have the Expertise to Blend Styles Beautifully

Room styles and functions can be blended beautifully. My aim is to have all parties excited and on board with the design concept before moving forward to the final details of the design. I've worked with hundreds of clients, over 25 years, mostly couples, and it really is possible for everyone to get something they love out of the home they enjoy together.

This classic living room creates a formal space yet the warm colors are inviting and the traditional rug is forgiving of spills. Strong bold colors softened by ivory and florals.

I Tell Couples to Expect Compromise & Flexibility

While I aim to meet the needs of everyone involved, all parties need to come to the table with open minds and flexibility. Once I intake all the initial information, I come back with a design concept. The design concept meeting is a great time for everyone to see what is possible and to voice their feelings about what doesn't seem quite right. It's usually at this point where everyone relaxes and understands that their desires are going to be taken into account, and also, everyone is a little surprised that their initial thoughts about the interiors are taken to a new level of possibilities.

This cozy family room combines the masculine feeling panels with a more feminine fabric on the windows, the furnishings were selected with family use in mind.

I joke that I am part mediator, part designer, it really is part of the job. Over the years of working with various clients, I have come to understand that it might be easier to tell me they hate something rather than to have that "discussion" at home with their significant other. It's not personal to me, but very personal to clients, and I'm comfortable taking feedback in a professional manner and making the process easier, and dare I say fun, for my clients.

Need help designing a home that you and your spouse will both love? That's what I do. Reach out and let me help you!

All the best, Molly