Introduction: From this month, we will be doing a series of guest blogs with topics ranging from interior design to landscaping. We are privileged to introduce our very first guest blogger – Powell & Bonnell. Established in 1990, under the creative direction of founders David Powell and Fenwick Bonnell, Powell & Bonnell is a multi talented design firm with a primary focus on high-end residences. Driven by a philosophy to provide tailored, creative solutions of exceptional quality, this award winning company has become internationally recognized for the art and integrity displayed in their interior design services and collection of fine furnishings. Interiors are understated and luxurious and specifically suited to the lifestyle and desires of their clients while taking cues from the vocabulary of the architecture.
At Powell & Bonnell, when a client approaches us to help with the interior design of their new home the services they are getting go well beyond the decorating aspect of the finished product. There are many aspects to the proper interior design of a project and most clients might not consider how these tasks are accomplished and how the potential pitfalls are avoided.
Through the course of a newbuild your designer should be prepared to wear many hats:
Visionary:
Chances are your new home will start as “lines on a piece of paper” and though many see themselves as a fledgling Frank Lloyd Wright they may not be able to interpret what these preliminary drawings mean when projected into the third dimension. Your designer can envision the project through many stages of development and in some cases to a finished product. They may be able to see problems before the even exist or help you to interpret your vision to suit the project while still in its planning stages. They can help guide you through the plans in your mind, a “Walking tour” of your new home so to speak and spark discussions that prompt you to reveal how you see yourself inhabiting the space.
Materials Guru:
There are many finishes and fittings that go into a new home. Consider a kitchen for example; from what is on the floor and the design and colour and material of the cabinets, to the appliances and plumbing fittings, there can easily be fifty decisions that have to be made in order to build out the finished product. Multiply that by three or more floors of rooms each with a different function and possibly inhabitant. Your interior designer will have up to date knowledge of the latest materials, as well as the best suited to the task they are to perform, ease of maintenance, longevity, and value.
Fashion Sense:
You can be trolling Instagram and Pinterest for design ideas but following design “trends” is not the answer to design longevity. An interior design has a much broader basis of knowledge from historical references and architectural styles to materiality and colour theory. They understand that the secret to good design is a balance of what is tried and true “the basics” and what is simply au courant.
Conductor:
Building a new home efficiently involves timing. Making sure the planning is on point is the first step but having a knowledge of home constriction and when the drawings, details and finish specifications will be needed to keep the site crews working and making sure materials arrive on time is vital. If critical decisions aren’t worked out beforehand a project can quickly grind to a halt until the issues are resolved and material is on site. Your interior designer knows this schedule by experience and can help you make the decisions early saving your builder scheduling difficulties and work stoppages.
Creative genius:
You’re gearing up to move into a new home but is your old furniture going to cut it in the new digs?
An interior designer who can reimagine your old sofa and create a new look will save you bigtime when the budget is getting thin. Often “fresh eyes” on your old “stuff” can breathe life into perfectly good antique pieces passed on to you or reframing that painting sharpens the image.
Financial wizard:
An experienced interior designer has seen it all. They’re not attracted to shiny objects and swayed by “the must have” mentality of todays market. They understand the practical application of materials and finishes where it’s needed and can suggest where to get the biggest bang for your buck. They can steer you away from that glittering blue granite kitchen countertop at $200.00/sq.ft that you’re bound to regret in two years time. They can suggest lower cost door hardware for the second floor that “looks” as expensive as the main floor.
Therapist:
New home builders are often come with new family dynamics. Perhaps a recent marriage, a growing family or empty nester. We all bring preconceptions and material possessions to the mix which can be a perfect balance or a challenging tug of war. Designers understand compromise and know how to navigate through conflicts. Designers also know that often the best results are born through stretching creative boundaries and thinking outside the box. The key to a successful project is meticulous notetaking. Just as your therapist might do, being able to refer to a conversation, a decision, or a specified material can bring closure to whether the decisions made were the right ones in the first place.
Your designer can also help you to negotiate with your builder and add clarity to the vision of your new home. Emotions are a powerful thing and often your designer can offer professional distance when the choices are critical to realizing your dream.
About Us
Established in 1990, under the creative direction of founders David Powell and Fenwick Bonnell, Powell & Bonnell is a multi talented design firm with a primary focus on high-end residences.
Driven by a philosophy to provide tailored, creative solutions of exceptional quality, this award-winning company has become internationally recognized for the art and integrity displayed in their interior design services and collection of fine furnishings. Interiors are understated and luxurious and specifically suited to the lifestyle and desires of their clients while taking cues from the vocabulary of the architecture.