Can the real Interior Designers please stand up ?

Over the last weekend, I went to the Expo Hall at Changi. It was a hot hot day! Singapore hot weather is back, huh? I always find that Singapore is one of the best country to stay in, except it is just too BLXXDY hot.
When I was a child, I always day-dream that our government will build a dome-like covering over our tiny island. That can protect against foreign invasion; that can also protect against ozone cancerous stuff.
Best of all, it can also be a huge solar-powered air-conditional dome !
Then, Singapore will be surely the perfect place to stay in ……….! Agree…..?
{“Yeah, dream on, 123abc ~ you think building a dome over an island is so easy.... like 123 or abc …?! You stupid wooooman......”}

Anyway, back to Saturday afternoon, I thought I should visit the Furniture Exhibition for some ideas and inspiration. I was truly inspired indeed! I was so glad that I made this trip. It was worth every drop of my sparkle from the heat. I was so inspired; you have no idea how grateful I was. It confirmed that I was right to chose NOT to work with these so-called IDs from the beginning.

Like many of you, I wanted to try planning my own Interior Design because I wanted to enjoy building my own nest from scratch. I wanted to enjoy the process as well as the end-result. I wanted to be as involved as I can with every step of the way. But, throughout the process, it made me respect those genuine IDs even more, as interior designing is really no j.o.k.e. – worse for us since we are doing it at our spare time due to our day job.

Many of those so-called interior designers out there do not have a clue of what interior design is all about! I mean, those so-called interior designers are just, at best, a very good copycats! They have thoroughly insulted the high profession of ID that I have grown to respect so much.

I was browsing through one shop today and looking at their portfolio when I heard a sissy male voice behind - “Madam, you like it? We can do the same for your HDB too.” Then, he flashed his namecard to my face, Creative Director. WOW ~ Without even studying my floor layout, he knows he can “do the same” for my HDB too? What does he thinks he is? Creative Director cum Ghost Whisperer? And, since when does interior design equals creatively copying?!

Hello, Creative Director, if you are reading this, please see my definition of a geniune interior designer.

My definition of a true blue interior designer

An Interior Designer must have an accounting mind, an engineer head, a creative artistic eye, a communicative heart and a pair of hands that can turn dreams into reality.

The ability to satisfy the clients’ needs is as important as the designer’s creativity. So, in my opinion – a good designer must have 3 sets of core skills – creative technical drawing skills, interpersonal skills and management skills.

 Technical know-how – to help design a place for you that cater to your unique needs and practical living. At the same time, it is beautiful to all the senses.
 Interpersonal skills – To sit down and understand each individual member of the house. Yeah, including the kids. Their preferences, their day to day living style, their needs vs their wants etc etc
 Project Management skills – to overseas the quality provided by the contractors and their workers, to manage the budget you gave, to manage the reno project within the timeline you gave.


Technical Know How
They must be well versed beyond knowing what colors are in now, what fabric is practical; they must know how to fit these stuff to you and your unique needs (I keep repeating “you” because every one of us are so unique. And that is why you are paying so much money to get a good interior designer to customize it for “you”.)

A person who copies a certain look from a glossy magazine cover for you or who recycle his designs from house to house is NOT an interior designer, in my opinion. Although I am a believer in recycling your garbage, but I think only a lazy designer recycles!

I believe, many of you can start a thread –> Singapore’s own “Believe it or Not! – Tales from the renovation nightmare”. And trust me, it will get responses faster than my thread. (PS: Thanks to those that wrote so sweetly. The Writer is very touched by your comments and sincerity. Not so easy to pen experiences into words, but I will try my best, ok?)

My 2 contributions to the “Believe it or not..” section

1. One ID boss cum interior designer from XXX Designs that I called up over the phone was so funny – she kept asking me, how much I paid for my nest? I kept saying, “Does it matter? What does my purchase price got to do with interior designing budget that I have planned for?” Minutes later, I managed to probe the reason out of her. She said that she kind of priced the interior design cost as a percentage of the property. WHAT??? So, if my property is worth 10 million, I must pay 1 million for interior design, even though I am not hacking all the floors, even though the kitchen is already done up? Wow ~ Double Wow ~~

2. Another ID boss from WhXXX is even more amusing – he kept asking me how big is your nest size. Finally, I said around 1500 square feet and he immediately said that the design cost is around 80K. So I said but I am not hacking the floor, I am not redoing the kitchen. I just want to do the typical condo package – lighting, tiles for balcony, some storages and painting. Nevertheless, he said that is the minimum amount I should be prepared to spend for a 1500 square feet nest. If not, go find those small shops in IMM to do it for me. He insisted that he is a space designer, not a materials supplier. That is true but should not all good space designers also listen to what the customer has to say -→ I repeat, “no-need-to-hack-the-new-marble-floor … floor …. floor ….. floor…….”

Yeah, both of them own the ID firms very highly recommended in this forum. So, beware! Not everyone that is highly recommended by others is trustworthy and genuine IDs. Talk to them yourself. Assess them as if you are meeting them for the 1st time. Do not let any feedback, including mine, affect your own assessment.


Interpersonal Skills
It is good to get an interior designer that is highly recommended by friends and relatives, but what works well for them may not work at all for you. A talented interior designer is strange – yes…. I said STRANGE. But I meant it in an extremely flattering way. Think Philip Starck, Think Maarten Baas – these are highly creative, highly intelligent people, no doubt at all. But they are so strange with their own quirks and style of working. So, it is important that the designers you selected can “click” with you and communicate openly (and truly) with you. Find a designer you can click with, not just one that is highly recommended by any people.

Project Management skills
A genuine interior designer SAVES money for their clients. Yes, you heard me right. A genuine interior designer will know where to source the good materials at a fraction of the cost because of their industry standing in the ID circle. They will also have good budgeting skills and can overseas ordering and installation within the budget & timeline that you gave them.


My learning and tip on ID selection

-- Most so-called IDs out there are just Interior Design Project Managers. They have no formal education in Design Arts. They do not even draw; they recycle. They merely help you to co ordinate with the contractors and sub-contractors. At times, they could even be the cause of communication breakdown between what you want and what the contractors actually delivered. You can easily take their place if you have the energy, interests and time to spare.

-- Good ID are professionally educated and they are trained to work with architects, engineers and contractors to understand fire codes, safety measures, besides knowing the ergonomics and aesthetic side of the equation. That is why they are not cheap to come by!

-- Good ID designs, bad ones copy. Out of the 13 IDs out there that I have spoken to, only 1 truly can design. This is my own assessment; I would like to emphasis that no IDs was hurt during the assessment.

-- If you enjoy the planning process like I do, and have some spare time, why not try to plan your own home yourself. Co-ordinate with the contractors yourself. A good ID is not cheap - Their cost is usually at least 30% of the whole works. You can save that money to buy some designer furniture. My design may not be 1st class but at least it is uniquely mine. You will not see another similar one in Home and Décor magazine.

-- But before you jump right in, do your research well. Read the entire threads in this forum. That was what I did.

That is all for now.... Pls wait for my next post.
My next post will be on Kitchen cum wardrobe specialist. I have spoken to Closet Design, Seng Kwong Furniture, Mudian, Classic Design (at Tanjong Katong Complex and AU Closet. You will be so surprised that how come the same set of carpentry works with same materials can cost between S$25K to S$62K.

In the meantime.... hang loose and enjoy your life ~~~



End of Part 4