TODAY’S CHICAGO WOMAN, May 2009

Custom Couture

Designing Couture Environments for Extraordinary Living

By Suzanne Lovell

As one of Today’s Chicago Woman’s “Woman-Owned Business Leaders to Watch in 2002”, it is exciting to see how Suzanne Lovell’s operation is thriving today.  In twenty-five years, the business has grown from a modest dream of a single working mother of two, into a nationally recognized interior design business with offices in Chicago and New York, not to mention a to the trade textile manufacturing business called Twill Textiles. Suzanne’s vast portfolio of work has not gone unnoticed as she has been featured in a variety of publications.  And, she continues to be honored as one of “The AD 100” top architects and designers in the world by Architectural Digest Magazine.  Trained in architecture, she is widely recognized as an expert in art, antiques, textiles and furnishings.  We asked Suzanne to share tips on how to simplify the design process, and when to make smart decisions along the way that will benefit in the long run.

........

Designing a new home or renovating the one you have is ultimately one of the most rewarding efforts. But, it can be stressful, filled with thousands of decisions – and often, many of those are expensive. We thought we’d share a few of our strategies that allow us to create “peace of mind” throughout the process for our clients.

Start with imagery and develop the dream. We always ask our clients to bring imagery that they have collected to our first meetings (likes and dislikes are important). With imagery and a plan, one can be very productive in defining the look you are after and the goals for your personal living needs and desires. Sharing these thoughts lets the designer get to know you, which is critical to a relationship largely based on communication.

Develop a wish list. The design profession calls this “The Program,” but thinking of it as a wish list allows you to dream. Wish lists can be anything from architecture to flowers, as all have information as to one’s personal style. Be brave as there are often ways to create a look that is similar, but much more cost effective.

Invest in quality, not quantity. Always buy the best you can afford and, if necessary, considering phasing if you can’t afford it now. Better to wait than to achieve a marginal solution. Reuse and recover the good furniture you have, sentimental things have a place, too. Beautiful, sturdy fabrics of natural fibers are also a luxury worth investing in if possible, as you’ll be living with these decisions for years to come.

Create your “test kitchen.” We always tell our clients that a house is built in layers. Selecting your hard surface materials is the first step, but simultaneously begin to develop the entire color palette inclusive of carpets, wall finishes and fabrics. You’ll want to bring all of your selections together in one place – we call it the “test kitchen” – and always return here as you accomplish decisions. For instance, when looking at paint samples, make sure you have the floor and cabinetry samples and also look at them with your drapery fabrics. You may even want to bring them to the site so you can live with the color in both day and night conditions. Finally, we always try to bring warm and cool materials together; this will create a more complex, yet more pleasing, natural material palette. Your end result is always far better if it’s not entirely “matchy-matchy.”

Don’t forget your artwork. Consider your walls early in the process as artwork is probably your single most important investment. While stocks were falling, many art auctions showed steady value and even gains. Buy what you love and always seek excellence.

Devote time to the process. Investing time in the early stages, with a well- developed team of professionals, will pay dividends in the end. Crafting a well-conceived floor plan, with properly scaled furniture, is by far your most important decision and it will save unexpected mistakes during construction and installation. We go so far as to measure out clients’ linear footage of clothing, to ensure there’s enough storage space. Doing these checks and balances before building will ensure your home is well-planned and ready for living!

Understand your plans, their specifications and the budget.  The designs should include plans as well as elevations of at least one wall in each room and all walls in the bathrooms, where tile and stone installations are expensive. And speaking of specifications, be clear about what your allowances will actually buy. Ask to see a list of appliances and plumbing fixtures, with pictures, that are included in the budget. Ask for examples of the materials that are in your budget. Also, your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) affects your living condition every moment of your day. Buy the best you can afford; insulated ducts do in fact add noise attenuation and efficiency.

Understand a good lighting plan. Starting with a well-developed lighting plan with specifications is essential. Overall lighting gives space, while spot or specialty lighting adds interest and gives direction to the viewer. Add what may seem like more than enough architectural lighting. If you are worried about too much light, add dimmers to those switches. Ambient reading light is probably the most important to remember as it adds human scale to the use of every room.

Understand the right material choice. Consider your material palette and love every piece and part; no one wants to live with “It’s OK.” For our clients, we develop samples for everything, leaving nothing to chance, so always ask to see samples. We keep the approved samples, called control samples, at the “test kitchen” throughout the job. This allows you to compare what you selected with what is being installed at the site.

Understand the schedule. Knowing when you need to make critical decisions and working towards that is essential. We would always suggest to our clients to bring us in early, as we know that our greatest value is added in the planning stage of any coordination effort. This will, without a doubt, save time and money in every quadrant of your scope.

Know your team. At the beginning, you’ll want to interview the project manager for your contractor. Ask yourself: is he or she solution-oriented and experienced? The project manager is your main point of contact at the site; understand how he or she is held accountable for the communication to the team so you can depend on the information flow. You and your “peace of mind coordinator” should be meeting at the site at least once per week. This holds everyone to a timeline and sets the expectation with the whole team that you and your advocate are watching.

Ultimately, this is a collaborative process based on trust and communication. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and remember, even a small job is interesting to a passionate professional. Reach out to the best you can find. Ask questions and dream about what defines “beauty” for you!