Sometimes, just rearranging works

I recently attended the annual conference of the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS). This was my fifth conference, and, in my opinion, the best one yet. It was held in Nashville this year, and I am glad I had the opportunity to do some sightseeing beforehand. I saw the Ryman Auditorium, which is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, and toured a beautiful art museum called the Frist. The visit to Nashville, combined with the knowledge gained from the conference presenters made for a great experience. I’ve returned from the conference energized and more convinced than ever that redesign is a wonderful service for my clients.

One of the highlights of the conference was guest speaker Aaron Foster. He is the host of HGTV’s FreeStyle, the only program on HGTV that truly captures what redesign means. Redesigners revitalize rooms using the client’s existing furnishings. We rearrange, re-hang and re-position their furniture and accessories to give their rooms a new look and feel. Most of the time no new purchases are necessary.

Aaron’s experiences with clients on FreeStyle are similar to challenges redesigners face as well. For example, some clients know they want change, but are afraid of it. They think we are going to come into their home and judge them and their furnishings. Our job is to put them at ease. Redesign is all about using what you already have, not about buying lots of new things. Redesign is about reflecting the taste and style of the client, not about creating a room that no one can actually live in. We do not judge; we ask questions: “What is working in this room? What bothers you about the room? What do you use this room for? What would you like this room to feel like when we are done?”

Aaron Foster’s philosophy of design struck a cord with me: A home should express who you are. For example, he loves the music of Bob Dylan, and has a large Dylan poster in his own living room. He said, “The Mona Lisa is a great piece of art, but not in my house.” As another example, he said, “Just because a room was designed to be a dining room, doesn’t mean it has to be that.” If you need it to be a second sitting room, or a home office, or a kid’s play area, then that’s what it should be. Your home should suit your lifestyle. As Aaron said, “Function and personalization is key.”

One of Aaron Foster’s talents is finding new uses for everyday items. He encourages people to use things with history and personal meaning. On FreeStyle, the redesigners have used a wine rack to hold magazines and have hung a client’s special jacket and even a prom dress on the wall as artwork. At the end of a redesign, he says the only thing that matters is that the client loves the space. I agree.

To learn more about Aaron Foster, visit his website at www.aaronfoster.com

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on March 31, 2007.

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All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna Jacoby.