Why the best interiors involve a hefty dose of nostalgia
Design professionals will often give a questionnaire to prospective clients to find out what makes them feel at home. In many cases, this is a look back to our past to find our style for today.
I have been writing about interiors for 20 years and in that time I have interviewed dozens of designers about their process. It’s always a fascinating insight. Kelly Hoppen sends out a long and detailed questionnaire running to many pages and based around a grid system – like her designs, it’s very precise. Nicola Harding, known for her use of colour, asks what Christmas looks like to you, while Matthew Williamson wants to know your earliest childhood memory. Banjo Beale (winner of BBC 1’s Interior Design Masters) whose work is based around sustainability and making the most of what you have, wants to know what was the last thing that made you smile in a room.
Now while on the face of it these questions might seem light-hearted they are designed (ha!) to reveal more about a client than the client might realise. And, if you can analyse their answers correctly, they will give the designer vital clues as to what that person wants – even if they don’t re…