Hi! Happy Friday. Let’s have a listen to my dear friend, ID Collection’s Jim Williamson, shall we? In the design industry, one needs to know about fabric, furniture, finishes, framing, and sometimes even flame-proofing. A person also has to be somewhat of a sleuth to seek out that “perfect” piece that pulls everything together. It could be that bridge fabric that makes what seems like a bunch of disparaging elements work together, the perfect piece for the entry, or a bench for the foot of a bed. This sleuthing can take hours, weeks, months, and sometimes years. (But really, I suggest that you try to avoid the “years” timeframe.)
Having the gift and talent of sleuthing is great, but it’s not the only ability you need. It pays to have something I like to call “interpretation by vocalization of approximation.” Let me explain. It begins when someone attempts to describe what he or she wants. Unfortunately that person, place, or thing currently exists solely in his or her imagination. (This is similar to how I imagine Amanda Bynes spends her days.) Anyway, the description often involves hand gestures and air drawing.
Here’s an example: “You know, it needs to be this wide. Well, maybe it’s this wide. Well, I actually haven’t decided. But it shouldn’t be too deep, and I’m actually not sure about the height. But it shouldn’t be too tall. It think it should be classic but modern—but not too modern. I don’t want it slick modern. And it definitely shouldn’t be rustic modern. Maybe French? Or more English? Or am I thinking Scandinavian? And it should have a blue finish. Or ivory? Anyway, not too blue, but it could be a kind of bluish color with a hint of grey—but not too grey. You know, I saw it in that magazine. I can’t remember the name. But really, it’s the perfect color that will go with this room you have never seen.”
This is when I’m expect to produce this particular piece and get the client a quote ASAP.
And believe it or not, much like how we learn to know what our animals and or children want when they can’t properly communicate it, we learn to figure out what they want. Or we at least diagnose what we think they need.
So today, let’s try out interpretation by vocalization of approximation on those closest to us. Chances are, what folks want isn’t that much different than what our pets want: love, food, and a good bowel movement.
