Interior Designer: Working on the Walls

Introduction
You must be able to combine pragmatism and aesthetics on a daily basis. Knowing design is not the aspect of designing a space, you must have a breadth of knowledge in: architecture, electrical engineering, carpentry, textiles, and financial planning. In all honesty, being called an interior designer is a complete misnomer. We should be called interior-home- office-public space- design financial planners. Unfortunately, that doesn't flow so well in conversation.

Job Function
On the best days, all of the construction and design concepts are finished before or by the deadline, the client is extremely pleased, and I get a Swedish massage. The best days are few and far between. The construction is almost always behind schedule, materials don't get delivered on time, the client flips through a "Better Homes and Gardens" and decides on drastic design changes with a less then appropriate budget, and there is the lovely issue of communicating with workers who don't always understand your native language. It sounds like a mess, I know, but I am detail oriented and I approach every task with celerity. In fact, nothing is better than looking at my packed schedule and knowing I have the ability to command it. Lifestyle
An interior designer can have flexible hours in between projects, but once you take on a large commitment it is common to have 9 to 10 hour days. Organization is key to staying out of a mental hospital, you must check, then double check, and then make final confirmations as many times a possible. You must keep impeccable records and financial reports should be spotless. Multitasking is a must, you will never be able to complete one task at a time. I would describe the best interior designers as conservative space artists. Take the beauty of the design and use an editing eye, don't take it too far if it's not necessary.

Additional Information
The most rewarding part of the job is receiving positive reception from your clients. The client's happiness is the key to immediate and viral success. If your client likes gaudy singing bass fish, you might want to incorporate that into the design concept. Your vision is the primary spring board for creating your client's Shangri-La. Never be afraid to micromanage, hire new staff, or call a hit man.