A Client Design Story
I under estimated the power of a designer. You know the old adage: what you don’t know won’t hurt you? Well, it does hurt. In design, it hurts the wallet, it hurts the overall end result and contributes to decision making fatigue. When you don’t work with an interior designer, it’s easy to remain within your comfort zone. Design should inspire growth while introducing new ways of thinking, fresh perspectives, and styles you may not have considered on your own. An experienced designer helps you modernize your home or cottage while guiding you through a creative process that expands how you live, experience, and connect with your space.
My story starts with lighting. I was under the impression I’d refresh the lighting in my 3 bedrooms and one small bathroom. I mean how hard could it be? I have good taste, a keen interest in design, and I’m a risk taker so I would have lots of options available to me. I could not have been more wrong. Such a humbling experience and a story I now want to share for those of you considering design decisions without the aid of a designer.
I began by pulling together an overview of each room with “before” pictures. I would then source a few examples of what lighting options I thought could work. As I began scouring lighting websites, it quickly became apparent this was not going to be as easy as I planned. For starters, I stumbled around finding even one light that I liked. It had been so long since I’d last looked at fixture options that I really had no firm take on what was even in style. I couldn’t seem to discern between what was simply modern or mid-century modern. I knew I didn’t care for mid-century modern as a look that fit my personality so I had to cull through more websites to try and separate the style of lights. I became even more confused because when you don’t know how to use certain design terms, you cannot prompt properly. For example, extra tall wall sconces are better searched for using terms like “over-sized” not “tall.” A designer would know this right away because they’ve either done the same search a million times, or they understand the description used in their everyday work world. For us civilians it’s a designer’s world and we are just living in it.
A couple of the vertical style sconces that I started with for my consideration set. My thought process was to work with the tall ceilings using elongated lighting.
Some of the variables I was fighting were incredibly tall ceilings, basic architecture and did I mention budget? I was mapping out an approximate idea of what each fixture would cost. This was intended to help me narrow my search criteria. Well that quickly went out the window because selection became limited and let’s say I then had to cast a very wide net. If the right light had to come from another planet, then so be it. On the search went. Hour upon hour of searching. The husband was long forgotten, the dirty dishes piled up in the sink and my day job was dangerously on the brink of disappearing entirely. Hunkered over the dim light of my desk lamp I’d spend hours more narrowing the search and yet widening the confusion. Suddenly, it clicked, there it was, the extra tall aka over-sized set of sconces that would beautifully elongate that already very tall primary bedroom wall! What a miracle, I even had a couple of choices I could sit with for a few days before making a decision.
Other examples that made it to my short list. However, I was feeling like they looked a little too mid-century for my overall liking.
Another couple of examples. I figured the oversized shade on the fixture on the left would balance out the high ceiling and perhaps the swing arm one on the right could take up some space. Other than that, I really had no rhyme to the reason.
Then it was on to the next, finding the wall sconces for two guest rooms that would flank each bed. Shouldn’t be a problem, I just needed to align the style for flow and I’d be in a good place. Have you ever searched for wall sconces on the world-wide internet? Have you died a death by a thousand paper cuts? And then have you tried to find the accompanying ceiling light to go with said sconces? I couldn’t give up yet I had to persevere. Screen capping my way to victory, I could envision the self-made success this makeover would be. I’d have social content for months and I’d be able to get back to my marriage, my business and the overflowing sink of dishes. Not so fast, naïve team of one. The lighting universe had bigger plans for me. Drowning in a myriad of sconce options, by this point I really just wanted my life back. Weeks later I had a nice few pages of sconce options to select from and I would take my time. It did cross my mind that we could just build a new home in the time it was going to take to broker this lighting acquisition.
The lighting catastrophe of industrial meets traditional. I purchased these lights right after our build so that guests would have a reading light. Over the next ten years I would become “eye blind” to the reality that was our guest room.
The modern fixture on the left caught my eye, but then you can tell how confused I’d become because the one on the right is more traditional. It was difficult to understand what style direction I should head in.
As the sun rose on yet another day in the life of a confused self-taught decorator, I was now lowering the bar. I would focus on two rooms. The third room would come together on its own, once I nailed the first two. I was hoping that the runner up options would simply go into the third room and it would in fact be easier. I just needed more stamina, more options, more time.
Then there was the steel plug-in wallchiere in black and also a white version.
LEFT: This caught my wandering eye as well, but now I’d be introducing a marble pattern and I wasn’t sure that would end well. RIGHT: I panicked and included this boring, uneventful option, thinking I’d play it safe.
At one point seeing this felt like I was losing my mind!
So as my place on the golf club tee sheet grew dusty and the tennis ladies were putting out a bolo on me, I carried on. Lady luck would find my lighting match and I’d see victory soon. However, it would in fact be pages and pages of lighting screen captures that I would be mostly seeing.
The sun would again rise and set in the Kawarthas before I came to the realization that it was time to call in the professionals. I was familiar with Home by Tim + Chris and knew they offered the Room Refresh service. Humbled, beaten, weak and dehydrated I showed up at Chris’s studio doorstep with laptop in hand ready for design rehab and desperate for emergency care.
I can’t stress enough, that within the first half hour, I knew I had taken my life back. Chris quickly pointed out that the “over-sized” sconces were doing the exact opposite of what I intended. Instead, we would bring the ceiling down and create an architectural detail with lighting choices. It would require an electrician but the impact and statement the lighting would make would be worth it and in fact would bring exactly the kind of drama to the room that I wanted, not the kind that I was creating in my life.
Chris recommended two of these lights. Each one would be hung from the tall ceiling to land just above each bedside cabinet. This way, using the room height would allow the lighting to act as an architectural detail. I had the electrician in to quote and now I’m really excited about how this is coming together! This room is a sightline, especially at night when the lights will be on dimmers and create ambiance as people walk by.
As for wall sconces, we were able to curate four options, two for each guest room that would fit with my current style, create a less busy room and from there select ceiling options. The bonus in all of this? We landed on a new paint colour for the primary bedroom bed, the bathroom and small updates that along with lighting would bring everything together. The sweaty palms were gone, the bounce returned to my step and I could see forest despite the trees! Yes, it led to more décor updates, but often we can’t see what’s missing in our own environments. We become “eye blind” to the rooms we spend each day in. Sometimes it takes a new perspective to point out updates that can make a huge difference. I was able to start executing on Chris’s recommendations right away and because of his input, I was also making better design decisions on other details on my own. I decided to replace the two guest room beds as well, as it became apparent things needed to be modernized and I had lost track of how many years I’d had the same things in place. Sometimes you just need a refresh and not a renovation.
LEFT: The sconces that we settled on for the first guest room. Traditional with a hit of modern. A much softer approach to framing each side of the bed. Did I mention the bed ended up getting updated as well? RIGHT: The second guest room gets these lovely pillar alabaster fixtures with brass. They are plug-in so no hard wiring required.
LEFT: This option was on the table as well, but is out of stock and the supplier could not provide a date so I moved on. I don’t mind waiting, but they were throwing around a two-month lead time with no firm answer on dates. RIGHT: I loved this one, but Chris’s advice was to move away from an already busy room and focus on something more subtle.
The moral of my story, is that no matter how advanced you think you are at design and decorating, nothing can take the place of a professional designer. In my example, Chris knew exactly what colours, styles and sizing were the best approach. His eye and attention to detail were paramount in bringing my lighting modernization across the finish line. I have to be honest, it’s taken a couple of sessions because what you think can be done quickly, is in fact an art and requires thought, due diligence and process. When you aren’t the one working in the profession you under estimate the task, the requirements and the results.
We both loved this ceiling option however it only came in a large size and would be too big for the room scale. As the process unfolds, your designer can get a feel for your style and things start to gel.
The beautiful travertine pendant light that will go in one corner of our bathroom over the sink zone.
Run don’t walk next time you are having a design dilemma. A Room Refresh is harder than you think and my example is a story I knew I had to tell. I hope I can inspire and set a few of you readers on a course correct! Let sane faculties prevail and hire a designer. It’s the best time and budget you will ever spend. Design fortitude is for the professionals, decision fatigue is a very real thing and your home or cottage is representative of your personal brand. You want to have a space you are proud of, that truly showcases your lifestyle and is unique to your own story, and style. Like they say “some things are better left to the professionals.”
The very modern paper chandelier for guest room two. You can add your own artwork and notes or in my case, order a version that best suits your décor. Stay tuned for “After” pics in a new post once all the lights arrive and are installed!
For more information on how we can help you with a lighting Room Refresh see our list of home services or tell us about your project here and we will get back to you! Our Room Refresh service consists of 2 hours in-home or in our studio, where our designer will consult with you on the purchase of furniture and accessories. It includes specific selections and drawings for your reference. It’s like having a designer on call!
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