LUXLIFE MAGAZINE | 15 Summer 2018 professional enough to constantly come up with ideas which will both match and regularly surpass the client’s expectations. Claire described what techniques the team utilises in order to ensure the best possible outcome for both sides. “Here at Ciel, our aim is always to listen to the client and gain an in-depth understanding of the brief from the outset. This may sound obvious but is, rather surprisingly, often overlooked and can be a frustration of many clients. For us, this is absolutely essential in achieving the look that the client is after, and involves a good few hours spent with the client at the beginning of the process to truly understand their lifestyle, personalities and what they are looking to achieve. “Additionally, it also means constant contact and communication with the client as the project progression relies on really get to know the individual, as well as ensuring that everyone is happy.” Exceeding the expectations of the client is always the main priority for any business and tends be the most rewarding aspect of working with clients. Claire believes that it is the variety of clients that she works with, meeting new people, and the challenge of creating new ideas daily which she finds the most enjoyable part of her job. “For me, it has to be the variety of projects and clients that makes my job so enjoyable. No two days are the same and I always approach a new project with the same level of enthusiasm - whether it is a smaller and more straightforward job looking at colour schemes for a bedroom, for example, or a bigger whole house redevelopment spanning many months. I have met some truly wonderful people along the way and, after completing three projects now for one of my more well established clients, I have even been asked to plan their wedding! This job throws up so many opportunities.” In order to become a successful designer, Claire believes that people must maintain a certain level of creativity. Interestingly, when discussing what attributes contribute to becoming a successful designer, Claire is a great believer in natural talent, and it is this characteristic which sees many people succeed. “No matter what your background is, I am of the opinion that if you have a natural talent for design then the sky is the limit. Without it, it can limit your vision when you look at a living space. At estate agency viewings, for example some people can walk into and out of a house within minutes and declare its ‘not for them’ as they don’t like the decor. For other clients, during their first meeting, they will describe themselves as ‘like a rabbit in the headlights’, when it comes to choosing colour schemes or furnishings! Excellent design in my book is about listening, understanding and interpreting the clients’ needs and desires, as well as transforming a space into something that the client could not envision and never dreamed possible.” Delivering an assortment of successful projects in the past, Claire is clearly delighted by the fact that Ciel has been selected as a Recognised Leader in Interior Design Services within the UK in LUX’s 2018 Leading Designers Awards. “Honestly, Ciel being selected for this award makes me feel immensely proud. It is an even bigger achievement since we are a relatively small interior design studio, so are often overlooked in favour of larger practices.” Looking to capitalise on the success of Ciel, Claire is excited about what the future holds for her firm. She hinted at what upcoming projects the team is looking to explore and take on, explaining that a long-term client had already asked them to take on a new style of venture, and this is something that Claire foresees the company taking on in the future. “Moving forward, an area that Ciel has recently been exploring is ‘home staging’ and this is something we would like to develop further. A client that we have previously worked for, approached us to see if we would be interested in helping her sell her London home. The house was set in the beautiful Pimlico and had been on the market for six months, however it was empty and proving hard to sell. The client briefed Ciel to stage the house so that it looked homely and ‘lived in’, and we were given an incredibly tight deadline and budget to work to. This was a real challenge, but extremely rewarding as once the house had been dressed and the estate agent’s particulars drawn up, the house sold within a matter of weeks which is no small feat given the current London property market!” Nearing towards the end of the discussion, Claire is keen to talk about what the future holds for the design industry, as she predicts what developments she foresees arising in the times ahead, and she has noticed several trends which are cropping up. “From what I have seen over the past year or so, there are a few key trends emerging which will play an important role in how we design spaces in the coming months. Firstly, there is a distinct move among clients that we have worked with towards investing in a few key pieces of furniture, whether it be antiques, good old classics or high design Italian pieces. Also, using accessories and fabrics as a nod to trends which have a shorter shelf life, feeling more mass produced, although of course there will always be a place for these high street products within design. “Secondly, we have also noticed an appreciation of simplicity of design and there is a clear move towards being connected to nature, whether that is bringing the outside in or using more raw materials and textiles.” Interestingly, Claire states that while smart homes are still wildly popular, many clients are looking to escape from the hectic technological lifestyle and maintain the home as their own. Another trend that we have noticed over recent months is that while fully automated ‘smart’ homes are still a top priority, there is also a movement towards clients wanting to retain the idea that their home is their sanctuary. There’s a strong desire to escape from the hectic-ness of everyday and the need to be constantly ‘online’ so clients are also consciously looking for quiet and tech-free spaces within their homes. Essentially, Claire believes that the client is becoming smarter, but this is a challenge that the team at Ciel Interior Designs is well equipped to overcome, and there is definitely a bright future ahead for both Claire and her team, and the industry. “There is definitely a move towards a smarter and more well informed client. Where previously we would attend a brief fully equipped with all sorts of stimulus for determining the design direction that a client might want to take, we are seeing clients who have already done a lot more of the upfront research themselves; using apps such as Pinterest to pull together ideas and mood boards. “Clients are much more open to ‘having a go’ themselves and other interior design apps have also made the foray into space planning and design more accessible to the everyday consumer. The fact that the client has these tools to hand means that they are better able to articulate what they want and can make our job easier. “Ultimately, there will always be a need for us as designers to turn these ideas into a reality and the expectation is for us to be able to collate this information and present schemes that are cohesive and push the boundaries, at the same time as fully answering the client brief.” Company: Ciel Interior Design Contact: Claire Langham Contact Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 07733 220640 Instagram: @cielinteriordesign Website: www.cielinteriordesign.com