Where do you first meet with a client?
It depends on the project described to me on the phone. If it is new construction I ask them to bring in blueprints to the office. If it is a project where they are currently living, or and existing house I will meet them there to get a better sense of the space. Basically, wherever we can accomplish the most.

Do most clients bring in pictures?
A picture is worth a thousand words. We find that pictures of things they own, the property, or things they like/dislike are very informative. Not to set the project, but to give you an idea of where they may like to go.

How many projects do you accept each year? Do you oversee each project?
It depends on the number of commitments we have in the office. We always have some projects started, some we are in the middle of, and some we are finishing up. I estimate we usually do about 6 larger projects each year, followed by 10 mid size ones, followed by 12 follow-ups or extra requests from existing clients. I know everything I need to know about each project in the office. However, I have two wonderful senior designers who are very involved in the process also. Everyone on my team meets weekly to go over project, deadlines, goals, etc.

Do you work closely with architects? Do you employ an architect or a draftsman?
We work beautifully with architects. We find our input to be of great value throughout the project. We bring in architects as needed. We do have a draftsman on staff.

How large is your staff?
I work with six other people. Two senior designers, a designer/draftsman, a junior designer, office manager/expediter, and a bookkeeper.

Can you think of an example of a time you turned a design crises around?
Which one would you like to hear about? It's part of the job and the creative element. The first one was during my first project, a renovation, we discovered the contractor had built the powder room to shallow for the cabinet to fit and the door to open, so I went to a junk shop, bought a cabinet the right depth and had it painted up very high style whimsical, It's been there 15 years. Last month we went to a job site and the contractor had ordered the fireplace mantle incorrectly and it didn't fit. So we had one cast from plaster, installed and fauxed to match the marble in two weeks.

How do you convince a skeptical client you're right?
This requires truly listening to make sure that there isn't an underlying issue that you need to be aware of to design to. If there isn't something that you need to be aware of that's causing the skepticism, then you rely on your years of experience to guide you and the client to a happy result that they couldn't do themselves.

Is there a room that you prefer to design first? Where do you start in any given room?
I like to start with the room that means the most to the client, whatever that may be. I tend to start with flooring, but I always consider the flow of a house for harmony. I like to look at the plans and visualize how the house will come together, how details will interrelate.

Which cultures shaped your aesthetic?
The world - past and present. I value the American sense of design and how it has interrelated to the world for centuries.

Does your style have surprise elements?
Sometimes, It depends on what's right to do. Color can be surprisingly and charmingly pared as well as textures and metals. It's important to have rooms that are livable and not at all stuffy. I find that a common reaction to my work is that wonderful elements have been combined in a way that is not off putting.

What's a design style that you abhor?
Anything pretentious.

How are your costs handled?
We charge hourly for all work with a higher fee when we do not supply goods and services, a lower fee when we do. All purchases are at retail less 20%.

What is the most expensive job you've done? What is the least expensive?
Over a million, and for the same client we "wham bammed" a summer cottage for $8,000.00 so they could enjoy it for one summer.

What is your minimum fee for a project?
We work best when a project has a furnishing budget of $100,000.00. Reviewing past jobs has indicated that about $10,000 will go to the fees and $90,000 to cost of furnishings.

What are the biggest mistake clients make?
Bringing us in after they've done it wrong. Unfortunately costs a fortune to fix things.