Aire is meeting interior design professionals. For this first interview, we sat down with Coline Thomas, an interior designer. She talks to us about recent trends and her daily work.
Hello, can you introduce yourself?
My name is Coline, I am 23 years old and I have been an interior designer since March 2018.
In which region do you work?
I live in the Grand Est region, more precisely in the Vosges. Most of my clients are remote clients. So I work all over France. I recently worked in the Basque Country, the Pyrénées-Orientales, and quite a bit in the Paris region.
Career and first projects
What is your background?
I'm 23 years old and I've been working as a decorator for almost 3 years. I had a chaotic school career and then an unexpected opportunity. I decided to go freelance, first out of passion, and I gave myself 1 year to succeed. On the theoretical level, I have no training. I have my baccalaureate and that's it.
I grew up in a family of artists, so creativity was part of my upbringing.
What was your first opportunity?
I lived in the south for 5 years and wanted to start my own business. I was starting from scratch. I was put in touch with a craftsman, who then introduced me to an entrepreneur, and so on. The network was built like that. I was 20 years old and I decided to go into business for myself, partly thanks to him.
Why didn't you go to school?
I didn't go to school because I didn't feel like studying architecture for 5 years. Design schools were prohibitively expensive for me. I told myself I would find another path. It's a bit of an atypical path, but the important thing is that it works.
Interior design
What is the job of an interior designer?
I think that every professional has their own definition of the profession and their own vision of what they want to convey through their work.
For my part, what speaks to me in decoration and what drives me is creating a place that allows the client to feel good. I want to give a feeling of security and well-being in the spaces that I create.
In your opinion, what qualities are required to work as an interior designer?
In my opinion, the number one quality is to listen to your customers . You have to be able to identify their needs, their desires, all the little details... Their way of living on a daily basis... This is really important before thinking about decor, colors, furniture. Above all, you have to know how to listen.
In my opinion, the number one quality is listening to your customers.
The second quality is that you have to have a form of pragmatism . You have to know how to frame your clients' projects. So it's important to create a bond and build a relationship of trust with each of them. In each project, you will have to find compromises. Clients often have somewhat crazy dreams that are far removed from their constraints, for example regarding the size of the space or the budget. The role of the interior designer is to keep their head on their shoulders in order to support their clients in a coherent manner.
The third quality needed for an interior designer is creativity . You have to learn to step out of your comfort zone.
What is your usual working method?
I don't have a production process. I don't follow a fixed pattern. Everything depends on the customers, where they are.
Afterwards, I have exchange processes with my clients. I spend time talking with them , then I produce a 3D model of their space. The digital tool will really allow them to project themselves into the space and have a first experience.
Without imposing it on your clients, would you say that your work has a particular style?
I definitely have my own style. You'll find Scandinavian and industrial elements, and a bit of a bohemian touch... It's often a question of mood, the season, and all that. But the most important thing is to offer projects that reflect our clients, and that they find their own world .
I like to say that I am a decorator for the poor .
What are clients like when they hire an interior designer?
Clients are sometimes afraid of the price. I like to say that I am a decorator for the poor . What I mean by that is that I like to find tricks to create a wow effect on a small budget.
I don't like flashy projects with large marble slabs and leather sofas. These aren't projects I recognize myself in, and I wouldn't see myself interacting in that kind of environment.
I'm more into family projects, looking for tips for a place that will be lived in daily.
Often, clients who hire a decorator think they'll have to do a crazy project. In reality, We need to build a project with them in which they will feel good.
Decor trends & inspirations
What are the decor trends for 2021?
For the fall/winter season, I imagine something quite refined, with relatively curved lines and light natural materials to soften everything a little.
As for the color range, it's like betting on a racehorse, you're never sure of the result. I'd go for a purple, parma palette . We're starting to see it everywhere, in ready-to-wear, kitchens, etc. So I wouldn't be surprised if it arrived in the world of decoration.
Afterwards, I don't follow all the trends. I rely on atmospheres and the mood of my clients.
Do you observe a recurring decorative style in your clients’ requests?
It's quite paradoxical with what I said earlier: basically, customers want something functional and timeless above all . Because it's still deeply rooted in people's minds that furniture and decor are expensive. You don't want to repaint your walls every 4 years. So, the customers' vision is more of a long-term one .
Customers want beautiful colors, “but not too flashy,” beautiful furniture, “but not too extravagant,” etc. This is why we are bouncing a lot on Scandinavian style. It is typically the functional and aesthetic style .
I think there's a huge gap growing between discount and high-end right now. It ultimately reflects what we see in our society. We live in an environment where there are very, very rich people and very, very poor people. And it's becoming difficult to find yourself in the middle.
I see decoration and furniture stores that are very high-end, that are of very good quality, but whose products are inaccessible . And besides that, it is possible to go hunting, buy second-hand, renovate , and regularly stroll through accessible stores.
Today, decoration is no longer a luxury.
If you had to give decorating tips to a reader?
- Take the time to identify what you want
- Hunt around, rummage, observe, compare, and find what you're looking for. Don't jump at the first opportunity.
- And if you're a DIYer, do it yourself! DIY.
I'm as passionate about DIY as I am about decorating. Making furniture costs nothing . It's within everyone's reach. I learned on the job and now I even know how to make a wardrobe.
To cite a recent example, Ikea released a collection with wardrobes and burlap. The product range costs between €300 and €400. I made my own wardrobe inspired by these products and it cost me less than €100. The product isn't necessarily perfect, but it's also incredibly rewarding to make things yourself.
In your opinion, how will the interior design profession evolve in the years to come?
I hope the profession will evolve "well." But what's becoming increasingly obvious is that we're finding more and more decorators online. Ordering your interior design online has grown enormously. Doing a study online costs a little less than having a professional come to your home. Online renderings are becoming more and more common. Clients therefore have an immediate projection. With new technologies, the renderings are extremely realistic. The public is realizing that redoing their interior design is no longer that expensive.
On the other hand, with new technologies, physical contact is being lost. We can see this in other sectors and it's something that scares me . It's a trend that worries me.
The lockdown has completely disrupted the interpersonal aspect of work. There are many things you understand through nonverbal communication, a lot of information you can't perceive through digital means.
In a purely utopian way, what would be your dream project?
I have loads of them and one lifetime wouldn't be enough to achieve them all!
One of the projects that stands out from the others would be to participate in the renovation of an old building, to create guest rooms. This way I could share the taste for decoration while mixing it with the taste for meeting others. That's something I would enjoy. It's not a crazy project, so maybe one day!
Can you share your sources of inspiration with us?
I use Instagram a lot, among other things. You can find practically everything there. I can share with you three big accounts that I find really cool:
https://www.instagram.com/artsytecture/
https://www.instagram.com/architecturedose/
https://www.instagram.com/vogue_architect/
These pages are truly comprehensive. They present international trends. It's nice to open your mind and see what's happening elsewhere.
How would you describe these trends?
I'm a very visual person. On Instagram, I'll scroll through the feed, and then there's something that will make me think . It's a color or a piece of furniture that will catch my eye. From there, I'll try to understand the composition of the image and look for what could have caught my attention . It's really my eye that wanders and will retrieve information, regardless of the medium.
In my everyday life, I walk around residential neighborhoods and look at houses. I discover layouts and get some ideas from them.
Do you visit blogs and websites dedicated to design or interior decoration? And if so, which ones?
I subscribed to the magazine Décoration Maison for a while.
Now I'm going to rummage through art books, and also through decoration books at the library.
There are also social networks, which are a real gold mine.
Do you have one or more interior designers, decorators, designers, or creators who inspire you on a daily basis?
There is one, because her way of working really resembles the way of working to which I aspire, it is Sophie Ferjani . I find that she has superb ideas, she is in an approach that I like and that speaks to me a lot .
Besides, if I can meet her one day that would be great! Sophie if you pass by ;)
What do you think are the three main principles of decoration?
- Visualize
- Analyze
- Harmonize
A simple pleasure?
Sharing a good beer on a terrace with friends. It's a bit like my dolce vita. I think many of us are in the same boat. Simple but terribly effective!
Your latest favorite piece of music?
This morning I was listening to Avicii - Feeling Good (the original version being by Nina Simone).
Where can we follow you?
https://www.instagram.com/coleene.deco/
https://www.facebook.com/Coleenedeco
0 comments