Von Löwen Designs

A core ingredient to any successful design approach is simply treating your client deservedly, like you would want to be treated and not like just another kitchen, bath or other remodeling project. Subsequently, as you listen to a client, the question on your mind should be, “What makes this person different and unique from any other I’ve worked with?” and “How will this affect my approach and course of action?”

Unfortunately, this can be very hard work and not always intuitive. It seems the natural tendency for most of us is to do the exact opposite – we listen for the things we recognize and have met and dealt with before, so that we can draw upon past experience to use the words, concepts, and tools that we already know so well. It’s the way most of us work, but it doesn’t always serve us well.

Before you can help someone, you must understand what’s on their mind. You must create situations where they will feel comfortable enough to tell you more about their issues, concerns and needs. Your goal is to learn as much as possible about the interests, tastes, preferences, likes and dislikes of this individual, and to experience them on their own terms, not yours or anyone else’s.

Only by finding out more about the individual and having a thorough understanding of your client’s perspective can you decide if you even want a relationship and know if this is a client for you. Only by learning more about them can you discover how to be more effective, by understanding what will be appreciated and learn what this person truly wants, needs and responds to in order to gain true commitment.

One of the most dangerous sentences in remodeling is, “What clients want is. . .” No matter how you finish that statement, you will be wrong. The whole point is that clients are, and want to be treated as, unique individuals.

One of the biggest pet peeves I hear from people that have had bad experiences with designers, is the designer’s inability to quiet themselves long enough to comprehend what they’re actually trying to explain to them. The recommendation to ask a lot of questions, shut up, and listen has been given often, but cannot be stressed enough. In just about any conversation it can be sometimes very difficult to get people to say what they really even mean. When someone asks; “Do you like this finish Lars?” it is not necessarily a question. Just as frequently, it is a request; “Can we please use this Lars?” or even an instruction; “Let’s use this, we really like it.” Life would be easier if people always said precisely what they mean, but often they don’t – people hint a lot.

Of course this works both ways and it’s not only the client who can be ambiguous and vague. Designers can be too. To be effective as a designer you must work at making sure that what you intended to say was actually heard that way.

The most common form of communication breakdown is a misunderstanding about what has been said. How many times in professional life has the following scenario played out:

“What happened, you said that would be ready by today.”
“ Oh, I thought so too, but that was just an estimated time of completion.”
“ Ok, but that’s not what I thought you said. Why didn’t you say it that way in the beginning?”

Never assume who you’re working with is a mind reader. Say what you want and think. Hints won’t work, and if you need help from your client, ask for it. Frequently design professionals feel they need to project an aura of complete mastery and come across like a know-it-all in order to win a client’s trust. Personally, I feel that nothing can be further from the truth and have always felt that anyone who tries to appear omnipotent and constantly making claims to have all the answers is more likely to evoke precisely the opposite response.

Good design and advice, as I’ve mentioned before – is a duet or group effort, not a solo performance – and more often than not you will need to ask for your client’s help with resolving more than just one issue on the job. When you ask for help you are keeping the focus on your client’s concerns and worrying a lot less about how you ‘appear’. You are inviting them to join in on the problem solving process and I have always felt this was a sure way to improve the relationship, build trust, and wind up with not only a beautiful end result, but a much more satisfied client!

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.

Even in today’s challenging economy, the marketplace for alternative decking and outdoor living is a growing one. A recent 2008 AIA study concluded that by 2015 the average new home will have both an outdoor living space and outdoor kitchen. When added to the fact that there are estimated to be approximately 10 million decks in the U. S. that need replacement, it’s clear that non wood decking materials will continue to gain popularity.

This acceptance represents a great win for the environment, with every 20 feet of composite decking containing roughly 30 pounds of waste products including – plastic milk jugs, shampoo and laundry detergent bottles, saw dust, and shopping bags, which would of otherwise ended up as landfill.

Leading the industry in both sustainable practices and innovation of consistent high quality outdoor living products is Fiber Composites. Fiber Composites, manufactures of Fiberon, diverts over 33,800 tons of wood and plastics from landfills and incinerators each year.

Fiberon offers decking, railing and fencing products that are produced in a virtually waste free manufacturing process and are engineered to deliver long term, maintenance free performance that requires no chemical preservatives, paint or stains that are common with wood decks, railing and fencing. Fiberon’s materials are completely non toxic and urea formaldehyde free while remaining stain, scratch, mold and fade resistant.

Fiber Composites is a proud ally of the Environment Protection Agency’s GreenScapes, a program that promotes cost efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for landscaping. Designed to help preserve natural resources and prevent waste and pollution, it provides research, guidance, publications and online calculator tools that can aid in your decision making and implementation of more sustainable landscape solutions. The Decking Alternatives Cost Calculator demonstrates that green decking options are very cost competitive. In many cases, initial costs for environmentally preferable products are comparable to conventional wood. Where initial costs are higher, they are made up for by savings over time.

With some of the most natural looking composite decking selections around; designed to mimic beautiful and exotic woods like Ipe, Cambara and Cumaru; Mahogany, Redwood and Cherry, designers and builders alike can meet the growing demand for sophisticated and Earth friendly outdoor living environments while homeowners reap the rewards of exterior spaces that are beautiful, durable and practically maintenance free.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.