Comments on: Installation

By: AbbeyK

AbbeyK — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:48:47 +0000

If the client only knew what goes on behind the scenes. The begging, the pleading with vendors to take care of something that went wrong (at the last minute)… No amount of crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s takes it away. Managing a client’s expectation certainly helps some, but the business of interior design is NOT what you see on HGTV, that’s for sure. But I love it and in the end it always works out.

Thanks for your post. It’s good to know we are not all alone.

When you find the magic wand, please manufacture it. I’ll buy one from you!

By: susan

susan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:26:26 +0000

How refreshing to know that other designers have the same day in day out problems with their projects and installations. Some days, many in fact, I feel more like a problem solver then a designer. Even with the most meticulous advance planning something usually goes wrong. I’ve seen it all backorders, draperies the wrong length, nicked frames, broken light fixtures, the wrong size bed delivered, to name a few.
The absolute worst was when my carpenter got bit by a wasp at a remote cottage on our final installation day and went into a full anaphalatic shock from the sting. It was a true 911 moment. Thankfully he got the meds he needed and was ok.
I’ve been meaning to do a blogpost on this very subject for months.
Good thing I love my job as my magic wand seems to be lost in the mail

By: Marianne Strong

Marianne Strong — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:13:05 +0000

I have to say I really enjoyed this post. Something always goes wrong. I find in this business people think that life is about floating in, waving a wand, picking a few colors, and poof your house looks like a magazine. Oh well. If I find that wand I will let you know!

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:42:47 +0000

Am planning an installation right now for December the 4th. The fireplace mantel didnt ship, so it wont be painted in time. The dining room table isnt done, even though I paid an extra grand to rush it. The warehouse cant find the 1940s lamps I had sent in for storage. The leather for the headboard got ink on it (huh????), and even though I found a replacement hide in 2 days, the headboard now wont be done in time.

And yet…I think of all the things that WILL be there…the lamps that Christopher Spitzmiller rushed for me, the replacement fabric that Jerry Pair moved heaven and earth to get delivered to my workroom, the oil painting an artist is spending his Thanksgiving weekend doing so that my clients can have a custom painting in their living room. Much love to the reps and tradesmen (and women) out there who go the extra mile to help us have a successful installation!

By: qerat

qerat — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:30:11 +0000

Vicente
You would know this better than anyone, there is no magic wand, but it is refreshing to know that 35 years later you are still hoping/wishing for one because i do every day.
Last week we were installing a project that has taken much longer than it should because of the developers, now that we are almost there, we planned everything to be delivered as you do all at the same time, everything was going smoothly and everyone was happy we were even planning the photoshoot the following week after we install the curtains, UNTIL, we had this amazing sudden rain fall. It was ok since everything was inside, until the roof started leaking from a balcony on the upper floor. The developer was not even appologetic. He delayed us for 2 weeks and cost us God knows how much in damages. Now installation has to wait until the ceiling is dry enough to be painted and to fix the damage. So, plans down the drains. I will make sure that the clients get to know every single little details about what we face and how hard it is to put a project together. I think if they are involved they will appreciate the hard work.

By: Daniel Hale

Daniel Hale — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:30:19 +0000

Its interesting. Most of the clients and designers that I work with have a similar approach. Having it all fall together in a day or two can be very exciting. I have to admit though, that I personally, and with clients who have the patience, the evolution of a design over time can be great. The accumulation of pieces that inform the next choices seems more natural. I guess it steals that ta dah moment though.
Daniel

By: Maria Killam

Maria Killam — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:06:24 +0000

I loved this post. . . hmmm. . . I need to find a way to link it to a blog post!! So true!! Thanks for always saying it like it is!

By: m elissa lee

m elissa lee — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:38:16 +0000

Dear Vicente,

No magic wand!!!!
Perhaps you have a wonderful assistant that really knows how to be ruthless, but in a non-violent way????

A few suggestions that have helped me in life and work::

1. get away at least 4 times a year just for your self no business allowed!!

2.Have a great lover!!!! Sex can help heal most situations. Gentle, Animal what ever the day brings!!!

3. Have a time during the day where you just have a glass of wine, tea or smoke a little you know what…. It’s amazing how this detail changes a lot!!!

xxoo
Melissa

By: Jaime

Jaime — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:10:06 +0000

Lol, isn’t that the truth Vicente, thanks for sharing! Imagine living in Tampa, FLn not NYC and having those hiccups so commonly associated with our industry…no workrooms to quickly address errors in our area. UGH.

Btw, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the roundtable discussion with Preston Bailey, it was the insight and encouragement I needed today;)

By: Gary Nelling

Gary Nelling — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:25:17 +0000

As perfect as your projects are, I don’t doubt that an Installation Day is a stressful one. I don’t have a magic wand to offer you, but I do have a suggestion to pass along that someone made to me several years ago. Have a deadline for your office, consultants, suppliers, installers, contractors etc that is a day or more before the client deadline for any phase of the project you wish but especially at the end. Then when the things that can go wrong do go wrong, you have a cushion (metaphorically speaking) of time to straighten them out.

At first I thought this might be a lost day if everything went as planned, but if there are no emergencies, the time can be used for filing, billing and or any other project follow-up. The time following a phase or the completion of a project is often half-dead time while staff (and sometimes the boss) recover from the late nights spent before the deadline, so there can actually be an efficiency payback. Only the flowers can literally not live with this type of scheduling. Committing to this process is difficult for me, like committing to a diet. It’s easier said than done. But when it works, its a nice feeling. And it doesn’t leave one with the craving one gets from passing up dessert!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us through your blog. And thanks for your reading list in your other entry. That gives me something to hint to my family about for Christmas or give to a friend!