Designer in China. The Neighborhood.

My office in China is cold & plain (cold b/c they don't have central heat & everything is marble & COLD). But it's ok, it's right next to a Buddhist Temple & sometimes I can hear the monks chanting while I work. I'll post about it sometime. ALSO in my office are these incredible models of the neighborhood/ subdivision I'm working on. 1 of the models shows phase 1, which is being built now. The other includes phase 2 which is currently in the planning stages. The neighborhood is right in front of a mountain, that's really sort of a large hill, but it's pretty. All of the water you see will be put in when the houses are further along, it's not natural.

This is the main entrance to the neighborhood, the clubhouse I'm designing is at the end of this street/walkway. The make streets here about 1-1/2 lanes wide, makes for some interesting driving confrontations, a lot of honking. I try not to pay attention, it makes me too nervous, I don't drive here I always have a driver or a taxi.

They build houses differently in China. There are no wooden studs, all of the walls are concrete cinder blocks. WHICH means that all of the plumbing & electrical has to be added ON TOP of that, not within it. That has taken a large adjustment & also made the rooms smaller than originally planned. I am working on 2 houses right now. The clubhouse & the model. The clubhouse is a sort of entertaining area for the investors of the neighborhood. It is NOT for use of the neighborhood like the clubhouses in the

States. It is huge & there are 4 main suites as well as a master & guest suite. The model is exactly that, an example of what can be done in the houses. In China when a house is sold it is empty. No cabinets, no flooring, no lighting or electrical. There are no selections for the homeowner to choose from, no assistance from the builders in getting the house finished. The same is true for the MANY high-rises in town. It makes it easier for me because I don't have to make selections while making sure there is enough tile, lighting etc to fill 20 houses. This is for sure a learning experience:)

The Clubhouse. Also seen here.

The model. Notice the 1 car garage, it's a different lifestyle in China.

Phase I.

Phase II.

View from the Model....so there is still a LONG ways to go.

Admittedly I'm disapointed in the stage the houses are in. I expected them to be MUCH further along. The original schedule was to have the neighborhood opening the first week of April. Obviously that won't be happening. So I'll be here for another approximately 20 days, then I'll be back again. Whewwww. Today they were talking about how well I eat with chopsticks & how well I have adapted to living in the country. That's a pretty good compliment. I can't wait to get home. Luckily the hotel has HBO (have you guys seen Treme?? it's about post Katrina New Orleans, it's SO good) & the Discovery Channel in English, I've been watching a lot of movies & learning all sorts of weird things.

Thanks for reading!

Jamie

How to hire the best interior designer, for you.

I have seen & heard so many stories with people unhappy with their designers & completely disgruntled. I want to say starting off, just because you didn't have a good relationship with 1 designer doesn't mean that you won't with another, you don't give up on hair dressers after 1 bad cut, so please don't give up on designers. Here are 5 tips for hiring the perfect designer for you!

1. Look at a few different designers portfolios. Don't look at every designer that you can find, you'll start getting confused. Try to have an idea of the criteria you're looking for & stick to those. Then exam the designers portfolios, I mean really look at them. Do the designers rooms really function well or are they just pretty? Look for a designer with a diverse portfolio. A diverse portfolio shows the designers ability to design for her clients style, not just her own style. This also shows a designers ability to listen. A designer that specializes in one style will only be willing to create that one style for you, so be sure you love the style before you commit to the designer!

2. Always interview your designer before you agree to any terms. Most designers offer a free initial 1/2- 1 hour meeting.  A good designer will ask a lot of questions to get to know you, get a feel for your style & space & how you plan to use the space. Ask the designer a lot of questions, try to think of some beforehand. How much do you charge? Do you charge extra for subcontractors? Do you do your own drawings or do you hire it out? What has been your favorite project to this point? Etc.

3. Pay attention to your instincts. Just because a designer has a good reputation or a beautiful website doesn't mean that you will click with the designer. Chemistry is an important part of any relationship. There will be times you question your projects direction, the costs, the fabric on the sofa, etc. When those times arise it's very important that you feel comfortable enough with your designer to discuss how you feel.

4. Read the online reviews, but remember to only keep them in mind, don't base a decision solely on them. If you interview a designer with poor reviews be sure you ask her about them. She should be able to explain the situation, maybe it's her fault, maybe it wasn't. I feel the important part of determining if this designer should be considered is if you feel she's being honest & open with you about the situation. Everyone has business deals that go sour, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are bad at what they do or that they are incompetent. If you don't feel like her answer was honest, that same feeling is likely to follow you through the entire project. Also remember that just because a designer doesn't have any reviews it doesn't mean that you need to be concerned. Her clients may not know where to review or just simply aren't interested in putting their names on the internet.

5. Be sure to ask the designer how she handles the project and herself when things go wrong. They will go wrong & it's not necessarily your designers fault. A sofa won't be delivered in time for your big party, your bedding is made for the wrong sized bed, the wallpaper never loses it's smell. Things go wrong, it's life. But your designer is a professional and she should know how to handle these things for you. That said, I once had a potential client ask me, "if I decide I don't like the paint color, who pays to change it?". The answer to that is the client does. Your designer should require you to sign off on selections & purchases before they are purchased or installed. Hiring a designer is not a way to get your home down for free. I promptly ended the meeting & sent the man a letter declining the project & a list of other designers he could contact.

I hope this helps in your search for your perfect designer! Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share?

Jamie

Designer in China- The View from My Room.

I would love to paint you a picture of how beautiful it is here. But, sadly, this is pretty much what it looks like in Wuxi. I'd say Shanghai is different, & it is, but only that there are more people & the buildings are taller. That icky smoggy sky is just that, pollution. I haven't seen but a few glimpses of the sun since I've been here. Sometimes it's a glowing red ball you see if you look up, otherwise you wouldn't even know it's there. I miss the sun.

All of the pollution & smoking (OMG they smoke everywhere here!!!) has made me sick. I've spent the weekend coughing & being generally gross in my room. I did do some laundry in the bathtub:) Traveling is interesting. I'm not sure I'll ever be up for such a long trip without any friends or my sweet man again. I'm not actually sure this type of travel is my thing. I know that's not a popular thing to say. I'm just not a eat the head of an animal type of adventurer. I've stuck with mostly vegetables so far.

I hope your weekend is lovely!

Jamie