2021 Goals (How did we do?)
Heading in to 2021 I shared some goals here on the blog. My goals were largely focused on the business side of things and we accomplished a lot. We grew our team, smoothed out our processes, and improved the client experience. (Check out my 21 wins for 2021 for a list of some of the specifics.) While we are generally more buttoned up there is certainly work yet to do and we always have an eye to improvement and greater professionalism.
Creatively, I set out to up my game in a couple of ways. Here’s how we did.
Dial in on Details
This was largely about being thoughtful with details, not about adding them. There are countless opportunities to think through the options (and invent new ones), and we definitely went for it this year. Very early in my career, I remember contractors asking me for decisions on small things and saying I didn’t care. But I do. Oh, I do. There are truly no standards any more (meaning, there are options in every decision we make) and those little choices can be the difference between good and excellent. Here’s an example:
A stair tread at Balsam Lake: how thick? What profile? How does it protrude past the skirt board? What wood species? Cut how? What stain? How does the baluster tie in to it?
Yes, we could specify a “standard” tread from a stair parts manufacturer, but these subtle choices make a huge difference in elevating a new build without necessarily costing more.
Focus on Materiality
Historically accurate hex tile in unglazed porcelain. Rough-sawn pine. Polished concrete. Zellige tile. Mohair with leather welt. Wool drapes with satin banding in the same shade. Bamboo coffee tables. Banana leaf chandeliers. Embroidery versus print. This was definitely the year where we thought about the possibilities of material on top of color, pattern, and shape.
Increase Expertise in Lighting Design
I personally didn’t do much to expand my knowledge in this area, but part of my growth as a business owner and leader has been to lean in to the expertise of my team. Lauren worked for a lighting design showroom early in her career and has wide knowledge of everything from high end makers to lightbulbs. Guess who is in charge of lighting around here these days?
Present the Expensive Idea (But have a backup)
This one was largely about mindset and letting clients decide what’s worth it to them (rather than pre-deciding and holding back our best ideas.) Most of the time, if they are bought in on the vision they will go along with the price tag. Sometimes it is just NOT worth it to them, and that’s okay. Finding another option to do a similar job makes us better designers.
These goals are a little harder to illustrate in a satisfying way than some of last year’s goals, but I’m thinking a round up of details and materials is coming soon to instagram. Make sure to follow us there @hpetersondesign if you don’t already.
We will share our goals for 2022 soon. We are excited for a new year!
—Heather