What? Speed dating with a room? What in the world am I going to write about this time?
I have another technique to share with you. One that I use to use with some of my clients when I was trying to zero in on their design style.
I would take a stack of magazine pictures with me on the consult. Before I handed them the stack I would tell them that I wanted them to just glance at the images on each page. I wanted them to go with their immediate reaction of LIKE or DIS-LIKE.
I did not want them to think of their existing home, or why I was there, but to truly go with their instincts here.
It was like speed dating! Fast, quick, and they had to make a decision based on their initial reaction when looking at the image.
After we had our two piles, one for their likes, and one for their dis-likes, I would then go through them one by one, and ask pertinent questions about each image.
I think it is just as important to know what you like, and what you don’t like when deciding on what you would like to put in your home.
In my years of doing this I found that people were pretty quick at making a Dis-like pile, but the Like pile came a bit harder to them. I had to reassure them that there were no right, or wrong answers here, only their own personal taste would matter in the decisions.
In doing this exercise I would make a list of elements that they liked, and also what they did not like.
I would ask about texture, scale, style, color, mood. Often times I would start to see a common thread appear.
I found this exercise very helpful in working with the client and also in guiding them. It also gave the client a better insight to what was truly in their hearts, not just what they thought they wanted because of the latest trend, or what they saw in a friends home.
So you see you can speed date a room!! Try it!! Take a group of pictures, and quickly make your own stack of likes, and dislikes. See what common threads are in each image.
It is fun and if you are truly being honest with yourself it is a tell all!!
I would imagine that you all can tell what I love just by looking at all the images I have in this post.
If you think about it, Pinterest is like speed dating a room. We quickly scan, and pin the rooms that we like.
If you are being honest with your pinning you will see a pattern of what you truly love. You can even tell by how you categorize your boards. Elements that you are interested in, and want in your life will most likely be on your pinboards.
As a blogger I will sometimes pin some things just for my blog that I think will interest my readers, but there will usually be a common thread, and a hint of what I like in the image.
If you go on Pinterest, try speed dating some of the rooms, even the rooms you don’t like. Pin them, and analyze what it is about those rooms that make you feel comfortable, or uncomfortable.
Now you all know how to speed date a room. You can do it with magazines, or on Pinterest.
“Enjoy the Process!” Of:
Making discoveries of what you like and dis-like while speed dating a room!
20 comments:
Great idea! ;-)
Kathysue, great idea! I will have to try it.
I've always practiced this technique, and now I have a name for it! Great post, Kathysue!
I have done that myself (just for me) for years, Kathysue. I have books and books full of images I love...all categorized...bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, etc. I do find that I have very common themes that run through my choices. I also find that some of my picks have changed over the years...a moving away from one color to another...a slight switch from one style to another...but always the basics seem to remain the same.
Great post! Speed dating a house!;>) xo Diana
*** OK Sweets, I THOUGHT our tastes were VERY much similar... now you've gone and PROVEN it (Happy smiles here!)!!!
Luxuriously and elegantly put together, and OH-SO_ PRETTY & LIVABLE, I could live in, I think, ANY of these places, and always "feel happy & good"!!!
***Soooo, "I WANNA BE YOUR CLIENT!!!" ***
Big n' warm hugs,
Linda ("in AZ *")
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
P.S. I buy/get delivered almost EVRY imaginable design/decorating book, & surprisingly, I hardly EVER see these photos... HOW DOOOO YOU DOOOO IT???
Oh dear, speed dating this lot and I wouldn't have any dislikes!!!!!
Kathysue that is exactly why I pin so that when eventually I sell this place I will use my moving down board to see what I have liked and how I will decorate (or build) the new one!!!!!
Interesting concept...and agree after collecting pictures, soon a picture evolves...one that is reflective of our tastes and styles. Its a good exercise to hone in on exactly what we like!
I think you are reading my mind, Kathysue. I do the same thing for myself and it really works. My like pile always has components that are exactly the same,while others are rooms I like but not for me. Pinterest has made this easier for me!
Happy Wednesday.
Teresa
xoxo
I love speed dating! I've told people to do that before myself. I only pin things that really speak to me for this very reason. I love that Pinterest provides you with an online file with just a click of the button. Of course, I still love magazines too. Great post!!
Great post. I love the idea of speed dating a room!!!
This is a great idea! I'm going to have to take a look again at things that I've pinned.
Great post and great idea! Thanks, I will try it.
Hugs,
FABBY
good exercise. Pinterest is like speed dating. Never thought of it that way. But now I have a more reflective approach to apply to my use of Pinterest. Thank you!
This is the cutest idea ever! Love the title and concept. Funny clients know what they dislike more than they like! Its a jumping off point at least! Great idea!
Nancy
http://www.powellbrower.com/2012/02/everyone-needs-little-color-in-their.html
Brilliant Kathysue!! You are so right. I would also ask about how the rooms they like make them feel.
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Goes to show the power of first impressions. I know instantly whether I like it or not. Great idea! I agree that Pinterest is like speed dating. Which is kinda scary to think how short our attention span keeps getting. Before, we could stare at an image, because we didn't have a plethora of them to look at, and analyze what it is or not that we like. Pick it apart.
Hope you're enjoying your rainy/sunny day!
i do the same for my landscape clients but never thought of doing this for interiors, quite brilliant!
xo
debra
I do a similar version and it is really helpful. I hadn't thought of calling it speed dating though -- love it!
Stacy
I always make them give me three pictures of rooms that they like. Any more than that and I get confused :)
This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing
XO
Kristin
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