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Theory Of Decoration

Professional Procedure

It is essential that the student of interior decoration who anticipates professional practice should understand Professional Procedure, or, in other words, just what factors to consider in the planning of a decorating job, and also the mechanical detail of its execution. Whether the commission to be executed is large or small the procedure is the same. It is the object of this lesson to carry the student through these details.

For the purpose of illustration, let us assume that, work which is to be undertaken is to be done by an associate decorator in one of the small shops in New York. The client is a new one to the establishment and to the decorator. The work to be done is the furnishing of one room in the home of the client. What should the decorator accomplish in his first interview with the client?
First Interview.—There are four things which should be accomplished in this first interview:

1. Confidence in the decorator
2. An understanding of the personality of the client
3. The extent of the work to be done
4. A definite appointment to see the room

1. If the decorator is to be successful in this or any future work the client must have confidence in him. This is attained by his sincere interest in the client and her needs and by intelligent questioning and apparent understanding.

2. The decorator must obtain a definite understanding of the personality of the client. Is she the type of woman who likes the bizarre, or the subtle and conservative in color? Does she prefer antiques, reproductions or modern furniture? Is she a person of simple or ornate taste? All of these things are to be learned by direct questioning regarding the room under consideration.

3. Find out the extent of the work involved. Does the client intend having the walls done? Is the room to be entirely furnished or merely refurnished and freshened? Her answers, of course, in no way limit the decorator as to what he may later suggest but merely establish the position of the client.

4. The decorator will under no circumstances terminate this first interview without having made a definite appointment to see the room in which the client contemplates doing the work. If an appointment is not made at this time, the decorator may well put any possibility of getting the work out of his mind, for with no future appointment the contact with a new client is automatically stopped and the decorator has no means of reapproach.