Faux-cus on the Pros: Schmidt Design Studio
Faux-cus on the Pros, Inside In-faux 1 Comment »I met Anna Schmidt a few years ago at an interior design function. We’ve collaborated on a few projects and she also introduced me to one of the best team members I have. Some of the more creative and stunning finishes we’ve achieved have been under Anna’s direction. Her firm, Schmidt Design Studio (formerly Silver Leaf Interiors), was launched in 2003 and since then she has worked on such notable restaurant projects as Seasons 52, the ESPN Zone in Baltimore and other restaurants around the country. She also put together the Tuscan Farmhouse and Urban Italian concept for Olive Gardens nationwide while working as a consultant on Darden’s other restaurant properties. Locally, she worked on the expansion design for K Restaurant and Wine Bar, which garnered the restaurant a Zagat’s Design rating of 20 (Very Good to Excellent) and this review: “…and the pleasant, casual recently expanded setting is enhanced by local artwork, leading most reviewers to give this K an A++.”
She has taken time out of her schedule to offer a few insights to Faux-cus on the Pros readers. Please also take the time to look at the firm’s beautiful website, www.SchmidtDesignStudio.com.
Tell us a little about yourself, your style and your firm’s philosophy. I started my company bringing with me 9 previous years in the industry. My company focuses on contemporary, eclectic and clean-lined designs. We have focused on commercial and hospitality interiors since the business opened, but specialize mainly in restaurant design now. Our mission is to provide the client with exceptional service from the initial project meeting to final completion. We believe that every space has a purpose and our goal is to discover and bring to life that final, unique vision.
What are some misconceptions about interior design that you encounter? The most common misunderstanding about interior design as a profession is that we are ‘decorators’. Yes, most of us have the ability to put the final touches into a room with furniture, window treatments and decor, but as a profession we are concerned about the life, safety, and welfare of the public. In addition to this, interior designers must be able to analyze clients’ needs, goals and life safety requirements, prepare working drawings and specifications “in compliance with universal accessibility guidelines and all applicable codes”, and work with other licensed practitioners in the technical areas of mechanical, electrical and load-bearing design as required for regulatory approval. I truly love what I do, but it is sometimes very challenging to help the client understand that to truly become an interior designer, we have to be certified. In both the U.S. and Canada, interior designers are certified through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) after passing an examination. To be eligible to write the examination, you must have an acceptable combination of full-time work experience and two to five years of post-secondary education in interior design. Once this exam is passed, we then must follow through with Continuing Education Units to maintain our licenses.
What is your ideal room? My ideal room is one that feels comfortable and tranquil, with colors that are rich and inviting. I also love natural light designed into spaces - it has a calming affect that I don’t get from any artificial light.
What are some of your favorite color combinations? I love using rich taupes/golds/reds, and also the more trendy combo of chocolate brown with blues/teals.
What are some of the most common interior design mistakes that you come across? Designers not truly listening to their clients needs and requests, which causes communication problems later on. I also see designers not working closely enough with the architect on drawings. Design intentions can then be missed in the field once construction is underway and changes like those can be very costly to correct.
What’s the best piece of design advice you have ever received? “Sometimes the best project is the one you don’t take at all”. I heard this when I was first starting my business. A very knowledgeable peer made me understand that the best clients truly want OUR advice and help, and when a client proves to be really difficult and doesn’t trust our professional advice, it can be very costly for them in the end, as well as for the designer! It is usually better to look to those opportunities where the client wants to understand the design process and work with the designer as a team, trusting who they’ve hired and the advice the design firm is offering. I’ve seen several clients who have tried to dictate the process and then they are very disappointed with the final outcome.
What design advice would you impart to our blog readers? When looking for an interior designer to hire, make sure that the relationship is solid from day one. Make a list of questions that you need answered regarding your project. It is crucial that you understand how the process will work and that you have a firm grasp of costs for your budget. A first-rate interior designer will be very thorough with their explanations and plan for your space, and good communication means there will be no surprises along the way.
K Restaurant (Orlando, FL) and Olive Garden (Philadelphia, PA)
Wonderful insights and advice from the extremely talented Anna Schmidt, head of Schmidt Design Studios. It is incredible the amount of dedication and time needed to acquire a design license and maintain it. Be sure to visit the company website: www.SchmidtDesignStudio.com. Please know that if you’d like to access?this interview at a later date, we will have it archived in our Message Forum.
