During an interview, kids don’t open up when their parents are in the room.
This is something I’ve learned in the years I’ve been a parent and a design professional. Even couples avoid saying things that may be seen as hurtful by their significant other, on a regular basis. This is the same with kids. They want to be themselves and express who they are but, they don’t want to hurt their parent’s feelings. There is also another side to this that is about parents projecting their style onto their children. In our first episode of this series, we interviewed our teen client with her mother in the room. Halfway through the interview, I sensed that Sarah wanted something other than what her mother suggested. Here’s what happened during the private interview with Sarah.
CMD: Do you want to get rid of the butterflies, too?
Sarah: Mmm, no, I like butterflies.
CMD: Okay. You know, you’re growing into a phase where it’s basically a little more glam-ish?
Sarah: Yeah…
CMD: Do you want something girly, too? We don’t want to limit it to just nature. we can do several different things.
Sarah: Well, yeah, I want something mature.
CMD: Right, a little more sophisticated?
Sarah: Yes!
CMD: How do feel about Blingy stuff? I see the [mirrored] butterflies, that’s why I’m asking.
Sarah: Like rhinestone and stuff like that?
CMD: Not rhinestones but a little shimmer here and there. How do you feel about that?
Sarah: That would actually be really nice.
CMD: Are you a girly-girl?
Sarah: Hmmm…(Thinking…)
CMD: Kind of? You’re heading into that direction?
Sarah: I dress that style but I really do it that much.
CMD: Okay, but dressing and acting are a little different; I’m a girly–girl but I like to be in jeans and steel-toe boots half the time. So go figure!
We both laugh.
CMD: Okay, what about lamps? How do you feel about lamps? You need at least one but I would like to see two in this room so that way you have –
Sarah: Like, one for reading. One by the bed so I can read?
CMD: Yeah, I’m big on lamps near the bed.
Sarah: A lamp would be nice. I could have two because it’s not that bright in here.
CMD: We never know [due to space limitations]. They would create a nice balance, though, which is important. It will also be important to you later.
Sarah: And I kinda need a bookcase because…
CMD: You have books.
Sarah: A lot. A whole lot. And school work.
CMD: And what about your desk?
Sarah: *sighs* I really want to get it out of here because it’s always cluttered.
CMD: You may need to adjust to doing your schoolwork out there because you won’t have a desk in here. That is, unless you want to lay on the bed while you do in here.
Sarah: Oh, I already do that.
CMD: Okay! Hey, I still do it. *laughs* So, we’ll check it out and see what we can come up with in here. I have to measure first, get the information from your mom, come up with a layout, and then do a color scheme for you. Basically, you guys did the majority of the work which is that you decided on the furniture you like. After that its about color which we did with the guestroom.
Sarah: Okay.
CMD: It’s really just styling for you and coming up with something that will work [for you]. I like to get the basic stuff. All the accessories and things like that, I’ll leave it up to you because then it’s personalized by you, okay?
Sarah: *nods*
CMD: It’s not that hard.
Sarah: *Thumbs up*
CMD: Are you excited?
Sarah: Yes!!! I want to get rid of this pink! *Tosses the pillow aside* I like pink sometimes but only if it’s lite. Like, where you can barely see pink. *Hugs a lite pink pillow* This one I like and some I can keep but not that deep, deep, hot pink.
CMD: Okay, so you are okay with pink? But just not the bright and bold pink?
Sarah: Yes. *points to fuchsia window treatments* Not that.
CMD: Well, that [information] helps because you know that furniture you picked out…?
Sarah: *shakes head in understand* Nope.
We laugh.
CMD: Not that bright pink!
Sarah: No, no that bright!
CMD: Well, you never know what we’ll find or what we can come up with so I’ll interview your mom, too. I’m sure she has her ideas for this space.
Sarah: Okay, this room didn’t used to be like this. I re-arranged it because when I wanted to go to sleep, I would always look at the stars first. I can try to see the stars if I look on this side. * peers out the window.* And I always like the moon because it’s always so serene.
CMD: So you like…astronomy, too. Or astrology. Which one is it? *I confess, I don’t think it’s astrology but I’m not so sure*
Sarah: I think it’s Astrology.
CMD: I think so, too. Well, that will help me. Maybe that’s why you like the bling-y things too? Reminds you of the stars, maybe?
Sarah: *nods* Yeah.
CMD: You’re definitely going into a girly-girl phase but it’s not seen all the time. You’re growing up and I went through this with my daughter. It was hard because she wanted to start changing things at eleven and I said let’s wait until you’re about thirteen, fourteen or fifteen because that’s when you’re really going to be able to express yourself through your own sense of style and now she loves her room.
Sarah: I was going to wait until I was a little older – a teenager. That’s what i said to myself. Don’t do anything until you’re a teenager.
CMD: You’re smart. I like that.
Sarah: I’ve sworn off boys until after college.
CMD: Oh, I like that even more : You’ll get your life together first and that’s a good thing.
Sarah: I’ve always liked horses.
CMD: So you still like them or…?
Sarah: I still do. I’ve always loved horses.
CMD: So we may have to incorporate that, too. Anything that’s related to nature.
Sarah: I used to have a bunch of them all around here but I got rid of them because…well, space [ is limited].
CMD: We’ll get it going for you…
I learned more about what Sarah wanted once we were alone. With this information, it’s time to get to work and design a space that reflects her style and a space her parents can approve! Wish me luck!
Here’s the video of the transcripts for you to watch:
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