Once my teacher said there are 3 activities designers have to do: Thinking, thinking and thinking. Clients have Designers to sort their problems out. Designers, by using design method, help clients basically to make their life easier.
There are various aspects in interior design that potentially having impact towards daily life. Thus designers are concerned about ergonomic, colour effect and some designers are thinking about new idea of making innovation to make live become easier.
Some people believe they don't need interior designers. Indeed, some of them understand about problem solving. But, sometimes people just don't realize that there are many things in architectural stuff they don't know well.
In this case, I would like to give you very simple example using one of my kitchen projects.
Project Location: Puri Hijau Senggigi, Lombok Island Client: Mrs Nuri, an Australian & Indonesia citizen
My client had a kitchen built by the home developer. In Lombok, Real Estate Companies tend to build houses unfurnished. They only provide simple kitchen made of concrete finished commonly with tiles. But in this project, I found the kitchen had been finished with granite stone and tiles applied on to the wall.
So after brainstorming the problems, I started making the sketch.
Click the image to enlarge
So far, I thought It was time to discuss with the client. Are you a designer? I am telling you: Clients will be happy when you report the progress constantly. They are happy to get involved. You have to engage the client to make sure their problems have been sorted out.
Eventually, I came out with the final design. Deal. My client were happy with the design. Then I brought the working sheet over the workshop. Technical problems will show up during installation, it is normal though. Drawing Plan is made on paper. Kitchen is not standing on a paper sheet. So it is important to be flexible with changes.