Interview with Interior design expert CIGAL KAPLAN INTERIORS
Why should people appoint an interior designer instead of managing their own project? We find that home owners usually try to handle their own interior design projects. They try to figure out what they want and then hire the needed contractors to do the work for them. The problem with this approach is that they don’t have the necessary skills and knowledge on how to make design decisions and translate them to implementation needs. So, they end up hiring contractors who don’t know them or their home well. Contractors who don’t understand their needs, and are unable to give them the design and finish that they really want. As interior designers we understand space planning and know where you want to go with the look, mood and feel of the project. What is needed in a room and how it all goes together from colors to furnishings. We then translate this down to the contractors and ensure that they deliver what is needed on time and on budget. What type of projects get you most excited? Projects where the clients are open to exploration when it comes to designing their home. Being open minded to new ideas based on their wants and desires. Who or what have been your major influences in the world of interiors? Living in London, this city fills me with inspiration every day. The mix of different architecture and styles of buildings and interiors, the fusions of cultures and the ability to take chances all influence my designs. I also draw on my experience with my clients and the amazing design inspirations we uncover on our journey together. In developing a style for a client’s property who takes the lead or is it a collaborative effort? It is most definitely a collaborative effort. I start all my projects by first really understanding who my clients are and what colours, designs and styling gets them excited. I then take them through a magical discovery process using ideas and mood boards that unlocks their creative input and makes them feel that they are helping design their perfect home. Is there a project that you are most proud of? Yes, three months into Covid, I started working with the Finchley Cricket Club to help them create a clubhouse that is warm, family friendly, and to suit all their players regardless of age or gender. I used to dislike going to the clubhouse as the space was dark and really uninviting. It felt like a pub still stuck in the eighties. With the help of the players, amazing volunteers we managed to create a space that everyone loves hanging out in. It has gone from an empty space with a few hardcore regulars to a space that is buzzing from Wednesday to Sundays, with players, supporters and local families. 26
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