Design & Style, Home & Lifestyle

Starting a Project

Kelly Wearstler

Lesson time 04:44 min

Kelly teaches you how to ask the right initial questions that will get you started on your new project.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Define the Program · Explore Your Location

Preview

- The most important thing to consider when starting a project are the client's needs and wants. And we do this by asking a lot of questions and listening, which is one of the most important things. Like what is in their mind's eye? How do they want to live in this space? How do they want to experience this space? And we, a lot of times, ask a client to put together imagery of things they like. It could be a car. It could be a dress. It could be an interior. We call this the client's program. The program is how the client wants to live in the home. It's basically a list of requirements. And we get these requirements from them by asking a lot of questions. And then we also, in turn, listen. And then during the whole process, we're going back and forth and we're discovering each other and we're working with each other. If you are your own client, you ask yourself the same questions. What are some things that you enjoy? And just as easy as making a list, asking yourself the questions about how you want to live, what you enjoy, and what's important to you. Getting research, going online, looking at things that interest you-- like I really want this amazing cappuccino machine, or I want this incredible ice maker that makes a certain kind of ice, because I have a bar and I also want to entertain. And so writing these things down will help to define your program and help tell your story. This is a client's second home. It's in an urban setting. They love entertaining. They wanted to have a space that they could bring family and friends over, something that opened up onto the outside. The husband works at home, and so he wanted a beautiful office-- that was important to him. But the wife loves clothing and she wanted an amazing closet to showcase all of her beautiful clothing and amazing lighting. And she wanted a large bathroom with a bathtub. So a lot of these elements defined the program. And then the story starts to unfold. This is a project that we're working on in an urban city. And this project was an existing historic home. And we started this project by looking and doing research. Who was the architect? When was the house built? What are the types of windows and doors that are historic to the house that we want to design into? When we do a historic home, of course, we're going to give it a new spirit and new sensibility, but we want to also be responsible for protecting and preserving some of the historic fabric in the home. So when we design the home, we really go into every room of the house. What is outside the window? How large is the window? How much light does the space get? And that gives us a lot of direction on where to put focus and energy. In this home, there are a lot of artisanal details. We knew that we wanted to have stone and tile and metal and that we wanted the metal to feel a little more earthy, like natural patinas, beautiful home stones, and tile that looks like there was a beautiful hand to them. So ...

About the Instructor

Eclectic and experiential, Kelly Wearstler’s style helped redefine modern American design and influenced the rise of designer hotels. Now the award-winning designer takes you behind the scenes to demystify interior design. Make any space feel larger, and choose colors, materials, and textures with confidence. Curate collections of art and objects, cultivate your own distinct style, and create spaces that tell a story.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Kelly Wearstler

Award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler teaches you interior design techniques to make any space more beautiful, creative, and inspiring.

Explore the Class
Sign Up