Fire Preventative- A Registered Interior Designer

Have you ever been caught in a fire? Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were? Naturally you would probably feel a sheer wave of panic, as would anyone who was caught in a fire, human instinct kicks in. Potential questions entering your mind could be how did the fire start or what could I have done to prevent the fire? More importantly specific questions that should be asked, how far did you have to travel to get out of the building, were the hallways and door openings wide enough for the number of occupants and who designed the stairwell to remain in tact longer so more occupants could escape to safety?

Who is responsible for making sure that the building occupants were able to make it to safety? Numerous parties were involved in construction, the architect, builder, but the fire generated from the window treatments. You discover the window treatments were not up to building code, but you hired a decorating professional to assist in the selection.

Here inlays the problem, you hired a "decorator" not a NCIDQ certified or registered interior designer. What is the difference? The NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualifications) NCIDQ certified interior designers have been tested about not only color and design theory, but building codes, space planning, contract administration, ADA requirement, historical periods, etc. After a designer pass the NCIDQ exam, he/she goes on to apply for state registration to use the title of Registered Interior Designer. All states do not have the title act, in fact Oklahoma just reversed their title act. Residents of Oklahoma should be outraged! Would't you want to know that the designer is qualified upfront rather than playing the twenty questions game? Your wasting your valuable time that could be spent on your profession, family or personal time.

There is a group called the IDPC (Interior Design Protection Council )who is fighting regulation. How ridiculious! If the IDPC feels that adamant about being considered equal in the world of interior design, then encourage all of your decorators to become NCIDQ certified. All it takes is education and work experience! If you want a worthy cause to donate the dollars in your pocket join ASID (American Society of Interior Designer) or IIDA (International Interior Design Assocation). Both of these organizations support NCIDQ and registered interior designers. They will assist you in finding a designer that fits your needs.

When building or remodeling remember, fire preventative. Hire an interior designer that is NCIDQ certified or a registered interior designer.

Quantity verses Quality

Over the past couple of weeks the popular phrase "quantity over quality" has entered my mind. Have you ever stopped to ponder how this pertains to design? An indefinite amount is quantity, while excellence, a peculiar or essential social characteristic, are words that define quality. As an interior designer, one has to look at the over all big picture. Designing a large commercial building can be quite the undertaking. After hours of numerous sketches and selection making, it can be difficult to separate oneself from the project. Selecting a multitude of furniture and fabrics that complement each other does not mean the quality is there. It does mean the designer has undertaken a major project with a lot of work, but failed to see the overall big picture of the space and how the end user can be most satisfied using the space. Thinking three-dimensionally about creating a place within a space and the overall functionality for the end user are characteristics of quality work of an interior designer. The next time you are in the market for an interior designer, remember it is all about quality!