tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post2893488953766540772..comments2023-11-05T06:23:41.645-05:00Comments on Pure Style Home: Design SnobberyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-29408932161713627632010-10-17T13:39:12.236-04:002010-10-17T13:39:12.236-04:00Lauren, this may be the first comment I've mad...Lauren, this may be the first comment I've made after reading your blog for some time. I've so enjoyed and learned volumes from so many of the design blogs out there now and yours is one of my top favorites. And this post speaks volumes in so many ways. I've been an avid design fan since childhood (and I'm in my 50s now). When I was young and trying to choose a career, I sent an inquiry to a interior design school a few states away from me. Back then, one of their reps would travel to visit you in your home. I was extremely shy back then, and when the woman arrived with her hauty attitude, I quickly retreated to my bedroom and would not return to visit with her even at the insistence of my mother. My mother said that she left in a huff. From that experience, I never wanted to be involved or deal with designers or others in the design business because of the way that one person represented the school and the profession. Of course, I've grown and matured since then and realize that there are snobs in every profession and that there are wonderful, giving and caring people in every profession as well. <br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences on this subject and to bring to light what many of us have experienced with negative people. As a consumer/homeowner, I am much more drawn to those who are cordial, kind and giving and will spend my money and listen to them much more quickly than I will someone of the opposite demeanor. As my southern grandmother always said, "You can catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar."chanteusevcahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09540007234770700092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-40205833972851320092010-10-01T00:26:04.581-04:002010-10-01T00:26:04.581-04:00Good post and I agree on so many, well probably al...Good post and I agree on so many, well probably all that you said! <br /><br />I think that sometimes designers get the snobby rap because they are basically promoting themselves through design, something that can be seen. <br />So if their work is scrutinized, it essentially reflects them. It seems like there can be a chip on their shoulder about this. Does that make sense??<br /><br />Also, customer service really is the basis for so many sales and that does not always come naturally to everyone. Anytime someone is working with another person, they should always be thinking of their service and how they are coming across to that person.<br /> <br />I used to be a corporate customer service trainer for a retail chain and a mid-size HR company. I would cringe at some customer service situations that were so easy to solve but were made difficult by the attitudes of salespeople. It was this inherent need to be right that made the customer feel like they didn't matter. <br /><br />I think people just like to be heard. It really is an art form to be able to listen and then to steer them in a direction that's comfortable for them.<br /><br />Just from reading, I feel that you are genuine so you have no worries!<br /><br />Sorry for the LOOONG comment but thank you!!Laura Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04677448352815744178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-42361691842079432542010-09-29T12:15:10.095-04:002010-09-29T12:15:10.095-04:00Ok, I'm going crazy with comments as I catch u...Ok, I'm going crazy with comments as I catch up on your latest posts, but just wanted to say - Thanks for being so open and honest on here, as always! And I agree with 3 Peanuts - your warmth and genuine nature really radiate on this blog, or so they seem to. You rock!Jane @ The Borrowed Abodehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02179561877695781228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-34013974177244071772010-09-27T13:01:56.323-04:002010-09-27T13:01:56.323-04:00Lauren,
I think one of the reasons so many peop...Lauren, <br /><br />I think one of the reasons so many people like you (aside from your extraordinary talent) is because you do NOT seem snobby AT ALL. And yes I have a lot of designer friends and some are snobby (not to me but to others). I think it stems form insecurity and the exact opposite too...being too full of oneself. <br /><br /> The story about the person who was somewhat annoyed because you did not know who she was REALLY bothers me. God gives every single human being gifts...every one of us. And they are all different. My gift is not design (although it is a huge hobby). Mine is marriage and family counseling. But that does not make one person any better than another. In the big scheme of life is being a famous designer any more important than being a really good teacher? NO. I think humility is so important and makes me respect people so much more than pompousness.3 Peanutshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15124969727188599965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-28288251815727185962010-09-26T23:25:39.391-04:002010-09-26T23:25:39.391-04:00I wish we lived in the same city- I could sit and ...I wish we lived in the same city- I could sit and talk about this topic forever with you! I totally agree with everything you said. I think it has alot to do with competition. I also think there is a lot of unnecessary DRAMA in this industry. If you don't have a good head on your shoulders you will get sucked in! I'm guilty of getting sucked in to the drama and then I think "Why am I making a huge deal about a bolster pillow?!" Reality check, please. :) xoRHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-33277192198383088472010-09-26T23:24:45.157-04:002010-09-26T23:24:45.157-04:00I wish we lived in the same city- I could sit and ...I wish we lived in the same city- I could sit and talk about this topic forever with you! I totally agree with everything you said. I think it has alot to do with competition. I also think there is a lot of unnecessary DRAMA in this industry. If you don't have a good head on your shoulders you will get sucked in! I'm guilty of getting sucked in to the drama and then I think "Why am I making a huge deal about a bolster pillow?!" Reality check, please. :) xoRHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-66489993232862106402010-09-26T19:08:02.148-04:002010-09-26T19:08:02.148-04:00because design is still a luxury, not a necessity,...because design is still a luxury, not a necessity, and some designers/people insist it's a necessity.go boo boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18127610146319166412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-40356851172276382762010-09-25T08:51:56.068-04:002010-09-25T08:51:56.068-04:00When I first started in this business, I went to m...When I first started in this business, I went to my first appt in a suit, all business... now, I make sure to wear my jeans, and take the truck...lol I try to make the client feel comfortable and they feel free to really open up. If they don't like it, I am at the point I don't care! Find someone else. I treat every job as if it were mine, I try to spend the least amount that I can, use the things already there if possible. I love what I do and would do it for free. I can say this truthfully too, I always get their next project.Room Service ~ Decorating 101https://www.blogger.com/profile/00391177317831699246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-27243287423922996402010-09-24T20:44:51.666-04:002010-09-24T20:44:51.666-04:00Can I get an Amen?! Awesome post, thank you for ta...Can I get an Amen?! Awesome post, thank you for taking the time to write it and love the blog. Take care and have a wonderful day:) AngelaAngelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16027701578922136970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-60633018992634950692010-09-24T19:57:05.542-04:002010-09-24T19:57:05.542-04:00wonderful piece, Lauren. thanks for the time and e...wonderful piece, Lauren. thanks for the time and effort that went into it. I can take so many good things away from your post - things that apply to my life across the board.<br /><br />I appreciate you.<br /><br />donnaA Perfect Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03022160717740694132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-1528434854773154452010-09-24T18:43:18.542-04:002010-09-24T18:43:18.542-04:00i'm not "in" design, so my thoughts ...i'm not "in" design, so my thoughts are from the outside looking in. there are those of us who are *interested* in design, but not to the degree that those "in" the industry are. and sometimes we aren't treated very well by people for whom design is more important. for example: i'm a young mom with four small kids, two of whom we adopted when their parents abandoned them. we have a very small budget (read: usually $100-$200 per room.) i'm interested in *improving* design in my home--taking it from a complete mess, and making it something warm and welcoming. but it's more about working design in to the already really full plate that I have. my budget and my priorities go to other things: special education for my kids with disabilities, the legal bills we're still paying off from the adoption, etc. so, because design is not HIGH on my priority list, but still on my radar, sometimes I've been treated poorly when I'm trying to do SOMETHING rather than NOTHING at all. (one time a woman at a high-end fabric store basically told me I should be shopping at Wal-Mart instead of there, since I wasn't going to use their seamstress to make my curtains.) if design pros would hang on to the truth that for some people, SOMEHTING is better than NOTHING--rahter than some pie-in-the-sky idea like "ALL or NOTHING!" they might come across as less snobbish. design pros could sometimes use a little "down to earth" added to their palatte. let's face it: most of the rest of the world is just trying to figure out where their next meal is going to come from....Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15443693646800048052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-69685630801016385272010-09-24T18:09:50.434-04:002010-09-24T18:09:50.434-04:00Very Well Said/Written. I completely agree that ma...Very Well Said/Written. I completely agree that many designers/vendors/bloggers/clients/etc. need to remember that we are all in this together and should respect each other accordingly. I as a designer try my best to ever assume a client knows or does not know something. I am there to help them through the process of getting the space they love and will respect them and make them as comfortable as possible through the entire process....it is their home after all! Same goes for me working with manufacturers and vendors....the more comfortable I feel, the more I use them.Lissa Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13258040782582354892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-68358959449210133932010-09-24T14:52:42.321-04:002010-09-24T14:52:42.321-04:00Amen sister!! This is an amazing post and it sums ...Amen sister!! This is an amazing post and it sums up all of my frustrations with some designers and the assumptions that we get stuck with. Niceness does go a long way and you can't really do your best on a project without a client feeling at ease enough around you to completely be themselves. If you can't be down to earth and friendly enough to really get to know your clients how can you create a room for them that actually reflects who they are???<br /><br />Thank you so much for this post and the one picture you did include is just perfect! <br />All the best,<br />Kelle<br />xxKelle Damehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145503884895343829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-9863537576388427182010-09-24T10:57:53.756-04:002010-09-24T10:57:53.756-04:00Lauren, once again you've written a very compe...Lauren, once again you've written a very compelling post. I have to say that I've experienced design snobbery on so many different levels (especially while living in NYC). I felt like it was ingrained in us as students...being pinned against fellow students...competing with eachother's work for the "A". My school, while I still LOVED IT for other reasons, was unbelievably competitive and also made us believe that if you don't get your NCIDQ (and are not an ASID member) "you are not a qualified designer". I could also could go on and on about the snobbery I experience at the D&D building in NYC. I've boycotted a few showrooms simply because the sales people treated me rudely when I was first starting out (um, last year, lol). I now am a returning customer to a few select showrooms simply because of the amazingly nice sales people that work there. A little bit of nice can go a long way!<br /><br />I would hate for a client to ever feel like I'm going to judge them or their home. I'm there to help, not judge. I know that *most* designers don't even notice the "stuff" and just see the potential as well as picturing the "after".<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to write a great post!Teresa Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708879417683903608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-81852267441323993072010-09-24T09:52:43.540-04:002010-09-24T09:52:43.540-04:00Loved your take on this whole thing. I was in a sh...Loved your take on this whole thing. I was in a show home with another designer once and she proceeded to rip apart everything room by room and I felt like saying "where is the show home you've done?" So much easier to criticize than create from nothing. I don't know why so many designers feel they have to be that way.Maria Killamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12728225086725817125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-65133969706859419982010-09-24T09:46:56.174-04:002010-09-24T09:46:56.174-04:00The Golden Rule is still golden! Live, Love, Laug...The Golden Rule is still golden! Live, Love, Laugh...even in your job! frankiMerlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942151181292183080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-26380556125075869722010-09-24T07:40:36.603-04:002010-09-24T07:40:36.603-04:00Love your post. I was laughing when you said you h...Love your post. I was laughing when you said you have majored in Communication in college and are always analyzing past conversations, wondering if you said the right things. I am right there with you..degree in Communication and obsessed with it! ;-) I also think living in the south magnifies the concern on if we have been appropriate and gracious enough to everyone we meet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-70601370344684590312010-09-24T06:02:22.848-04:002010-09-24T06:02:22.848-04:00Yes, there are total design snobs...but there are ...Yes, there are total design snobs...but there are snobs in every field. <br /><br />And there are those who truly believe you don't have skills unless you are schooled in interior design (with a degree). I know that not all doors will be open to me because I'm a decorator and not a designer, but I'm okay with that. <br /><br />Some clients want homes that look expensively and lavishly designed with rich treatment on the windows and full of antiques, but those people would never hire me--that is just not my aesthetic. I love making beautiful rooms out of what clients already have, antique finds and some scores from HomeGoods--but that is just fun for me and the client!<br /><br />fun post...JulieJulie Hollowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17727969951483106430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-64340380191965525952010-09-23T23:32:28.867-04:002010-09-23T23:32:28.867-04:00Lauren, I love your honest post. I too have been s...Lauren, I love your honest post. I too have been snubbed in the SFDC and it feels terrible. As a professional organizer & designer, many question my approach, but others love it. But, more often than not I have met some very warm, supportive interior designers {many who blog}. <br /><br />I really wish I could have met you while in NYC... next time.<br /><br />xo,<br />cristinCristin // Simplified Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087851251083940026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-89222157289190985502010-09-23T19:07:13.715-04:002010-09-23T19:07:13.715-04:00Great post Lauren, and it's not just in the de...Great post Lauren, and it's not just in the design industry that this behaviour exists. How many times have you walked into a shop and had someone look down their nose at you? And it's so silly, really. I mean, they aren't earning huge salaries for working there but they've put themselves on some kind of pedestal, thinking they're so much better than you. <br /><br />I agree that some may just go through the daily motions and things become so routine that they get impatient with questions. But they need to realize that not everyone out there is design educated and informed and that's why they are seeking assistance. <br /><br />You're so sweet and I can't imagine it's easy for you in an industry known for it's snobbiness. I know I'd be seeking you out if I needed design work done! :)lisaroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09201063720578870254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-52629933059787953112010-09-23T19:05:55.002-04:002010-09-23T19:05:55.002-04:00bravo... lets just all be nice... it is so EASY! x...bravo... lets just all be nice... it is so EASY! xxxx <br />great post..red tickinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400289072356876224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-17632055627136261032010-09-23T19:01:13.937-04:002010-09-23T19:01:13.937-04:00Here, here!! I always get customers coming into my...Here, here!! I always get customers coming into my showroom, sheepishly appologizing as they are just looking at a small accessory item they saw in the window, they obviously felt they shouldn't be bothering me because of the fancy showroom!! and then I see them completely relax and want to hang around and see what else we've got and do, when I say - 'don't apologize, that's what they're there for, please come in' - Seriously, a little friendliness and pleasantness can go along way, it's no skin of our backs!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-13428106497542889362010-09-23T18:31:56.328-04:002010-09-23T18:31:56.328-04:00What a great post!
I couldnt agree more with every...What a great post!<br />I couldnt agree more with everyhting you have said. <br />I also had the opportunity to experiance snobbery from vendors and sometimes I think that I should tell the showroom owner. <br />If it was my showroom -I would never let any of my employees treat my customers this way, your customers are why you are in business afterall -right. Plus I always treat others the way I want to be treated, with respect and kindness and for some reason some people don't, I just don't get it.<br /><br />Great Post!<br />Edyta<br />http://edytaandco.blogspot.com/EDYTA & CO. INTERIOR DESIGNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11664477386591261795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-8456577461770553852010-09-23T17:37:01.537-04:002010-09-23T17:37:01.537-04:00Great Post Lauren! I've been in the service i...Great Post Lauren! I've been in the service industry (sales) for 20 years and if I ever gave my clients the kind of service/attitude that some of the design field does - I'd be out of a job. I did go back to school a few years ago for design and frequented the Pacific Design Center in LA and many showrooms - also, I did a few projects for friends. I experienced both good and bad service. Typically, I found other resources where a showroom had an attitude. I believe in giving positive feedback and constructive feedback and never hesitated on doing either. I once was working for a publisher and was sitting in a very prominent showroon at the PDC waiting for an appt. with the owner for a book I was working on...he didn't know who I was and proceeded to say to the other owner on the phone "You wouldn't believe the rift raft that has been in here this week" during West Week. While I was there to make the sale it took all my time not to say to the owner when he got off the phone, "I'm soo and soo's assistant (picking a name / celeb out of the sky)and we won't be shopping in here since we are part of the rift raft). Of course, I didn't do it but I also never personally shopped in that store ever again. <br /><br />I believe in giving the BEST service all the time and never underestimating your customer large or small. YOu never know when the small client is going to be a big client and people always remember when they were treated with respect. Big or small my clients know I am there for them 100%. <br /><br />I think your points are well taken and I think it's something no matter what your profession is that we all need to take a hard look at ourselves and our businesses. When all things are equal customer service will trump everything :)<br /><br />FABULOUS and BRAVO!Peggy and Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17315382121107845029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030308239398272700.post-32607678895741418652010-09-23T16:31:19.874-04:002010-09-23T16:31:19.874-04:00Lauren this is an amazing post, very well said. I...Lauren this is an amazing post, very well said. I'm an interior designer in Vail Colorado and have always struggled working with other designers & people in the industry who feel that you have to "act" the part. My philosophy is that I am providing my clients a service and they don't view me any different than the person who cleans their house or cuts their grass so why would I act any different or treat people poorly. Great job!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02636708129040662745noreply@blogger.com