So, Why Do You Do What You Do?

An old friend of mine recently asked this question on her blog, Matter of Kat, WDYDWYD? The question is, Why do you do what you do? This is Kat's response (HERE), which I found very inspiring, humorous and down to the point. I thought, hmmm, why do I do what I do? My answer came pretty quickly as I know, just as she did, the why.

When I tell people that I am an interior designer, it's like I am telling them I am a celebrity or something. I get a lot of ohs and ahs, and a few "Oh, I always thought I would LOVE to do that!". It's not quite as glamorous as many of you think but I will tell you, seeing a space transform into something you envisioned is extremely rewarding.

I mean, what is there not to like about the job? I am able to design spaces, cabinetry and furniture to compliment people's lifestyles. I design floor plans to create new spaces. I envision something new out of the old. I source both hard finishes like tiles, and soft finished like fabrics. I pick paint colours and suggest furniture layouts to clients. My office consists of my actual office space, the reno site and trade source room. I learn daily about new products, techniques and trends. I get to spend people's money how I see fit and am ask for my opinion all day. And I get to shop on the regular. Now this doesn't sound too bad, now does it? But all that aside, I do it because of the creative benefits.

A trade source room, potentially my "second"office.

I love to be creative! It's part of my DNA. I have always loved to make things and this allows me to create art out of life. People can live and experience the art I create, which is really quite satisfying. When a project is complete and the client is happy, that is all I can ask for!

Now, don't get me wrong, I did say this job wasn't glamorous. There are still the mundane tasks that we all dislike...the book keeping, long hours in front of the computer, dealing with "mistakes" during the design process and the major pressures of executing the project, but these are like any other job. And besides, this post is about why I love my job, not why I hate it.

Drawings for a kitchen at my desk. 

In the end, I love what I do because it allows me to connect with people on an intimate level; I create a space that helps them improve their lifestyle through my creative eye and knowledge. That is pretty cool if you ask me! And to boot, I walk around being inspired daily through other people's work;  Hotels, restaurants, other homes and architecture inspires me for the next project. This is how I know I love my job and why I do it because I cannot get enough of design.

Onsite choosing finished, all in my safety gear. 

So, why do you do what you do?