The A-Z of Interior Design - Q is for...

Questions and Quirkiness!

Interior designers must be good at asking questions.  This is the only way they will be able to discover what their client's needs are in order to produce a design scheme which will be loved at the end of the project.  The designer needs to find out about their client's lifestyle, who will be using the area and how it will be used and by whom, any special activities which will take place there, how practical the space needs to be, such as work areas or storage requirements.  The designer needs to use his or her psychology skills to work out what the client wants - even if they do not know it themselves!  This is best achieved with a set of designer's questions.

Would the client love or hate this room?

Photo: Jonathan Adler, New York
QUIRKINESS is that special something that an interior design may be crying out for in order to make it stand out and to prevent it feeling bland or boring.  In the above room, the unusual elements, such as the hand-shaped chairs or the bright colours against the black shiny floor, may be just what is needed to bring a room to life.

In this room (below) black walls set against quirky accessories and oversized floral arrangements give a playful and vibrant effect…


Seek out shops which sell one offs or unusual items, such as Type in Shoreditch, East London.  This is a hidden gem where many pieces are made of old wood, steel and other up-cycled materials.

Type, in East London, E1 

An interesting interior design with creative touches...
Photo: www.archdaily.com

More quirkiness by Abigail Ahern…

Photo: Abigail Ahern