The beauty of cleaning people’s homes? Seeing the creativity that went into designing it. 

I love interior design. The concepts; flow; personality; and aesthetic. BUT every now and then, the Clean Club Calgary team comes across a gorgeously designed interior that is next to impossible to bring its original sparkle back.

Confused about why something would be designed so beautifully, but so difficult to maintain, I connected with my colleague, Jacqui Loucks of Jacqui Loucks Interior Design, to get into the mind of a professional interior designer.

The first thing Jacqui shared?

 “Great design must be able to function first. Interior design is always function first. Always.”

Even the most well-designed home, if not easy to maintain, quickly loses its allure. 

Function First. Always!

Just like cleaning, there is always a method to the madness. “Before we even start figuring out products, heights, colours, etc., we have to start at the MACRO level of the design’s purpose, and then move into the micro details from there,” Jacqui shares.

This means digging in and understanding your lifestyle, your expectations for cleaning and maintaining your home’s design, and how you actually function within your home. In other words, will the new elements installed in your home cause you headaches, or improve your life as you move through your home?

Consider this...if you are drawn to stonecast or granite composite sinks (lovely!), it’s not simply a matter of finding, and then installing, a stonecast sink. This type of sink is touted as having great durability. Its surface, however, is textured and pitted, making it harder to clean. It also tends to show water mineral stains - especially in hard water cities, such as Calgary. Knowing this, are you prepared for the effort and maintenance to keep the same awe and beauty you had, before first use?

Should you still want that stonecast sink, Jacqui recommends two additional installs: install a water softening system and a pull-out spray nozzle on your kitchen tap for rinsing/eliminating particles after each use. There are also other excellent sink choices for high-task areas, such as the kitchen. Knowing your lifestyle helps the designer direct you to options that are the best fit for you.

Glass Can Be Our Friend!     

It’s no surprise that I love seeing glass spotlessly sparkle and mirrors magnificently reflect. This is something I take pride in and have invested in products for my team’s use. We love adding sparkle back into our clients’ lives.

Yet, untreated glass or anything with a high sheen surface - such as stainless steel or glossy cabinet doors - can quickly become a source of frustration. When function, maintenance, and long-term expectations are not discussed prior to ordering and installing the products, there can be regret knowing that there were better options.

Passionate about this very thing, Jacqui states, “As designers - we MUST address what to expect when it comes to the later maintenance of the products installed POST construction...This comes down to understanding what materials and finishes would be best suited for the occupants using the space.”

So, what can you do if you love the spotless glass look but hate the smudged glass look?

“There is tempered glass that has these sealants and applications. These sealants, however, must be applied at the factory prior to the installation,” shares Jacqui.

The applications, known specifically as hydrophobic or oleophobic sealants, help limit fingerprints, smudges, and watermarks. Knowing that there’s an option for this BEFORE shower glass walls or glass railings are installed, the client can make more informed decisions about products that can significantly reduce the upkeep or maintenance when they are consistently used daily.

Design Today for Tomorrow’s Expectations

An interior designer like Jacqui ultimately saves you time, creates functional design solutions (that you likely didn’t even know existed!), and will recommend beautiful finishes within your budget to receive that gorgeous house you’re so proud of. The up-front planning and decisions made within the design process are critical paths for the best outcomes when renovating or building new.

Understanding your long-term commitment to maintaining the design, helps you receive the right product or material choice for your budget. This allows for better expectations for what to invest in cleaning - either in personal energy and time or budgeting for a residential cleaner.

An interior designer should be there to support you in creating the home you want for the budget you have. This also means aligning with the right contractors who have the experience and knowledge to correctly build and install the intention of the design while engaging you in the decision-making process. An interior designer’s role is not only to project manage these details for a beautiful outcome; it is to present the best products, materials, and design decisions that reflect your priorities, lifestyle, and budgets.

There is so much more to interior design than what most people think. As Jacqui stated, good interior design should always prioritize function first. Then when combined with a commitment to maintaining the beauty and the function, your house will become - and stay - the home of your dreams.

If you are beginning your interior design journey, I highly recommend connecting with Jacqui to make it that much easier. Start a conversation on what to consider over and above the look. Send her a message right here.

If you’ve already designed the functional home of your dreams and require support to make it sparkle again, message me for a quote! Cleaning is one of my favourite topics!