Anna Dick from Anna Margaret Interiors reveals the little things – and the big things – that can trigger a home revolution.

It all started with steam. A client called in an extraction expert because she was sick of stepping into the bath to open a window when her bathroom steamed up. Once she started to look around, the operation turned into a full bathroom remodel and modernisation. I often find the transformation begins with a niggly problem – the oven breaks down, the fridge isn’t big enough, the kids have moved out, the beige walls are too much, there isn’t enough seating. In this case the problem wasn’t a big one, but the solution changed my client’s environment, functionally and aesthetically. Good design creates positive change, giving people a renewed love for their homes. There’s psychology embedded in change, and transformation can provide fulfilment, satisfaction, and control.

Interior design is made up of two parts: the structure of a space; and the products that go into the space. The structure includes the architecture (walls, doors and windows); the layout of kitchens, bathrooms and laundries; and how people move around in the spaces. Products are the colours, textures, materials and even lighting that make the spaces home for you. Interior design can mean bringing about change with a product or two, remodelling and renovating an entire kitchen or bathroom, or working alongside your architect or architectural designer and builder to create a brand new home.

For any number of property choices, the journey of design and discovery should be shared with the people you trust, who will help interpret your desires.

The best time to engage in a conversation with an interior designer is right at the start of your project. For my client with the steamy bathroom, having the conversation with a designer at the outset meant creating a space everyone could enjoy. Creating a trusted team at the beginning of a project is paramount for cohesive and smooth design.

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