Every month, in'In conversation with...', we give the floor to one of Wout Monseurs' colleagues. To kick off this new segment, we talk to Faye, our interior design consultant. She talks at length about her work experiences, how she and her clients find inspiration, and the latest trends in project design.
You work at Wout Monseurs as an interior consultant; can you explain what your work involves?
The work is very diverse! It ranges from giving advice on a comfortable office chair in our showroom to creating a complete concept and interior design based on the customer's wishes.
What makes your work so enjoyable, special, or challenging?
Every customer has their own story and, of course, their own wishes, which means that every case is different. Translating that into a beautiful design or a suitable image for the customer is what I do every day.
Are there any notable trends in project design at the moment?
You can see that office plants are becoming increasingly popular. The real "homely" aspect in the workplace also continues to grow. Employers now consider it important that their employees can return to an inspiring office environment, rather than continuing to work from home. As a result, offices are increasingly being decorated to encourage this.
To what extent do clients already know what they want when commissioning a project design? Do they already have a general idea or specific wishes, or do you generally have a lot of freedom in this regard?
This varies: sometimes customers know exactly what they want, and it's my job to sketch that image accurately and bring it to life. Other times, the customer has a general idea but doesn't know how to translate it or what's possible in practice. That makes it even more challenging to wow them with the design. The enthusiastic reactions that follow are really rewarding!
What are your main sources of inspiration? And where do Wout Monseurs' customers often get their inspiration from?
I always try to actively follow trends and keep track of what is happening or changing in terms of needs in project design. Customers who already know exactly what they want often browse the internet on platforms such as Pinterest and LinkedIn. They then often indicate that they want 'the same' or 'something similar' to the examples they come across and point out.
Which (office) space would you most enjoy working on? And why?
My two favorite spaces are the open-plan office itself and the cafeteria/company restaurant. With an open-plan office, you can really create an environment in the workplace where people can work, but where there is also space to meet, relax, and hold meetings. It's a great challenge to bring all these aspects together to create a unified whole.
And in larger companies, the canteen is transforming into a genuine company restaurant. It is no longer the case that this space simply has a table and chairs. This space is also increasingly being included in the process of decorating and creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Has the coronavirus pandemic played a role in the choices currently being made regarding project design?
Absolutely! The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, and this is reflected in the design of our projects. Many employees have now become accustomed to working from home, focused and alone, for months on end. Office layouts are changing, and offices are increasingly becoming meeting places. They are no longer just a place with a desk; getting back among people, connecting with each other, and, most importantly, enjoying going to work are now key priorities.
What trends do you expect to see in the (near) future in the field of interior design and project design?
I am gradually noticing this change with some clients, but I expect that striking colors will become increasingly prominent. For a long time, we saw safe, basic colors being used in project design. Now, bold colors are increasingly being used to stand out. Colors that are part of the company's corporate identity, for example, or an accent color that perfectly matches the style the customer wants. We will see more and more customers daring to do this.