Producing a new home or remodeling an old one requires a concept. Decorating a home requires knowledge about how ideas will eventually relate to what is. It does not require creative skills, is often an experiment and more likely reflects who is decorating than what is required.

Construction requires a well-detailed plan, a blueprint. It is essential to bidding the job and determining final shapes and sizes. The plans should be prepared by someone who has strong practical experience. Someone who possesses drafting skills and engineering credentials. It is important to remember that the best built house may be the most expensive to construct, yet it by no means implies it will be the most appealing.

To design homes with exciting floor plans and unique features, one must possess a strong personal sense of style and a desire to pursue and consider innovative solutions to otherwise standard ways of living. The person must possess considerable talent and confidence, as well as a strong aesthetic background, an understanding of three-dimensional design, and lots of experience.

The facts are that the education of architects and designers is as unique as their personalities their individual lifestyles, and often, their personal appearance. While compatibility and capability are subjective issues, a professional¹s own image and choice of aesthetic surroundings should suggest design is not a job but a state of mind. Therefore, visiting professionals in their offices, place of business, or residence may be very revealing. While young professionals are often full of enthusiasm and less expensive, experience gets the job done. Be cautious of those who work from their homes, alone or at temporary locations. A client should require a staff to assist in processing details and following up on orders. One-person firms increase the probability of endless delays.

Creating environments for successful people with unique identities requires assistance from someone who is familiar with ³success.² If a professional is to establish a better quality of life for his client, he himself must be beyond necessities in his own life. He must be conscious of the fine line between amenities and ostentatious behavior. Choose a professional who will help avoid such innuendoes and offers the security of selecting what is appropriate, well priced, and in good taste.

An architect, in contrast to a designer, finds credibility in the prevailing philosophies of his peers, designs in traditional mediums or romantic styles, recapitulating proven successful endeavors regulated by preexisting standards, codes and engineering principles.

Often frustrated by his responsibilities, the architect or staff migrates into the field of interior design. It is no secret that should the interior designer migrate into the field of architecture, he can anticipate legal reprisals. Based on tradition, the architect¹s responsibilities remain with structure, the designer¹s to interpret the environmental needs of the occupant.

It is a mistake to develop an interior space with someone already biased by the architectural concept. Properly designed homes should flow from the interior space outward to the exterior. The interior space is extremely personal and should not be interrupted or subjected to compromise because of an invasion of exterior elements.

The nature of the architect is to comply and conform, but the innovative designer's nature is to defy and reform. Each has his point of view...each for his own reasons.

To further complicate these problems, newly recognized experts suggest a need for employing outside services to enhance the overall concept -- enter the ³lighting designer.² The lighting designer complements both the efforts of the architect and interior designer, but few interior designers are qualified to provide adequate specifications, and few architects feel comfortable with collaboration. The qualified lighting designer enlightens and knows the benefit of enhancing architectural details, materials, artwork and furnishings, inside and out.

Lighting concepts must be addressed before construction, not during. Approved lighting designers know how to take advantage of the play of light by day and the drama of darkness by night.

Laymen are not aware that more people form their impressions about the occupants of a home from the street than ever have the opportunity to see the interior. It provides an impression, often the only one.

Designing expertise should also include pools. A pool need not be confined to being a hole in the ground or conform to six basic configurations any more than a garden need be restricted to something growing.

Such provocative ideas and issues suggest utilizing many outside services when designing a new home. Conversely, they more vividly verify the need to select one professional who has the ability to orchestrate and create a singular concept from beginning to end. A person to respond to the creative decisions, yet detail custom concepts, furnish, light, landscape and accessorize to the last detail.

Good design alone may provide continuity and flow - excitement is planned, it doesn't just happen. The individual who plans it makes all the difference...

The lesson to be learned here comes from the symphony orchestra. Each musician may be very accomplished but is no better than the sum of all the musicians. To play more than just notes, each musician must be so dedicated to creating more than his own sound that he willingly submits his own experience to that of one conductor. While each musician may be fully qualified, without one person to conceive, arrange and orchestrate a symphonic sound, they are only musicians - there is no symphony.

Through such analogy, one realizes that when seeking a total concept or total environment, one must reevaluate his approach, discarding antiquated information and unproductive associations. While receiving what you want seems appropriate, you must also realize that you only like what you know....

Someone who sells his service must offer more, give more, know more in today's world. Hire those who encourage you to reevaluate your present image, to help you stand out. If you are outstanding,you will protect your individuality and demand more from your environment and your investments.

The choice is yours...but you can have it all.

Elected member International Association of Lighting Designers, I.A.L.D.

Providing national and international design services...
Specializing in L.A./Orange County lifestyles.

Publications which have featured the work of James Callahan:

Interior Design
Designers West
Los Angeles
Architectural Lighting
Homes International
Orange County
Palm Springs Life
The Designer/Specifier
Elan
Unique Homes
Harper's Bazaar - Germany
Interiors
Billboard
After Dark
Western Living - Canada
Time
Restaurant Design

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