Style at Home

17 Feb 2010 | News

The Cross’ own in house designer Peter Wilds’ work is featured in this months (February) issue of Style at Home magazine. Read our interview with Peter at the end of the article!

We chatted with Peter about his design work…

~What were your favourite design elements in the Neyestani home?

With all sincerity, I have to say that the Neyestani’s themselves, they were my favourite part of the job. When it comes to particular  items in the home, I love the relationship between ‘The Sky Garden’ pendant (in the kitchen) and the table and chairs. I absolutely love the Darlene Cole painting above the fireplace in the family room, I am a big fan of her work. I also love the white leather Oly ‘Hannah’chairs in the living room paired with the Designers Guild pillows. Overall, the Neyestani’s were dream clients and the house looks gorgeous.

~What is your jumping off point when you meet with a new client?

It all starts in that first conversation, I find that with everyone I work with they know what they like. They may not know how to put it together, or how to determine what goes with what…but everyone has an innate sense of what they respond to. I feel that my job is to help to realize that vision, and the bonus is to present unexpected and welcome ideas.

~What is the process like working with a designer from The Cross? Take me step by step.

We start with a consultation that can either happen at The Cross or in the clients home, it is generally an hour. One of the first things I always ask new clients is “What is it about The Cross that made you inquire about our design services?” With regards to the Neyestani’s, their answer to me was that they wanted a “classic, traditional environment with a bit of modern edge.” Based on my first meeting with a potential client, if there is a good response from the conversation, I then work on a “look book” that includes specific furniture pieces, room groupings, fabric options, paint colour, wallpaper and objects of desire. Key pieces from The Cross, are the jumping off point for all my projects. Then I work at creating a unique and personal mix for each client, by choosing pieces from other favourite retailers such as Inform, Livingspace, 18Karat, and always Ikea. To me the most interesting spaces are the ones that have that tension between high/low, elegant/edgy, masculine/feminine, light/dark.

~Where do you draw your inspiration?

Everywhere. Fashion, travel, conversations, people, food, art, nature, the list goes on…

One of the complaints I hear about working with a designer is that the client’s wishes are not heard. How do you respond to this?

Listening and responding to the clients vision is paramount. It is everything to me, it IS the relationship. I work to help them create their ideal home environment, not mine. A designer can’t be all things to all people, and finding the right fit is part of the process.

So do you think that the relationship is based on chemistry from the first meeting?

That is a good question. Sometimes, maybe…but like many relationships it is an evolving experience, and in that you are gaining trust with each other. I never forget that it is a business relationship where money is involved.

How long do your projects last?

They run from a one hour styling consultation to, like the Neyestani’s home, almost two years.

Lets talk about money.

I Love it! I Want it! LOL…I think everyone wants to have the most beautiful environment in the most cost efficient way. At the end of the day you get what you pay for. There is a reason that certain things cost a certain amount. This is where the principal of high/low comes into play. Something that is luxe and perfect and will cost a bit more and will help the inexpensive things look much better in the room. This is the tension in design that interests me most.

How does being featured in a magazine like Style at Home impact you as a designer?

It’s flattering because I am a magazine fanatic, and it’s thrilling to see my work in a magazine that I respect. Also, it gives potential clients an immediate hit of the nature of my work. I have already scheduled four consultations for the first week of March based on my work being featured in the magazine.

Thanks Peter! Amirand Laura Neyestani have said they are thrilled with their home, and the response to the article has been overwhelmingly positive. Bravo! We look forward to the next installation of your life as a designer…stay tuned!

~posted by S.V

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