EP 043 | How Interior Designers Stay Creative and Find Unique Sources with Shawna Starkman

January 15, 2018

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Are your design projects starting to look a little too familiar?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Shawna Starkman about pushing beyond safe design choices and creating interiors that feel truly unique. By exploring new sources, embracing creative risks, and involving clients in the process, designers can deliver more memorable spaces and a more rewarding experience.

For interior designers looking to break out of a creative rut and elevate their projects, this episode offers practical ideas for finding inspiration and sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces.

In this episode, we learn:
• How to source unique pieces that help projects stand out
• Why involving clients in the creative process can increase excitement and engagement
• What to do when you encounter a creative roadblock
• How combining high and low price points creates flexibility within a budget
• Why creative risks often lead to the most memorable design solutions
• How expanding your sources can strengthen your design aesthetic and client experience

 

Take Aways

Shawna recommends stretching yourself by exploring suppliers that you don’t normally use.

  • Glass blowers to create one of a kind light fixtures or a custom vase that’s a gift from you to your client.
  • Welders to create furniture you don’t normally specify.
  • Fabric resources that aren’t the typical options.

When Shawna felt out of touch with her creative well, she went to Kripalu Yoga Center. She adopted a practice she learned there, which is:

B         Breathe
R         Relax
F          Feel
W        Witness
A         Accept

Bergen Country project photos 

DESIGN INTERVENTION

Finding your worth as an interior designer. Figure out your value equation and be able to describe what sets you apart from your peers and competitors.

 

Shawna is the Principal designer for Shawna Starkman Design Group (SSDG), a luxury boutique firm specializing in residential and commercial design in NYC, NJ and the Hamptons. The spaces she creates are known for being beautiful, luxurious, modern, and tranquil, with a unique and unexpected twist.

Ms. Starkman began her career in New York as a set designer for commercials and music videos. Throughout her 20 years in the industry she has worked with a diverse group of clients including Max Factor, L’Oreal, Goldman Sachs, and Mastercard, as well as musicians Lenny Kravitz, Sean Combs, David Bowie and Jennifer Lopez, to name a few. Collaborating with artists and directors, she created innovative visuals from unexpected sources and materials, frequently using the skills of master artisans – from glass blowers to metal sculptors. Ms. Starkman successfully incorporated this technique into her interior design methodology.

In addition to studying Interior Design at FIT in New York City, Ms. Starkman has studied theater, dance, and film both in the United States and Canada.

www.shawnastarkman.com

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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

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