We have recently been reaching out to some of our past clients, trying to dig a little deeper into how they found the experience of working with us as interior designers. During the process of sharing this delightful feedback with you all by adding it to our website, we thought it would be fun to find out what my own team thinks of working with me. This way you will glimpse an insight into what it’s like to work with me, as well as finding out a little bit more about the marvellous team that supports our work.
The old…
Not literally old I would like to add, far from it! But Stephanie (Senior Interior Designer) & Emma (Interior Architect) have been working with me in Sydney for several years now. You can find out more about Stephanie & Emma and their roles at MSID here.
Stephanie – Interior Architect
What is it like working with Marylou?
Inspiring! She has such a great eye for design and is always adding details to schemes that really bring it to life.
What is the most important thing you’ve learnt from working with Marylou over the years?
Not to rush the process. The more detail you add the better. Each layer whether it be an architectural element or a textile makes a difference to the final outcome of a project. The saying ‘less is more’ is not really the case for MSID.
What are the challenges you face at work?
Trying to find a balance between prioritizing design and budget. Designing and sourcing unique pieces are my strengths but you always need to keep cost in mind.
Tell us something about Marylou that we don’t know…
Surely everyone by now knows that Marylou is obsessed with coffee. So, I’ll share that she also loves peanut butter and honey on toast. We eat a lot of toast in the office!
Emma – Interior Architect
What is it like working with Marylou?
Every day is so different. I love that I have the opportunity to work on a project’s architectural side whilst also considering and designing soft furnishings and detailing. The approach to design is very holistic at MSID.
What is the most important thing you’ve learnt from working with Marylou over the years?
It is invaluable to go to showrooms regularly to ensure that you are looking at the latest products be it fabrics, furniture or other special finishes. This ensures that we are selecting new or revived products for our clients that have a point of difference.
What are the challenges you face at work?
Currently, it has been a challenge working remotely and not being able to spend time in the design studio with the team. The studio has a brilliant sample library and being away from that makes the design process a little more difficult. We use Slack and Zoom which lets the team communicate constantly throughout the day allowing a collaborative approach to still occur.
Tell us something about Marylou that we don’t know…
It is probably obvious because of Fusion Friday, but Marylou has a real flair for fashion which translates into a special talent for fabrics, colour and materials.
The new…
If you follow our social media accounts or are subscribed to our newsletter, we recently introduced Blanka, a recent graduate of Interior Architecture at the UNSW.
Blanka – Interior Architect
What is it like working with Marylou these last few months?
Working with Marylou these last few months has been great. Being in this studio, no two days are exactly the same so that keeps things far from boring. The studio space itself is calming and cosy, with the same feel as a lounge, so we can work creatively with ease. A good thing about the team is that we work very well collaboratively with each of our own unique skill sets, and everyone gets to pitch in their ideas and help others develop theirs too into a great design response for the clients. We use a combination of methods in the design process; sketching, gathering up materials, using photoshop to make digital collages, and many more.
What do you think you’ve learnt working with the MSID team so far?
Joining the MSID team had taught me so many things even though I had only been here for a few months. This is because I have had the pleasure to partake in all areas of work in MSID, and not only stick to certain roles. One of them would be the business side of the interior design world; dealing with trades and clients, invoicing, purchase orders, and even helping keep track of accounts. On the design side, I have learnt so much about fabrics as it is Marylou’s specialty, then a lot on technical detailing from Emma. I haven’t spent much time with Steph as she had to go on maternity leave not long after I had joined, but she was the one who had taught me most of what I know on estimating for projects. I look forward to learning even more as time passes.
Is working with Marylou and MSID what you expected?
In a sense, I didn’t really know what to expect coming into MSID as I haven’t been part of a smaller boutique studio before. I have only had experience working in a large company where I would stick to mostly doing design, documentation sets and rendering. To my pleasant surprise, I was able to make use of my whole skill set here, such as graphic design and hand sketching in relation to interior architecture, and these are all things that I enjoy.
The future…
And last but not least, Christopher. Christopher is the newest member of the team here at MSID, so why not find out why he wanted to join our Sydney interior design team!
Christopher – Architect / Interior Designer
Why did you want to work with Marylou?
Firstly, I was very impressed with how sophisticated her work is. I myself have many years of experience in the luxury sector (high-end residential and 5-star hotels). But mainly, she made a great impression of her during our first meeting. For me, that’s a key factor when deciding to work with someone.
What is it like being the first and only male employee of MSID?
It feels like a great compliment to be the first one ever. I’ve been working shoulder to shoulder with women for over a decade, but never been the only male before.
What are you most looking forward to?
The end of Covid, so I can be working side by side with my colleagues.
What do you think the biggest challenge (as an experienced interior designer with your own style and vision) will be in adapting to working with Marylou?
I don’t see it as a challenge but as a collaboration. I have a lot of experience to share, but also have a lot to learn from the team.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our Q&A style blog today. Soon we will be back talking about all things interior design, watch this space. In the meantime, if you are looking to engage an interior designer for your next project and you think we would be a good fit, please contact us, we’d love to hear from you.
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