The Human Side of Design: Why Perfection Isn't Part of the Service
I need to tell you something that might surprise you after 20+ years as a Toronto interior designer and decorator:
I make mistakes.
Not often. But they happen. And right now, I'm in the middle of resolving one with a stone supplier that involved miscommunication, assumptions, and a moment where I should have stopped an installation but didn't speak up quickly enough.
This isn't easy to admit publicly. But I think it's important.
Checking measurements and technical specifications. Photo by Barbara Nyke Interiors & Design
The Perfection Trap
Over two decades of creating luxury interior design for residential homes in Toronto, I've noticed a pattern in how clients sometimes perceive designers:
Because we're professionals with years of experience, mistakes shouldn't happen.
Because clients invest significantly in our services, perfection is not just expected—it's assumed to be guaranteed.
I understand this thinking. When you're spending substantial money on your home, you want everything to be flawless. You want the expert you hired to have all the answers, make all the right calls, anticipate every potential issue before it becomes one.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: That's not how design actually works. And pretending otherwise does a disservice to both of us.
Design Isn't Perfection—It's Problem-Solving
The mark of a good interior designer or decorator isn't that they never encounter problems. It's how they handle problems when they inevitably arise.
Great design involves:
Coordinating multiple vendors and trades, each with their own processes and potential for error
Making hundreds of decisions, some with incomplete information
Navigating situations where theory meets the messy reality of construction
Advocating for you when suppliers or contractors fall short
And yes—sometimes making judgment calls that, in hindsight, should have been different
The difference between a professional and an amateur isn't the absence of challenges. It's the accountability and problem-solving that happens when challenges emerge.
What Clients Don't See (And What I Bring to Every Project)
When you hire a designer, you're not just paying for flawless execution. You're paying for:
1. Experience That Minimizes Risk
After 20+ years, I've seen most scenarios play out. I know which questions to ask, which details matter, which shortcuts will haunt you later. Do mistakes still happen? Yes. But far fewer than if you were navigating this alone.
2. An Advocate When Things Go Wrong
Right now, with this stone installation issue, my client isn't dealing with the supplier directly. I am. I'm the one having difficult conversations, negotiating solutions, and ensuring this gets resolved correctly—even when part of the mistake was mine.
That's what you're paying for. Not perfection, but partnership and accountability.
3. Professional Relationships That Get Problems Solved
Because I work with vendors and trades regularly, I have relationships that get issues prioritized and resolved. When something goes wrong, I can get the owner on the phone. I know who to call. I know how to navigate these situations.
A DIY homeowner dealing with the same problem? You're just another customer. With me, you have leverage.
Measuring amount of cement needed for hearth. Photo by Barbara Nyke Interiors & Design
4. The Confidence to Say "Stop" (Even When I Should Have Said It Sooner)
This stone installation taught me something: In the moment, with installers ready to work, with timelines pressing, with costs mounting—it's hard to say "stop, this isn't right."
I should have stopped it sooner. I didn't. That's on me, and I'm fixing it.
But at least I can recognize when something's wrong and have the expertise to correct it. How many homeowners would have known? How many would have let it proceed, only to realize months later that it was incorrect?
The Human Element We Don't Talk About
Here's what clients often don't consider: Designers are human.
We bring our whole selves to your projects—including:
Insecurities about whether we've made the right call
Varying levels of confidence depending on the decision at hand
Moments of uncertainty, especially when dealing with new products or suppliers
The pressure of wanting to exceed your expectations while managing real-world constraints
Sometimes, feelings of powerlessness when factors outside our control create problems
This doesn't excuse mistakes. But it's the reality of working with humans rather than algorithms.
Why I'm Sharing This Now
I could have written about something easier this week. A beautiful finished project. A design trend. Tips for selecting materials.
But I'm in the middle of fixing a mistake, and it felt dishonest to pretend everything in my professional world is always flawless.
If you're considering hiring an interior designer or decorator, here's what you should actually expect:
✅ Someone who will make FAR fewer mistakes than you would attempting this alone
✅ Someone who will catch and correct problems you wouldn't have noticed until it was too late (or too expensive) to fix
✅ Someone who will advocate fiercely for you when vendors or trades fall short
✅ Someone who will take accountability when they make a wrong call and work tirelessly to make it right
✅ Someone whose experience, relationships, and problem-solving skills are worth every dollar you invest
❌ Someone who will never make a mistake
❌ Someone who can control every variable in a complex construction process
❌ Someone who can guarantee perfection in a field where human judgment, supplier reliability, and real-world conditions all play a role
The Real Value of Experience
After 20+ years, here's what I know:
Perfection isn't possible. Excellence is.
Excellence means bringing decades of knowledge to minimize risks, making informed decisions based on experience, recognizing problems quickly, and solving them effectively.
It means being honest when something goes wrong, taking ownership, and using every resource at my disposal to make it right.
It means understanding that bespoke, luxury interior design isn't about flawless execution—it's about creating spaces that ultimately achieve your vision, even when the path there includes unexpected detours.
What This Stone Installation Is Teaching Me
I should have asked more technical questions upfront.
I should have been more assertive in stopping the installation when my instinct said something was off.
I should have demanded to speak with the owner immediately rather than letting the installers proceed.
These are lessons I'm integrating into my process. They'll make me better for my next client. That's how experience builds—not through perfection, but through honest assessment of what went wrong and how to prevent it next time.
And right now, I'm using every bit of that 20+ years of experience to resolve this situation for my client. Not perfectly—we can't undo what's done. But completely, fairly, and with the full weight of my professional relationships and advocacy.
The Partnership You're Actually Hiring For
If you want perfection, hire a photographer to take pictures of someone else's finished project.
If you want a partner who will navigate the messy, complex, unpredictable process of transforming your space—someone who will minimize risks, solve problems, advocate for you, and take accountability when things don't go as planned—then you want an experienced interior designer.
Not because we're perfect.
Because we're human, experienced, and committed to getting you to a result you'll love—even when the journey includes challenges neither of us anticipated.
That's the real service. That's what 20+ years of experience actually means.
And that's what I'm bringing to the stone installation situation I'm resolving right now.
Ready to work with a designer who tells you the truth?
Click here to Book your complimentary Design Discovery Call
Here's what I'm genuinely curious about: Have you ever worked with a professional (in any field) who made a mistake? What mattered most to you—that they were perfect, or how they handled making it right?
Share your experience below – I think we could all benefit from this conversation. 👇
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