Honest conversation: how to understand what's behind the phrase “Make it beautiful”
Hello everyone, this is Tatyana! Today, I want to share a story that started as an ordinary meeting with clients but turned into a real detective investigation.
The Story of One «Beautiful»
A new client, a typical story: they built a house and now need a «beautiful facade.» At first glance, it’s a standard request. But let me tell you how one phrase, «make it beautiful,» turned into a full-fledged architectural project.
First Meeting: What I Heard
- «We want something unusual» (a classic phrase)
- «Like everyone else, but it should stand out» (a favorite paradox)
- «Modern, but it shouldn’t go out of style» (another one)
- «Within a reasonable budget» (which hasn’t been defined yet)
What Was Behind These Words
After two hours of conversation, it turned out:
«Unusual» meant:
- The house should be light-colored
- Definitely large windows
- But «not too glassy»
- And the neighbors shouldn’t be able to peek inside
«Like everyone else, but standing out» translated to:
- Natural materials
- No flashy colors
- Interesting architectural details
- «Guests should say wow, but not think we’re showing off»
«Modern, but timeless» turned into:
- Minimalist forms
- Classic proportions
- High-quality materials
- Thoughtful zoning
My «Interrogation» Tools
Over the years, I’ve developed my own method for uncovering a client’s true desires:
I start with lifestyle questions:
Who lives in the house? What does a typical day look like? Where does the family spend most of their time? What are their hobbies?
Then move on to practical aspects:
How often do they host guests? Where do they park their cars? Do they have pets? How do they use the yard in different seasons?
And finally, I dive into details:
Favorite materials. Disliked colors. Examples of houses they like/dislike. Memories of places where they felt comfortable.
What We Ended Up With
After many clarifying questions,
Materials:
- Light-colored travertine for the main surfaces
- Accents of thermally treated wood
- Graphite-colored metal elements
- Large windows with smart glass
Planning Solutions:
- A covered barbecue terrace with a garden view
- A separate exit to the relaxation area
- A private pool area hidden from outsiders
- A convenient driveway to the garage
Special Requests:
- Automatic window shading
- Integrated facade lighting
- An irrigation system for vertical greenery
- Heated sections of the terrace
And you know what’s most interesting? During the process, the client admitted: «We didn’t even know what we wanted until you started asking questions.» Moments like these make my work truly special.
Lessons I Learned
- Don’t rush to suggest solutions. Let the client talk.
- Ask unexpected questions. «How do you celebrate New Year’s?» can reveal more about a home than direct architectural questions.
- Show options. In our studio, we have a rule: always present at least three concepts, even if we are sure about one.
- Document everything. I write down even fleeting comments—they often contain the most important insights.
Right now, we are in the project development phase, and I can already see how the initial «make it beautiful» is turning into a well-thought-out architectural solution.