The Spirituality of Design

CYNDI FERNANDEZ-BELTRAN

A famous interior designer, Nate Berkus once said, “Your home should be a reflection of who you are and be a collection of what you love brought together under one roof.” I always refer to this quote when I think about the homes I have designed or transformed.  Often, clients would come to me with an overwhelming amount of pegs from Pinterest that they would like to copy for their homes. But the question I often ask them is – Is this really who you are?

For those of you who may not know, my firm, Moss Design House, has been focused on commercial interiors and event design for the past 12 years. The pandemic has thrown us out of rhythm and into a lot of uncertainty, but I continued to trust the Lord in his plans. Jeremiah 29:11 anchored me and gave me comfort –God has a plan, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’

So the shift in residential design came and with that I wanted us to give importance to spaces as personal sanctuaries where one feels whole and…HOME. Making a difference by going beyond the superficial aspect of design because more than aesthetics, it’s how a space makes one feel which gives such great value and purpose to the work that we do. 

So this brings me to the question of – what is the true spirit of interior design?

One may get confused in thinking that design is purely aesthetic. Some might think that it is greatly hinged on making something just “pretty.” The common misconception of people is that interior design is just about colors schemes, fabric swatches, or choosing which paint finish goes well with a particular room. But when you dissect each aspect of what we do, our job is so holistic that it creates a ripple effect when a chair’s dimension goes a centimeter off or a stair riser goes below standard height. This misconception was one of the reasons why we have put up our YouTube show, Mr. & Mrs. B of Moss Design House. It was to inspire, educate and give a glimpse of the real process of Interior Design.

If you have seen our show, it starts with an in-depth analysis of the design problem through a client brief and a comprehensive space assessment. Design has always been solution-driven. It aims to address spaces’ pain points, both technical and aesthetic, as well as the project timings, budget, and construction constraints, among others. But to derive an outstanding, well-thought design, we take time to understand our clients’ values and character based on their mandatories & preferences.  Our role as designers is to meet all those criteria and mold it into a cohesive environment that is aesthetically pleasing and represents the end-user. 

In many of our “reveal” episodes on the show, I’ve seen how much of our transformations have touched our clients.  When I tried to break down why, I realized it’s because I have always viewed design projects as personal and emotional. It is personal because the outcome of months or years of planning profoundly changes the way one lives in a particular space. So to know and understand how they live, how they move on an everyday basis is just as essential as knowing what style they want for their home. It is also emotional because I’ve always believed it is through emotions that one creates a lasting impact. People will always remember how a space made them feel. Not the kind of Italian sofa used or that Murano chandelier placed above the pristine quartz dining table. It’s none of that. 

One particular moment that came to mind was when we revealed to Solenn and Nico Bolzico their newly transformed living room.  Solenn burst into tears as soon as she walked in.  I asked her why and she said – “It’s an overwhelming feeling I can’t even describe. I don’t know why I’m crying. Maybe it’s the Christmas tree that was a surprise [because we never had one], and it’s our first Christmas tree as a family. It’s beautiful.”  

Looking back, I now understand what the true spirit of interior design means. It is that fine-lined balance of understanding that design is a solution that needs to capture and engage real-life emotions. It’s deemed successful when the client can relate to a design on an emotional level simply because it embodies their vision and captures who they are – a design that is a clear representation of their life, values, and character.

You know they say, in life, you are lucky to do what you love and earn bountiful from it.  To me, I think it’s more than being lucky.  I have been so blessed by God to be given this talent and that every day, I honor him not only through giving thanks but through giving it my best – hoping that what we do can always positively impact somebody else’s life.

In closing, I’d like to share a few practical take always on how you can capture the real spirit of interior design at your home. 

1. Good design is never about how much something costs or how your furniture is iconic or a designer piece. It’s about the little details that make your home feel special and personal.
2. A home should speak of who you are.  It should never be based on trends but on what resonates with you or your family’s character & values.  The last thing you want is to be left with a home looking like a magazine cover where it seems no one would ever live.
3. A well-designed home does not have to be all brand new.  Practice the art of mixing the new and the old, the high and the low. Value repurposing of things. They have many stories to tell about your home. 
4. Be intentional. Design should be carefully crafted and furnishings calculatedly placed. Each item at your home should serve its purpose. 
5. Lastly, enjoy the process of designing your home.  The path to discovering what works for you and your family may not be perfect, but the journey is worth it.  The process will bring you closer to one another, and that for me is the most beautiful thing.