In our first Masterclass of 2020, Chairish was joined by Gil Melott, principal owner of Studio 6F, for a fascinating discussion on how to translate your clients’ wants and needs into designs that accurately depict their stories and emotions.

Gil begins by talking about the early stages of the process where, as a designer, you should make it abundantly clear to your clients that you are there to create a story and a narrative for their home and their family. Throughout the process, it is important to remind them of your objectives and then at the very end, tell them what you’ve done and why you’ve done it.

Client’s don’t always know what they want, so Gil uses some tactics such as asking open-ended questions and taking their fashion preferences into consideration to get a sense of their personality, likes, and dislikes. Through the use of mood boards, you can provide choices to clients and see how they respond to further understand their preferences.

Setting the mood early is vital to the process. It helps to understand the emotion and theme they are looking for and focus on “humanizing” the design to fit accordingly.

Important to note: Carrying out these designs doesn’t always mean filling your space with exclusively high-end pieces. Consider matching high and low priced items to unify your space and successfully manage your budget.

For specific examples and detailed insights on the creative process, please check out the full video above.

Chairish would like to thank Gil Melott for presenting this masterclass and sharing his expertise, process, and helpful insights.

About Gil Melott

Gil Melott, principal owner of Studio 6F and founder of Gil Melott BESPOKE has always been a storyteller. He has been recognized for an unapologetic approach to seamlessly blending disparate textures and periods into a well-curated story for luxury homes and public spaces.

Melott has served in c-level executive roles in private and public companies. he's worked as an art director for a global advertising agency and as an advisor for key product development and ideation companies. he has also started three creative lifestyle companies, filtered through the lens of art, music and fashion.

He is a self-described “schizophrenic specialist and social anthropologist”. With Studio 6F he wanted to create a business that allowed him to be a connoisseur - with the eye of a decorator, the analytical skills of a CPA, the logistical skills of a general, the grit of an entrepreneur, and the diplomatic finesse of a Presbyterian minister.