We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative CAROL FAAN ("CF").

Carol Faan has provided impeccable interior design services to her clients for over two decades in a wide range of projects including: private residences, condominium lobbies and display suites, restaurants, offices, stores and monastery. In recent years, Carol has shifted her concentration mainly to residential design. Although her clientele has changed, Carol has always held true to her design philosophy. "Successful interior design is a blend of interior elements which serve aesthetic, and functional purposes that reflect your personality, and enhance your lifestyle. Each project is considered to be unique. I work hard to dialogue with the client to create holistic and individual concepts.” Carol is known for creating "Timeless Designs of different styles": trends come and go but Carol's aim is to create bespoke, classic, fashion forward, and functional designs that are able to stand the test of time. To this end, Carol’s designs reflect her consummate attention to the most minute of details, as well as her refined sensibility in the use of materials. Carol Faan was educated at the Kwantlen polytechnic university in Vancouver. In 2010 she earned the designation of Registered Interior Designer (RID).

CAROL FAAN Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by CAROL FAAN.

Designer Interview of CAROL FAAN:

DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

CF : As a child, I always remembered being interested in the arts and the feeling that comes with expressing my creative side. Interior design aligned with all of my interests. To be honest, I didn't really know what to do after high school, I heard about the term "Interior design" through an uncle and when I saw that Kwantlen Polytechnic University offered a diploma program in Interior Design, I decided to attend an orientation session. I found the program description interesting. I also felt that the process of preparing for my entrance portfolio to be quite fun (i.e.- art classes, pottery, sketching, drafting, jewelry design, painting).

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

CF : Successful interior design is a blend of interior elements which serve aesthetic and functional purposes that reflect your personality, and enhance your lifestyle. Each project is considered to be unique. I work hard to dialogue with the client to create holistic and individual concepts.

DI: What is "design" for you?

CF : I am flexible in my design style. I strive to design what suits the client's taste and adapt to their preferences. I love the excitement that comes with doing something novel and different, ideally on every project.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

CF : Thrangu Monastery in Richmond B.C. was definitely one of the most unique, and as a result, most exciting. It was a once in a life time opportunity to design a Monastery. I had to learn about a culture, style, and a design sense that was completely foreign to me. When the project was completed the clients were extremely satisfied with my design. I believe that my most unique designs are all centered on a coherence in design philosophy, overall style, as well as a feeling and atmosphere.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

CF : I find inspiration in the details of my everyday environment. My mind can a bit of a depository of interesting design elements that I find in my immediate surroundings, these ideas somehow find their way into my projects as I sit to conceptualize, and consider how to accomplish the objectives of the project. I find that I am most creative when I am able to capture those moments of inspiration that comes when a fresh idea finds its way into my consciousness, and evolve these raw ideas into a workable form.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

CF : I enjoy the drafting process of designing. I feel that the flow of drafting assists me to visualize the virtual construction, and implementation of my initial design. This process is immensely helpful in “evolving” the design, at times, the end result of this process does not resemble my initial designs at all.

DI: What makes a design successful?

CF : Successful interior design is a blend of interior elements which serve aesthetic, functional purposes that reflect your personality, and enhance your lifestyle.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

CF : I believe that good design is ultimately about cohesion, and finesse. In less nebulous terms timeless design is as much about knowing when to hold back the details than endlessly adding more, at times, less is, really more. Good design serves a delicate balance of aesthetics, and function.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

CF : I pay attention to every aspect of the environment around me. Sometimes it can be from fashion, from movie sets, the natural world - flowers, botanicals, art - even window displays at the mall.

DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?

CF : Timeless Designs of different styles.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

CF : I make sure to prioritize my clients needs and wants - I mean that I actually spend time with them to fully understand as much as possible. My goal is to help my clients create a home that serves them functionally and aesthetically in every way possible. I also devote a lot of time and effort in communicating with all parties involved in the project in order to ensure that the design philosophy is implemented as envisioned. It’s also integral for me that my clients can expect designs that can pass the test of time, and will not feel "dated" or "passé" in a few years.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

CF : What is your favourite thing about your career? - That I get to have a chance to work on projects of diverse styles. I am able to design a home that suit my client's lifestyle, wants and needs. I get a lot out of seeing my clients thrilled with the outcome - I get a great sense of accomplishment from engaging in the creative process in a project from start to finish.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

CF : Having the flexibility to implement a variety of styles according to my expertise and skill - I am not constrained by any one particular style. In each project being able to realize my design vision into a physical final product is notable for me.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

CF : I hope to continue to have the opportunity to work on projects of different styles and within that goal I would like to collaborate with an architect from the very beginning of a project - where we can design the project from the inside in and inside out!

DI: How can people contact you?

CF : carolfaan@shawbiz.ca

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

CF : Something interesting that not many people know about - That I have a irreverent and dark sense of humour. I always want to go against the grain, what is common or "trendy"- this is likely what allows me the creative vision that I have. I aim to make sure that my client’s vision will outlive any trends AND keep them happy for as many years to come as possible.