We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shermetre Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shermetre below.
Shermetre , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Interior Design excites me in every way. Learning about new products, colors and textures help keep my creativity alive. There are several platforms I use to stay
submerge in the world of interior design. For example: I frequently visit the Dallas
Market Center, attend industry leaders’ luncheons, showrooms, and special hosted
events. Whenever I travel domestically or abroad, I always make an effort to visit the
local design district.
I continue to keeps my ideas sharpen and on the cutting edge by reading credible
industry publications administered by High Point Market, the National Kitchen and
Bath Association, Houzz annual Kitchen and Bathroom Trend Study and completing
continuous design education courses through Texas Christian University. Being a
member of ART, The Creative Home Furnishings Network and the Black Interior
Designers DFW Group, allows me the peer-to-peer collaboration and advancement opportunities.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My design business started three years ago and since then my life has not been the same. The joy of creating affordable, sustainable spaces for our clients is a feeling that
is indescribable. I have found my calling and purpose in life through interior design.
God comes first, family second and interior design is everything else.
At Anntraves Interior Design, we believe everyone deserves to live in a beautiful
home that reflects their personal style, what is important to them and the way they
choose to live. Our motto is: “It is Your Home, Your Way but Intensified!” Our
clients do not have to have an elaborate budget to work with us. We offer flexible
design packages to fit most budgets.
We are thrilled to showcase our new A La Carte Interior Design package. This
package is perfect for ad hoc design questions, research and sourcing. For example, if
a client has already started their project and need an expert’s insight on 2-4 tasks, we
are available. Our team would jump right in and provide that specific task as assigned.
Many of our clients have found the A La Carte Interior Design package to be easily accessible along with a short-term commitment.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three intangible skills that has been meaningful in my design journey is the ability to read the room, have an eye for design, and being extremely organized.
For many of my clients, this is their first time hiring a designer and they do not always
know what to expect. Since the process is new to them, making final decision can be
challenging and sometimes leaves the client an indecisive mood. That is where I come
in to help my client make those definitive decisions. Engagement and communication
are necessary to create a healthy designer-client relationship. With the process being
fairly new to the client, final décor selections are not always articulated clearly. As a
designer, I have to read the room by paying attention to my client’s body language
and non-verbal expression to ensure the client is comfortable with their decision.
In the classroom and outside of the classroom is a two-dimensional concept. Having
an eye for design and the ability to collectively put items together harmoniously
cannot be taught 100% in the classroom. That skill is a gift and I like to think of it as a
blessing.
Project management and organization skills cannot be overlooked. As a daily planner,
I have to plan for the foreseen and unforeseen project deliverables. For each project, I
prepare a schedule outlining the tasks and deliverable deadlines. It’s my role to make
sure the time sensitive deliverables are met by all parties to avoid project delays.
In Real Estate, its location, location and location. In Design, it’s the ability to read the room, have an eye for design, and being organized.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My current challenge is working with clients who are not computer savvy. The majority of the design development is done digitally: Mood boards, 3D Rendering
and Room Planner. When the design project kicks off, each client has a virtual portal
account created tailored to the project. If the client is not comfortable navigating
through the computer, I have to be creative to sustain the overall client experience.
I have been able to overcome this challenge by going back to the basics. Producing
handouts and flat-lays show to the finishes and texture. Flat-lays are a number of
design items arranged on a flat surface to demonstrate the correlations between each
item. This process evaluates the images by visual presentation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anntravesdesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anntraves_interior_design/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shermetre
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnntravesDesign
- Other: HOUZZ: https://www.houzz.com/pro/anntraves-design/anntraves-interior-design
Image Credits
Headshot Photographer: Jillian Sanders IG: @missbrowneyes82 Project Photos: Top Down Photograph
