Article from ADPro by Stephanie Sporn

Production schedules continue to be in flux, but professionals have found a range of solutions.

One year into the pandemic, interior designers have had no choice but to master the art of embracing change. With on-and-off international shutdowns and delayed production and shipping schedules, project timelines are constantly in flux. But the uncertainty has led many in the industry to come up with hacks to circumvent sluggish lead times and keep their clients happy. Here, 10 professionals discuss their experiences and key takeaways from navigating these new challenges.

For Alex Papachristidis, manufacturing issues built up during the pandemic. While preexisting orders still needed to be filled, the home decor market was booming due to a wave of quarantined individuals seeking home improvement. Beyond consequential delays, Papachristidis had several custom orders come in entirely wrong, but thankfully, he found there was a collective understanding between clients and the design community. “You have to realize that as important as all this is, it’s not life-threatening. Nobody’s dying—this is decorating,” the New York–based designer tells AD PRO.

EMartin Brudnizki, who has studios in London and New York, says that most of the issues his firm has experienced revolve around fabrics: “Many mills had to reduce their workforce and comply with local rules in the workplace. But we always factor in quite a conservative lead time for our projects to ensure we have time to prototype.” New York–based designer Robert Stilin, meanwhile, recommends accounting for potential delays from the get-go. “If a lead time says six to eight weeks, add a few weeks or months to pad your schedule,” he says. “It is all about planning and not putting things off.”

Designers agree that in any instance, managing expectations and being fully transparent are paramount. Chicago-based Tom Stringer, for example, warns clients to be prepared to substitute their desired purchases for similar products, in the case of indefinite delays. Penny Drue Baird of Dessins in New York, too, explains to her clientele how “delivery is a fluid situation.” To reduce stress, Baird has relied heavily on vendors with whom she already had strong relationships.

Speaking as both a retailer and a designer, Kathy Kuo adds that being in constant communication with these trusted vendors is also essential. “We make sure we’re up to date with all stock and shipping changes so we can pivot as needed in real time,” says Kuo, adding that she has been “more intentional than ever with where [she] sources pieces,” such as by identifying smaller artisans through Instagram to commission unique pieces in a timely fashion.

Careful planning has also helped Philadelphia-based Marguerite Rodgers navigate these uncertain times. “We never stopped ordering for our projects, but we did become more cautious and narrowed the vendors down to those we knew were financially stable,” she tells AD PRO. Similarly, Memphis-based Sean Anderson actively sought local vendors who had fewer steps in their production processes and would work directly with him to meet deadlines. For further security, Rodgers only took on custom work her team could oversee in person, and to better manage expectations, she added clauses to her proposals stating that the firm is not responsible for project delays due to lead time issues.

Vintage, custom, catalog, and local are the four words that designers repeatedly used to explain their solutions for clients requesting quick-turnaround projects. When a couple asked Papachristidis to complete their New York pied-à-terre in three months this past year, he prioritized a few custom-made pieces with his upholsterer, and everything else was selected from retail and auction catalogs. When tasked with designing a 10-room Connecticut home in 60 days, Kuo built the entire concept around in-stock and quick-ship pieces only.

Nashville’s Roger Higgins makes the case for shopping vintage. “Even if antiques aren’t necessarily your cup of tea, you can unearth some amazing finds on the secondary market,” he tells AD PRO. Both he and Birmingham, Alabama–based Dana Wolter believe that reupholstering or repurposing vintage pieces provides the opportunity to create something unexpected and unique without worrying about lead times.

“Because of COVID, we have been forced to redirect most of the purchasing we’re doing to domestic sources,” says Stringer, whose business has redoubled its efforts to buy American. “With the U.S.-based manufacturers, we are still seeing good lead times, particularly with upholstery.” Brudnizki, too, believes that shopping local is not only a great way to support the community but also to “ensure the project is contextual,” as he puts it.

In spite of the painstaking efforts he and other designers have made to keep projects on track during the pandemic, Papachristidis reminds us that great design, after all, was never made in haste. “It’s not like we’re in a business where things took two days, and now they’re taking three months,” he says. “Most sophisticated clients understand that to get beautiful things, it doesn’t happen overnight.”

How the Design Industry Is Dealing with Ongoing Lead Time Issues