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Chit Chat is your chance to mix 'n mingle virtually with movers and shakers in the Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, and Entertainment industries.
This month's Chit Chat guest is the extremely talented Interior Designer, Meg Kalhammer. Meg is the owner of L.A.-based MLK Studio and a FIDM grad
 
1. What do you love most about your job?
 
  MEG: what I love most about my job is having the freedom to create unique environments, tailored specifically to each client. It is always a challenge to come up with a design that truly reflects the personality of the client, yet still has my signature style. I also love to see the transformation of a space, which comes about during a renovation, as opposed to new construction.  
 
 
2. What inspires you?
 
  MEG: I am always inspired by good design, whether it is architecture, interior design, a car, a kitchen appliance, or an article of clothing. Traveling is also a huge source of inspiration for me.  
 
 
3. Tell us about an exciting current project and what challenges it brings.
 
  MEG: I am in the beginning phases of a very large residential new construction project, with clients who are very design savvy.  This makes my work much more challenging, as they are not as easy to please as other clients!  Also, the sheer size of the project (10,000 square feet) is a challenge in itself.  
 
 
4. Is there a particular approach to interior design that you feel is uniquely yours?
 
  MEG:  As far as how I approach interior design, I do have modern tendencies and prefer clean lines.  First and foremost, I study the architecture and choose materials/design the kitchen and bathrooms to be in alignment with the architecture.  From there, the approach is also to make the furniture feel like an integral part of the building design.  
 
 

5. What is one way that you help a client to express what it is they really want? How important are communication skills in your work?
 
  MEG: Communication in this field is very important--because often clients cannot communicate what they are imagining, or cannot imagine what they want. So to the 2nd part of the question, I have to come up with a questionnaire for the client, in order to get them to truly think about what they like, how they live, etc. in order to get a starting point for the design.  Most of the time, however, they don't really even know what they want until you present them with a scheme that is complete enough for them to grasp.  It is really sort of like a guessing game for the designer!  
 
 
6. Do you have a favorite type of project? If so, describe it.
 
  MEG: My favorite type of project is any one that involves a client open to learning and trying new things, and not one that is stuck in any way of thinking.  
 
 

7. What advice would you give a high school student who is interested in an Interior Design career?

 
  MEG: my advice to a high school student who is interested in an ID (Interior Design) career is to get into an excellent ID program.  No potential client has ever asked me whether or not I have a degree in ID, and I know there is the rumor out there that interior design is innate and does not need to be learned, but the skills need to be there.  These days to be respected within the architecture/design community one must learn how to do things in a professional way.  
 
 
8. What were some important lessons you learned while at FIDM that are helping you in your current work?
 
  MEG: In general, I learned that professional presentation is everything.  I also learned a lot from all of the teachers, who were all in professional practice themselves.  
 
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