Sarah Crawford and Mary Daust
As with any other aspect of resort management, interior design begins with a plan, said Mary Daust, vice president and director of design at Hospitality Resources and Design. “We’ll come to your property or meet with you over the phone and discuss what you’re looking to do,” she explained. “Then we’ll strategically make a plan for everything.”
The plan might be simple, or complex and extensive. It will include all of the prices and inventory. “And then we work closely with the board members and the property managers to help you facilitate that plan,” Daust said.
The plan has to stay fluid because prices and lead times are changing, noted Sarah Crawford, Hospitality Resources and Design’s chief financial officer. “The idea really is the planning element,” she said. “We can put together a digital rendering with all of the options that you like, so you have an overall picture of where you’re going, a road map, and then as you phase it in how to get there so it becomes a cohesive, beautiful space.”
Daust emphasized the need to specify commercial rather than residential products in the plan.
“There is a very large difference. It’s testing, fire-rating, care and maintenance, durability,” she said. “There’s a lot of fabric and carpet technology, so when you get to that point, make sure you’re using a commercial design firm.”
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