“Any individual component is available to the client, from a simple stone or tile floor to a complete reworking of a home,” says Jim Albert, owner of Pure Custom. Albert’s business is a design studio with an emphasis on architectural specialties and finish work, including custom cabinetry, woodwork, tile and stone, as well as appliance and fixture specifications.
What’s the first thing you discuss with a client?
I begin by discussing aesthetics with them in depth. I am looking for the basics of what makes them tick artistically –– the most essential ideas of beauty and style that they hold. … My goal is to cut through outside influences and arrive at something that comes from within the client and out into the world, not the other way around. Once I have a sense for what they find attractive, I make a point of presenting ideas in line with their aesthetics that may not have been obvious to them. A great deal of effort goes into steering clients away from trendy styles or products and toward something that is truly their own.
