Posted on January 11th,
2010
by John Kirchner
“Incorporating design elements from other people’s homes into your own.” That’s one super-fancy way of saying “stealing ideas from your friends and family.” Before we dive into a full-throated breakdown of how you can engage in such risky behavior, let’s discuss the ethics of it.
For all intents and purposes what we’re endorsing is stealing – of a sort. We are about to tell you to walk into the home of a casual acquaintance and rip off a feature that they likely paid someone handsomely to create. Or even worse, something to which the homeowners committed their own blood, sweat and tears to create.
And we’re telling you to walk in and make it your own.
Ethically challenging? Maybe (but it’s easier to swallow if you call it “inspiration” rather than “plagiarism”). Aesthetically important? Absolutely! And here’s some proof that it’s a perfectly legitimate practice.
When you’re ready to borrow some design inspiration, consider:
How close are you to your target?
Is this a family member? A close friend? The parent of one of your kid’s schoolmates? A valued customer? Your neighbor? This is the most important factor in determining how far you should be willing to go in “absorbing” some of their design ideas into your own abode. If you’re dealing with a family member, you may be able to take some greater liberties with your “incorporating.” As they say in the design business, blood is thicker than water treatments, so go ahead and re-create your cousin’s fountain.
If you’re dealing with a friend you should ask yourself how often they’ll be visiting you. Are they frequent guests? The road becomes a little slipperier because chances are you won’t be able to cover up your copycat work forever. Carefully consider the relationship and the violation of trust you’re about the engage in.
Be discreet.
Considering the stakes (a failed relationship and/or the aesthetic quality of your home), you need to be thorough in your research while operating under the radar. Whipping out a camera or a drawing pad isn’t recommended, unless you’re armed with a really, really solid fib. You not only have to be able to misrepresent your near-term intentions, but you also don’t want to create a suspicion that would cause your victim to be on the lookout next time they visit your home.
If you’re able, there are any number of small cameras and recording devices you could employ to get a thorough rendering of your soon-to-be masterpiece without giving the impression that you’re up to something. Other things to avoid include asking for left-over materials, staring, and trying to remove fixtures and swatches during your stay.
Be prepared for the fallout.
Inevitably the day will come when your victim strolls through your home and sees something familiar. When that day arrives, will you be ready? Your response depends on your level of coolness. Once you’re accused, will you stutter and stammer your way into a guilty plea? Or can you look your friend or family member in the eye and say with all sincerity, “I don’t see the resemblance”?
It is at this moment you’ll seal your fate. Make no mistake: You’re guilty of design larceny. But the level of guilt will be determined by your victim, and if you are properly prepared to convince them otherwise, you might be able to beat the rap, enjoy your newly designed home and maintain some semblance of a friendship.
Following these three simple rules will allow you to beautify your home while maintaining a solid relationship with your friends and family. Keeping a clean conscience is a different story!
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