The Waiting Game

How do interior decorators do it? Patience, patience and more patience! I am coming to the realization that in the decorating business, everything is slowed down. It is almost as if time stops. An idea is born when you start thinking about changing a thing or two in, say, your dining room or when you are approached by someone in need of advice. Then, you go to the furniture or (in my case) the fabric store, where you choose a few patterns and order samples of your favourite ones. 8 WEEKS LATER, you are still waiting on some of them. Where are they? How come it takes sooooo long?! Finally, they arrive. You look, you think, you choose. Great! You are ready to order your new pattern. 8 WEEKS LATER, they arrive (if you are lucky, sometimes longer...). The next step is to take your piece of furniture and your fabric to the upholsterer. 8 WEEKS LATER, they are ready to take home. They may tell you 4 to 6 weeks but don't listen to them. It's always at least 8.

During the process of this waiting game, you are thinking about other colours and items that could use a facelift in you dining room but really, you would like your chairs to be in the room in order to visualize the entire space as it will be. Patience! In a world where you can get anything, and I really mean anything delivered from Amazon or any other online monster in 24 hours or less, why the hell has the decorating world not caught up?! This is 2010! How come it takes sooooo long?!?!

Four years ago, I had a couch custom made. I waited for it for what felt like a year. It wasn't quite that long but it was long enough that I went into the store one day and started yelling at the poor salesman like a crazy person. (I'm sorry Derek from Yaletown Sofa, wherever you are....!) As it turned out, the couch was ready but the fabric was backordered. Of course...

I can't imagine working in one of these stores for a living, having to apologize to every impatient customer, putting out fires here and there and also, most importantly, trying to explain to angry, puzzled clients HOW COME IT TAKES SOOOOO LONG!?!!!?!! If one day, I get an honest answer from someone, I will let you know.