We recently interviewed our resident interior designer Irwin Weiner ASID, and got a bit more insight into how interior designers think. We also wanted to glean some tips for homeowners who want to undertake a decorating project, either on their own or with a professional decorator.

Design2Share: What makes a particular design last? What ensures longevity, and can you give us some examples?

Irwin: Lasting design is a sense of the unexpected combined with a reference to what we're familiar with already. Taking classical architecture and using it for day-to-day use like Palladio used in his 15th century villas which brought in grand-scale architecture for residential use created great style. As Diana Vreeland said, "You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It's a way of life . . ."

D2S: Is there a classic - a staple - that is always a part of your design . . . sort of a signature? What is it and what enables it to work in any environment?

Irwin: Balance. Like French cuisine has a balance of acid and oil and Chinese cuisine has a balance of sweet and sour, interiors need to be balanced. Colors . . . hot and cold/light and dark. Textures . . . smooth and rough/shiny and matte. Also included in this balancing act are items of great interest and detail versus items that are plain and simple. These elements create an interior that is harmoniously balanced.

D2S: How has the onslaught of social media outlets and "design on the web" affected the world of design - for you personally, or in general? Do you see lasting change in design from this movement to new media?

Irwin: New media adds a democratizing aspect to the world of interior design. Just as video on the web makes it possible for everyone to film and air their opinions, decorating web sites and blogs give every homemaker the potential to air her or his opinions about what is good design, what products are beautiful, and what they cost. Four years ago, I recognized that design on the web was a way for me to share my observations about residential design, hence creating the Design2Share site. It has been gratifying to honor good home design, excellent resources, and fellow professionals through this platform. However, the one thing that the web cannot present is the intelligent, educated service that is integral to what interior designers provide.

D2S: There is a big reset happening in the world with people spending less and returning to basics with a focus on their home and family. How are your clients adapting to this new economic landscape? Is it business as usual, or are they cutting back? And where are they cutting back: quality, price, square footage?

Irwin: In general, it's never been "business as usual," because the business landscape has always been changing. But with that said, I've always been educating my clients to change their spending habits so that they spend their money on good value and good quality. The reason why so many of my old clients are coming back to me at this time is that I've always believed that, and this resonates for them strongly in a tough economy. I recently did a project for clients for whom I had done their apartment 12 years ago. Many of the same pieces of furniture that I sold to them at that time are still on the showroom floors today. Focusing on classic items of good quality is in essence "good value." Having a room of furniture that is less likely to date, and therefor to endure, is an investment in itself.

D2S: How would you describe your design style?

Irwin: It's relatively flexible from contemporary to traditional without being too contemporary or too traditional. It's classic, comfortable, practical, and visually stimulating. Whether I'm doing a barn renovation or a contemporary apartment on Central Park West in Manhattan, I incorporate a combination of many factors into my design solution for a particular space: existing architecture, the client's budget, my client's taste, and a shared vision between client and designer for what the space should become.

D2S: Do you see a trend in clients requesting projects with quicker deadlines? How are you changing your design strategy to accomodate their requests?

Irwin: This a great question! With the speed of the web, client's are requesting quicker interiors. I recently completed a project for a client's pied-a-terre in Manhattan where they wanted the interior completed within three months. Ninety percent of the project was purchased from Internet-based resources. The remaining 10% was paint and window treatments. I was able to do this project on a flat-fee basis whereby the client ordered the Internet items directly. They were able to benefit from the frequent flyer mileage with their credit card use and the speed of ordering; I was able to benefit by not having to follow up on the orders and their overall expedition. Further, the client felt more comfortable knowing that I was not selling them something at a particular price to gain more commission. This encouraged them to spend relatively freely. The outcome was terrific, and my office spent much less time on this project.

D2S: What has been your favorite recent project and why?

Irwin: I recently completed a construction-through-decorating home project in Scarsdale, New York, on the grounds of the former Harry Winston estate. My clients, collectors of contemporary glass sculpture, asked me to base the design inspired on a large Dale Chihuly chandelier in their entry foyer. Their love of bright color and art deco created a vibrant interior that is whimsical, classic, and fresh.

D2S: What is your method for combining antiques and new pieces together?

Irwin: Look at each piece out of its context. In other words, see a piece for its pure design. Don't consider an antique's "oldness" or a contemporary piece's "newness." See a piece purely for its sense of shape, design, quality materials, and style. Looking at a piece of furniture in the same way as one looks at a piece of sculpture gives one the freedom to use such a piece purely from its aesthetic point. Traditionally, Asian antiques have been used equally well with French antiques, English antiques, and contemporary furniture. The simple lines of Asian antiques make them a classic "no-brainer" in an eclectic interior. The trick is to apply similar rules to more unusual pieces.