If there is a demand for antiques and decorative arts, their intrinsic value and functionality has to be determined by the appropriate buyer.  That buyer must have two essential ingredients in order to make a purchase, money (obviously) and knowledge.

In today’s affluent society, the discretionary ability to spend money on these types of items is determined by the intersection of knowledge and one’s lifestyle. These factors are the fundamental dynamic as to how best to attain the desired goal of living in a comfortable and stimulating home or office environment.  People today have limited time as a luxury resource; it is something that money just can’t buy more than the 24 hours in a day.  That is were a professional can make up the difference.  

Whether it is a decorator or an art consultant, it is their expertise and knowledge to interpret and congeal what one thinks is appropriate for ones lifestyle that saves time and potential mistakes. The professional decorator has been around since the first castles were designed and in the 20th Century, has become a recognized skilled practitioner in the art of lifestyle interpretation.  What is most ironic, those with the most time and money rely on these consultants.  The wealthy know that it is cheaper to spend a bit more on the right advice than take a chance on their amateur skills.

Like a good lawyer, doctor, or accountant, the service of a professional decorator/art consultant requires experience, knowledge, and an interpersonal skill that usually is developed over time.  But there is one overriding quality that can make the relationship work, a shared passion about the goal.  Whether it is collector, consultant, or client, if there is no passion about attaining focused goals, then the whole effort will become frustrating and fail to accomplish its objective. But, when it works the excitement and enthusiasm of a purchase can have a cathartic effect.