first time hiring interior decorator-are my expectations wrong?

14 years ago

Or at least unrealistic?

We had an interior decorator recommended by our contractor come over to talk with us. She spent about and hour and half and we went over what we wanted, what style we envisioned, and what colors we liked. It's basically a family room and we need help with furniture placement, lighting, fireplace ideas etc. Right now there is nothing there so we are starting with a blank canvas. I thought we hit if off so after the free consultation we signed a contract to pay her an hourly rate of $100. She was going to pull some ideas together and get back to us.

She came over yesterday with one color palette (carpet, stone, laminate) and a couple of computer generated pics of a couch in front of a TV. During the conversation it was very hard to get much out of her for ideas. I kept saying what about this or that and totally felt like I had to lead her and suggest ideas. And I didn't like the color palette. It doesn't flow (IMO) with the rest of the house which was a requirement. Maybe she meant it to be complementary but it's not me. So after another hour and half I told her what I needed in terms of ideas and colors.

What do you expect after meeting with a designer twice? We are on the third meeting now and I feel like are at square one even though shes put in a several hours. Should I call it quits and try to find someone else? The thing is that I have seen her work and really liked it.......I just feel like I'm doing all the suggesting and she's not coming up with anything new, or even adding anything.

Featured Answer

jan_in_wisconsin

14 years ago

Dragon Fly,

I'm sorry to hear your designer is not meeting your expectations.

We hired an interior designer for the first time when we built our home a couple of years ago, and the experience was a disaster.

I had looked her up online and in the yellow pages, which was probably my first mistake. The information I found indicated that she had a showroom downtown, but when I called her, she asked me to come to her home. She then proceeded to show me how she had decorated her own home. Her style (contemporary/abstract/modern) is the complete opposite of mine (more of the traditional/new country/antique) . . . you get the idea. I shared my concern right away that her personal preferences were much different than mine, but she minimized this by showing me her credentials and emphasizing that a good designer can work with any style. She also had us sign a contract for $100 per hour.

She came with us to choose flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc., and the worst part was her arrogant attitude. She insulted every businessperson we came into contact with, basically telling them that their suggestions and ideas were "bad", "cheap", "ugly", whatever. She told our cabinetry company that one of their showroom cabinet models looked "unfinished" and that if we chose that option, all of our visitors would think we had "run out of money before finishing construction". I shared with her that I like antiques and quality antique reproduction furniture, and she told me that she'd never choose "that kind of dented up furniture".

She took over and started making decisions for us, and of course, they were contemporary style choices. To make a long story short, we spent $800 for her to bully everybody and make our design selection experience miserable. We ended up going back to each of the contractors and personally apologizing for her rude behavior, and we also changed to all different choices than she recommended.

In hindsight, it was a terrible fit, and I wish we hadn't wasted the money on her. If I could do it over again, I would have dumped her sooner for a better designer.

I'm sharing this because if you do not feel comfortable with your current designer, you may be better off going in another direction before you waste too much time and money.

In the end, we sought out design advice from the professional contractors we worked with, including the cabinetry company (recommended the gorgeous black and cream cabinetry in our kitchen), our painter (chose many of the warm colors I love), Ethan Allen's free designers (where we bought our dining set), the people in this forum (kitchen window treatment and backsplash art ideas), etc. I'm so glad we didn't allow this designer to override our preferences.

Trust your instincts. I hope it all works out for you.

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Comments (8)

palimpsest
14 years ago
I would probably look for someone else, because you will have an ongoing relationship with a designer during the project and it sounds like the fit is not good.
patty_cakes
14 years ago
IMO, she's not listening to you, or you're making suggestions she's thought of, but now can't divulge cause she'll come off as not having heard you. It's a shame you didn't tell her up front you've seen some of her ideas and like her work~it may have broken the ice that seems to have formed over your relationship.

If I were the ID, my first question would have been 'what are your expectations and hope to accomplish'? With that, she would know your style, colors, furnishings needed to purchase, window treatments, accessories, etc.

I think you need a fresh start with someone new, sorry.
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meg711
14 years ago
My own experience with an interior designer is probably extreme so I won't bore you with the details. All I can say is that I wish that I had listened to my gut which was telling me--after my designer's first presentation--that it was not going to be a good relationship. If you can't tell her now about your concerns, then I'd move on.
seww
14 years ago
Tell her you're going to try to do it yourself and we will help you here!
Doesn't sound as though she was listening to you.
Sue
patty_cakes
14 years ago
If you want to work on line with someone, I can recommend a GA gal who does wonderful work. Here's her blog, which is a public website. I think she's amazing!!

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/
igloochic
14 years ago
Quick answer, it sounds like a bad fit.

Slow answer, for the next person, it sounds like you need to be sure what you want and to be sure they understand what you want from them. I'm working on this now actually...I need to hire a designer for some consult work but the key to it working is for me to know what I want of him. The poor guy could work his arse off and not even be focused on what I want from him if I can't define that myself. I share that with you because it's important to the relationship with a designer that you both know what you're looking for :) that can evolve by the way. I worked with a great gal years ago first for a basic purchase that was only available through her, then on a consulting basis to help me with some of my crazier ideas :) I moved it up because I really liked how we worked on that basic piece initially...it was obvious that she could listen, and wasn't afraid to tell me I was wrong :) (cuz sometimes I am heh heh).

I'd interview a few on your own...look at credentials by the way, there is a difference beetween a designer and a decorator (anyone can hang their shingle out and call themselves an interior decorator in most parts if not all of the country). After an interview, just a chat about expectations, mull it over and decide which one feels good...if none, try someone else, then elevate the relationship to an actual project.

I'm still working on my defination of what I want...it isn't always easy :) but really I think it's the key to it working well on both sides!
dragon_fly
Original Author
14 years ago
I know that we threw a lot at her during her first visit.But I think we were clear with where to start, and I think she understood that. I think we have a friendly relationship-no ice at all. I just felt like I had to "pull" anything out of her by making suggestions, and asking what about this or that. I guess I thought that was her part, to present her ideas to us, not the other way around!

first time hiring interior decorator-are my expectations wrong?

jan_in_wisconsin

Comments (8)

palimpsest

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first time hiring interior decorator-are my expectations wrong?

jan_in_wisconsin

Comments (8)

palimpsest

patty_cakes

Related Discussions

meg711

seww

patty_cakes

igloochic

dragon_flyOriginal Author

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dragon_fly
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