Hiring an Interior Designer - how? process? costs? what to expect
zen4d
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
patty_cakes
10 years agosas95
10 years agoRelated Discussions
How to hire a designer??
Comments (7)I am not an interior designer but I work with many highly talented and notable ones in the NY/CT area. And word of mouth is definately the norm here. If you have a friend or neighbor (whose interior you like) that may be a start. And go to their websites, if they have one, to get a sense of their style, learn thir credentials. For most, they offer a free initial consultation, sometimes for the first hour, sometimes they treat it like an interview and don't time the meeting. Here is where you will find out ther pay structures, like do they charge by the hour, or whatever. How will they work out a budget for you, Ask about their sub-contractors; painters, upholsterers, etc... Google "decorators" in your area and check out those websites or call them and see how they work. A Showhouse or House Tour are also good ways to see their work and actually meet them. There is no right or wrong way to find an interior designer (diff. from an interior decorator). I think sometimes it's just a gut feeling. In my business it's almost all word-of-mouth, so if there is a good designer in your area and you ask around, you'll probably find them. And finally, do not mention the inheritance......See MoreDid you hire an interior designer with your new build?
Comments (35)If you're concerned with cost you don't have to hire the designer to help with everything. For example, you could hire one to help with choosing the overall look of the home such as color palette for creating flow, style of major finishes such as trim and door style, etc. Another option to use the designer for help key areas such as the kitchen. We've used a designer for some spaces in our current home (master bedroom and bath and sitting room) but some rooms we've handled ourselves (powder room, kids' bedrooms, guest bedroom and playroom) because we were confident that we knew what to do in them. When we put our house on the market we also consulted with a designer about a few minor issues such as what neutral color we should paint the rooms upstairs and which areas of the house were most in need of updating and how. As for doing the actual staging and updating work, we did it ourselves. Keep in mind that there are different payment methods for designers. Some charge per hour and some charge a percentage on top of what they source for you. Also, find out how and what they charge you for. For example, some charge for shopping for you even if they are shopping for multiple clients at once....See MoreHiring a Interior designer
Comments (3)I've used designers in the past, and recently hired a designer to help with some of the interior design decisions on a house we will be building. Our architect gave us a few recommendations, and I looked at portfolios here on Houzz as well. We ended up interviewing four designers and chose the person who we felt most comfortable with. She's fun, easy-going and is very conscious of our budget and how to get the most "bang for the buck." In fact, we met with her recently to sort through which of our existing furniture will be repurposed for the new house (some "as is" and some reupholstered/refinished). She will be helping us with color schemes, selecting new furniture, lighting, and some accessories. Ask around for recommendations, interview and look at portfolios, and go with someone you think would be enjoyable to work with. The process should be collaborative; don't let your designer talk you into anything that you aren't comfortable with. On the other hand, be open to ideas he/she brings to the table that you hadn't considered; the creativity and experience a good designer brings to the project will result in a home you love to live in!...See MoreQuestions to ask before hiring an interior designer
Comments (6)If you are OK at letting them do their process, and getting to know your needs and style, and letting them create the design whole first? That’s when this can work. You expecting them to jump in and do A or B choices without the process? Nope. There are 40 hours minimum in any standard room project before product selections even start to happen. A whole home project has more. Space plans are first. Then the conceptual. Then the specific. If you are expecting specific product selections to happen before all the rest, then your expectations are backwards. You can’t make selections without the framework that controls the selections being established. Designers will want to do way more discovery than viewing a few mood boards in order to give appropriate advice. You’re going to get frustrated because there’s not going to be that instantaneous snap ability to say A or B on choices that work for you, and the specific home, without that discovery. Designers are also about the big picture, and trying to whittle that process down to a simplistic A or B without first developing that wholistic whole house design is going to yield much poorer results than you think. Trying to make that happen is like cutting a section out of a paint deck and saying that 98% can’t even be considered. You want wings and beauty, but you’re hobbling them like a plough horse to not let them work how they work. The type of consulting arrangement that you want racks up the hours, yields worse results, and is very frustrating for the designer and the homeowner. Only an inexperienced designer would consider it. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze to the experienced designer....See Morezen4d
10 years agopatty_cakes
10 years agozen4d
10 years ago
Related Stories
MOST POPULAR11 Things to Expect With Your Remodel
Prepare yourself. Knowing what lies ahead during renovations can save your nerves and smooth the process
Full StoryPAINTINGHow to Hire a Painter to Do Your Interiors
Here’s what to know about hiring a painting contractor and what to expect during the job
Full StoryMOST POPULARTrend Watch: 13 Kitchen Looks Expected to Be Big in 2015
3 designers share their thoughts on what looks, finishes and design elements will be on trend in the year ahead
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESDecorating 101: Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of decorating alone and bringing in skilled help
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGN14 Bathroom Design Ideas Expected to Be Big in 2015
Award-winning designers reveal the bathroom features they believe will emerge or stay strong in the years ahead
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSGet the Upholstery Work You Expect: 10 Details to Discuss
Avoid disappointment and unexpected costs by going over these key areas with your upholsterer before work begins
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow Much Does a Kitchen Makeover Cost?
See what upgrades you can expect in 3 budget ranges, from basic swap-outs to full-on overhauls
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESBathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Learn what features to expect for $3,000 to $100,000-plus, to help you plan your bathroom remodel
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS6 Reasons to Hire a Home Design Professional
Doing a construction project without an architect, a designer or a design-build pro can be a missed opportunity
Full StoryINSIDE HOUZZHouzz Survey: See the Latest Benchmarks on Remodeling Costs and More
The annual Houzz & Home survey reveals what you can expect to pay for a renovation project and how long it may take
Full Story
User