Ballard Designs - staggering shipping costs. promo codes?
marisany
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
marisany
15 years agoUser
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Is it stupid to pay this interior designer??
Comments (48)Store designers are nothing but furniture sales people.The are not required to have amazing portfolios, or licenses. They do not have the knowledge, or experience of independents, and are only allowed to sell from manufacturer's approved by the store owners. They are also on a minimum commission sales base, so they will push you as fast and hard as they can to make the sale to keep their jobs and make their quotas. Therefore, your choices will be very limited AND not done by qualified, independent designers. Many comments on here I suspect are from people whose homes are, er, how do I say this, NOT well appointed. If you are looking for a real upgrade, especially with children, it's an easy task for a pro. Also, we will not push inapproriate choices on you because we work for the furniture stores. We can specify anything on the market and make sure you get the choices for your project. Also, all designers are NOT created equal. Do you want a talentless hack doing the work or a real visionary designer? You get what you do (or don't) pay for like everything else in life. Two places I can tell you are a joke are Havenly and Wayfair, whose "decorators" will sell you super awful, cheap furniture and tacky accessories that will fall apart in 1 year and soak your children's home in toxic chemicals. There are no safety standards or design standards, again their goal is to load you up with as much junk as possible for the furiture companies. I work by the hour like an architect. This promotes a serious and professional partnership between clients and designers. Some stores do offer designers discounts on furniture, and I pass those on to my clients, but many stores do not offer discounting. My main goal is to create the best design possible within a given budget. It also frees me to reuse or repurpose existing items as I am not making money off the furniture and do things that "decorators" like Havenly and Wayfair can't do like making architectural or finish changes to your walls or windows. So there's some free honest advice. If your designer is the style you like, negotiate and go with them. They are pros just like a good doctor....See MoreWhat design elements do you think gave the most pop?
Comments (95)Sprengle-when I looked at the topknob website I also couldn't find the knob-but when I googled it I found it at the website below with Homeclick. THe picture is not as shiny as the real deal. http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=41383&chnl=cse&ven=googlebase&cat=Hardware%3ACabinet%20Hardware&brnd=Top%20Knobs&itm=41383M201%7CContessa%20Knob%20-%20Old%20English%2C%201-1%2F4''%20-%20M201&CAWELAID=167014875http://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=41383&chnl=cse&ven=googlebase&cat=Hardware%3ACabinet%20Hardware&brnd=Top%20Knobs&itm=41383M201%7CContessa%20Knob%20-%20Old%20English%2C%201-1%2F4''%20-%20M201&CAWELAID=167014875...See MoreTwo Questions about Ballard Design
Comments (13)I've dealt with Ballard a lot, so here's my take on it. I've never had a customer service problem. I have been very happy with the mirrors I have bought, strictly from a design perspective. The "terrific tables" and glass tops are very good to fill in, although I prefer to use my own fabrics for cloths. I have never been entirely pleased with the quality of their fabrics. They have been either stiff and clunky, or gauzy and insubstantial on more than one occasion. The colors are not as clear and pretty as I'd like, which is a mark of cheap dyes. Some of the purely decorative things are nice additions to a scheme, but be careful of things that are a little over-designed...an extra curlicue, too much trim, that sort of thing. Some of the whimsical useful things are charming, and some are a little silly. I have not bought case goods from them - I find their version of traditional forms a little heavy and awkwardly proportioned - and have heard from others that they are probably not as sturdy as they might be for the cost. So I would say this...look very carefully at the pictures in the catalogue. You can see that some of their knock-off designs are more successful than others. Lots of good designers use their things to complete a look for a fairly small price....See MoreBallard Shipping
Comments (6)If you have an Entertainment Book - There's a coupon in there - at least there was last year. I've gotten emails from them with a 20% discount code, but it's been awhile. Try googling "ballard discount codes" and see if anything pops up. I've gotten into the habit of everytime I buy something online, if I see a discount code box on the order screen, I'll go into another tab/window and search for coupon codes for that site. It's amazing how often I'll find a free shipping or 10% off coupon code....See Morem2mom
15 years agobrutuses
15 years agomarisany
15 years agoigloochic
15 years agoUser
15 years agoUser
15 years agonicoletouk
15 years agoneesie
15 years agomitchdesj
15 years agomarisany
15 years agomovin-on
15 years agobrutuses
15 years agodecorpas
15 years agomitchdesj
15 years agoparma42
15 years agokralikova_hotmail_com
13 years agobhavinsw
11 years agoVertise
11 years agoadhneywilson
10 years agottodd
10 years agopps7
10 years agoUser
10 years agopatty_cakes
10 years ago
Related Stories
BATHROOM DESIGNPersonal Style: 50 Bath Designs From Creative Owners and Renters
Ideas abound in bathroom styles ranging from upcycled vintage to sleekly modern
Full StoryMOST POPULARFind the Right Glass Door for Your Patio
It’s more than just a patio door — it’s an architectural design element. Here’s help for finding the right one for your home and lifestyle
Full StoryFIREPLACES12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing
From traditional brick to industrial steel, there’s a fireplace cladding here to light up your design
Full StoryLAUNDRY ROOMSSoak Up Ideas From 3 Smart Laundry Rooms
We look at the designers’ secrets, ‘uh-oh’ moments and nitty-gritty details of 3 great laundry rooms uploaded to Houzz this week
Full StoryHOME OFFICESQuiet, Please! How to Cut Noise Pollution at Home
Leaf blowers, trucks or noisy neighbors driving you berserk? These sound-reduction strategies can help you hush things up
Full StoryGARAGESKey Measurements for the Perfect Garage
Get the dimensions that will let you fit one or more cars in your garage, plus storage and other needs
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: A Modern Loft Rises in a Onetime Bakery
Industrial style gets a rustic, personal edge in a historic Chicago building, thanks to lots of wood and meaningful collections
Full StoryDIY PROJECTSMake Your Own Barn-Style Door — in Any Size You Need
Low ceilings or odd-size doorways are no problem when you fashion a barn door from exterior siding and a closet track
Full StoryLIFEFun Houzz: 14 Signs You’re an Interiors Geek
Are you obsessed with interiors? It’s OK, you can admit it — you’re among friends
Full StoryCLOSETSSimple Ways to Get Your Closet Organized Right Now
Streamline your clothing storage with strategies you can implement in a weekend
Full Story
marisanyOriginal Author