Question about hiring an interior designer
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6 years ago
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ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Did 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 MoreDid you hire an interior designer with your new build?
Comments (15)Well we're not done yet, so I'm sure I'll have more to tell you in a while..:) But, for now: -I went with a lot of vintage lighting. First of all I tried to save money which I did; second, they were charming and well-made fixtures. most of them from Europe. The wiring is fine, etc. However when the time has come to install them it appears some of them missing little things like crossbars and stuff..naively we go to Home Depot where we are told none of the standard American stuff will fit these lamps. So then it begins: running to specialty stores, ordering things on British website(why British? no idea. apparently they do have some of these parts. while other sites simply don't), and I-don't know-what-else. Yes, I saved a lot of money. Maybe hundreds maybe thousands I don't know (of course I'd like to think it's thousands)). But I really have no patience for another month spent trying to refit two thirds of the lamps. The GC has much less patience than me of course. You get the picture.. -Or: the countertop in the kitchen doesn't overhang enough. Doesn't bother me I must say, but my husband is really mad. We had no idea we should specify it, and the granite guy didn't ask. It also happened so that the inspector from the gas company came at the same time to look at something the city saw as problem(not related to the build; just a coincidence) when the granite guy was working on the template..we had to run between the two of them. The inspector is outside, the granite guy is measuring inside..no wonder we didn't ask. I don't know why he didn't; he then said that we seemed really knowledgeable and confident. No! That's how I look when I'm really tired lol. -Or: we went with a very complicated design for master bath. Or should I say, we wanted a lot done in a modest space. It looks good by the way. But they redid it so many times to fit it all, that now we'll have a) narrower vanity b) narrower bathtub. If I knew I'd let go some of our grand ideas. It would be still nice, and I'd have more functional space. -Or: I'd order some things more in advance than I did. I had no idea that oil rubbed bronze and chrome are usually in stock, but polished nickel is suddenly considered a special order and takes weeks. And you don't really know until you start actually purchasing. In short I did not know many things. So a designer wouldn't solve all of these issues of course. But he/she would anticipate most of them. Simply because of experience, better spatial thinking, better knowledge of the resources..because of studying it before and dealing with it a lot every day. Even me-not a designer-would be wiser a second time. Only I'm not going to do it for a second time, never ever..:) And if I'd choose to work with someone and had money for it-wishful thinking here-it would be someone significantly more talented than me. Sense of admiration from working with someone better than you not just helps. It creates excitement and pushes you forward too. When you're alone it feels different. Not right away maybe. But within several months, I felt less excited, less creative, less confident, less everything. It's not fun; when it's small reno it might be fun, when it's long and involves a whole house, it's already a job. Almost a full time job. And you don't necessarily enjoy it as much as you imagined. Every job has nice parts-and parts that are tiresome and very lackluster. You do the lackluster, a lot. And you pay for it too:)...See MoreDesign Question, Remote hire?
Comments (19)The thing with sectionals is that they don't comfortably seat as many people as you think they would. They're great for families with young children, though. Most adults and teenagers like their own space and prefer an armrest. Even the three seat sofa will typically only seat two for an extended period of time (eg: marathon movie night) because no one likes to sit in the middle. That's why a sofa and two arm chairs are so highly recommended. It takes up less visual space than a sectional and pretty much seats the same number of people. Take the furniture you currently have and try the arrangement below. It will comfortably seat four on a regular basis - five if someone can handle sitting in the middle of the sofa. If you add an occasional chair you can seat six. Ottomans are great casual perches if you're entertaining a larger group. Think about stashing a couple under the coffee table or in the foyer. The occasional chair can live in the foyer by a console when not in use. If you like the arrangement, you can start looking for a new sofa and chairs. (Although I think what you currently have is very cool looking!)...See MoreQuestion about interior designer subcontracting the trade.
Comments (5)Contractor laws vary from state to state. My understanding is that here in Virginia, interior designers would be operating within their professional boundaries when hiring decorating trades (e.g., painters and paper hangers) but wouldn't be if they crossed over into GC/remodeler territory by hiring plumbers, HVAC contractors, carpenters, etc. With respect to payment for services, it would be unusual, in my experience, for a contractor to expect payment in full prior to the work being performed. The exception is when the work is a change from the original contract scope of work--i.e., a change order. It is common practice to require payment of change orders in full upon approval of the change order....See MoreRita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
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