skip to main content

Building a Home Design Dilemma

Interior designer needed?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Building our first house and I have zero concept on trends/matching/all of the things. The builder is not a custom home builder so the floorplan is pretty set.. I am so nervous about picking out flooring, paint, cabinets etc though. Would an interior designer be beneficial at this level? I dont think I can afford one for the furniture and what not because we will have to move are old furniture for now. How much do they run how, how does it work? Halp! :-P my main concern is how my style has changed so much in 7 years since we bought our current house. This is going to be our forever home.

Featured Answer

PRO

Virgil Carter Fine Art

5 years ago

For a "forever home", you certainly need some creative design talent to assist you. Particularly if you haven't designed and built a custom home before.

Even if you reuse existing furnishings, they can be refinished and reupholstered to create a new "forever" design theme.

Good luck on your project.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

groveraxle
5 years ago
Yes, hire a professional. It will be the best money you ever spent. A helpful article: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-an-interior-designer-stsetivw-vs~112598632
Related Discussions
Interior designer needed
Q
Comments (0)
Has anyone had any personal experiences or have a good referral for a designer at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri?
...See More
Sold 25y.o 2story for 4,000sq foot single.
Q
Comments (0)
We are about to break ground in building an established plan. We have one year to do so. We sold our 2story narrow,on the river. For a single, wide open spaces. Not a clue how to start Houzz. We will hire an interior designer. Just need a jumpstart on where to begin. Thx:)
...See More
interior design advice needed!
Q
Comments (33)
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that's all.” So let's see what we have here... --modern/ industrial/ farmhouse --boho eclectic Scandinavian industrial farmhouse --Not really modern, farmhouse, or industrial --when I said modern/industrial/farmhouse --"rustic modernism" is here for a while Is that about it so far...?
...See More
interior designer needed
Q
Comments (1)
Hey Lulu, I'm an interior designer. What help are you looking for? Would you like to send an email at hello@colorconsciousliving.com with the details of your project 👍🏻
...See More
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
Get professional help after checking references and seeing their work. You may prefer a kitchen designer when it comes to that part of the house.
One Devoted Dame
5 years ago
Absolutely!

If you have to go to a "design center" to pick everything out, a Pro hired by *you* can help you coordinate everything. And heck, maybe she might be able to talk the Design Center folks into letting you see how everything looks in natural light (my husband and I weren't allowed to take samples off the windowless sales floor -- a window in the lobby was only 20' away, and nothing helped us get closer to that window).

At the very least, an interior designer should help you avoid clashing neutrals. Our Design Center chick was very sweet, but she recommended clashing elements in our new home (something you wouldn't necessarily think was possible in a sea of neutrals....). No fun.
PRO
Sativa McGee Designs
5 years ago
Yes, everyone charges differently but for something like this I would just charge and hourly fee plus travel expenses if going to multiple locations. More of a Consult fee, look for someone in your area.
Kristin S
5 years ago
My brother and sister-in-law used a designer for this process, and she probably saved them far more than they spent on her consult fee. Before they hired her, they were stumbling into upgrading one material, then discovering none of the other base materials for the next choice coordinated with the upgrade so they had to go with another upgrade, which ended up requiring another upgrade for the next item. And of course, the staff at the design center have exactly zero incentive to help you be strategic about your choices. The designer was able to help them figure out what was worth it to upgrade, what could be done that would still work with the basic choices for other items, etc., and she saved them a LOT of money as a result.

Related Stories

WORKING WITH PROS Working With Pros: When You Just Need a Little Design Guidance

By Judith Taylor Designs

Save money with a design consultation for the big picture or specific details

DECORATING GUIDES Interiors Need Energy? Look to Mondrian’s Paintings for Inspiration

By Karen Egly-Thompson

The Dutch master of abstraction can help you return to basic colors, create zones, highlight function and more

DINING ROOMS Design Dilemma: I Need Ideas for a Gray Living/Dining Room!

See How to Have Your Gray and Fun Color, Too

WORKING WITH AN ARCHITECT Who Needs 3D Design? 5 Reasons You Do

By Dylan Chappell Architects

Whether you're remodeling or building new, 3D renderings can help you save money and get exactly what you want on your home project

ARCHITECTURE Do You Really Need That Hallway?

By Dylan Chappell Architects

Get more living room by rethinking the space you devote to simply getting around the house

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Taking Over a Hallway to Add Needed Space

By Becky Harris

A renovated kitchen’s functional new design is light, bright and full of industrial elements the homeowners love

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Does Your Landscape Need a Little ‘Cosmic Latte’?

Beige — the color of the universe — can be both building block and backdrop in a contemporary garden

ARCHITECTURE Want to Live by the Water? What You Need to Know

By Duo Dickinson, architect

Waterside homes can have amazing charm, but you'll have to weather design restrictions, codes and surveys

WORKING WITH PROS 12 Questions Your Interior Designer Should Ask You

By Mike Dietrich

The best decorators aren’t dictators — and they’re not mind readers either. To understand your tastes, they need this essential info

FURNITURE Meet the Quick-Change Artists of Interior Design

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Are you missing a great little stool, ottoman or bench? Just look at the ways they can adapt to what you need now

Sponsored

Fresh Pointe Studio

4 Reviews

Industry Leading Interior Designers & Decorators | Delaware County, OH

More Discussions

Any brand of add-in rollout shelves better/worse???

9

It's April 2024. How is your build going?

155

Which quality is good for framing a house and the subfloor

11

Tile installation standards help

13

Hardie Board Discoloration

0