Hiring a professional for trim and molding design and choices?
Kat
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
Related Discussions
Did you hire a professional kitchen designer?
Comments (18)We've hired two. Each cost $125.00 per hour. In our case essentially both were a waste of money. The first one was well known, had kitchen's featured in magazines, won contests from Subzero and similar companies. She actually had great ideas but was constantly screwing up. She mis-measured on several occassions and I was never confident it was right. She would produce drawings that were impossible to visualize (the peninsula ended up overlapping a window in one drawing). I had requested over and over a prep sink in the island. The drawings came back without it and when I called her on it she said she didn't think it was needed but would request it be added. She had the drawings redone, and subsequently billed me the time to redo them. She called one day in the beginning and told me she stopped at the flooring store to look at floor choices (this was before we even had a design) and I was billed for the time! Keep in mind this was NOT something she asked me about in advance. We ended up parting ways after she became ill and couldn't continue with the project, which kept me from having to fire her. I knew she was capable of some beautiful work and I wanted it to work with her so badly that initially I kept making excuses for her . In the end, I spent about 2k and basically had nothing to show for it (except some ideas) Her plans had the beautiful elements & materials I wanted but not the additional space. The next one was a very nice lady with good ideas but they always exceeded our budget. We spend about 1600.00 with her. She made up a plan that had "some" of the space we wanted but in the end the budget would not allow us to add on the space and keep the materials we wanted. I could accept that, however knowing it in the beginning would have saved us a lot of $$-- Both designers knew out of the gate that our main objective was to add space and that if we were going to invest in construction of an addition, I needed the kitchen to have the elements and materials I really wanted. I truly believe the 2nd designer thought she was working within the budget and didn't purposely decieve us, where I believe the first one was milking us for any time she could but wanted to give us a knock your socks off kitchen in the small space we already had. The nice thing about independent designers was that they aren't married to a specific brand. The first designer worked a lot with a local custom cabinetmaker and for about 12K we were getting painted white cabinetry that looked beautiful! I later went to Home Depot for a "free" design, (which by the way was not free unless we paid for an in home measurement, at least in my area)and the KD there used our construction design to quote cabinets for us and a medium quality was about 25k!) So I think you end up paying for the designer one way or another~ We never ended up doing our kitchen since our wants exceeded our means. We've decided to move all together and while we can't "design" the kitchen we can possibly make some modifications and i am already stressing about the whole process all over again....See MoreWhen building a new home .. when do you hire a designer??
Comments (11)I have built 2 houses. One with a little designer help, and one without any designer help. We have "mistakes" in our first house that we are now correcting before we sell it. A designer could have helped us avoid those and I am sure we would have had a better laid out basement plan! (it is pretty bad.) Whenever I have had a designer, they have usually saved me money by choosing a cheaper option, using things I already had, or avoided mistakes. We had a little designer help on the 2nd (vacaton) home. The things she picked out were great. Again, we made a couple changes on the plans, this time (our 2nd house) the changes we made were better, but I think the designer could have really helped make those changes great! To save money on the designer, I usually do a lot of thinking and leg work before I meet with her. I collect fabrics from Joanns (cheaper) bring tile from big box store, or tile store, I just try to be ready knowing what I want and avoid more hourly fees due to my indecisiveness or trips to stores. So I say go with the designer, but know what you want, and choose carefully. Ask the hourly fee or fee per job. Check a few and talk to happy customers. And make sure she knows your budget. I am OK if some things come from Joanns, big box stores, etc. My designer was too. Another designer I worked with couldn't use cheaper things, so I won't use her again. Make sure you and the designer are on the same page. And have fun!...See MoreLooking for professional review of design - Minneapolis
Comments (1)Yes, click on “Find Professionals” link above. Put in your location/zip code and see who pops up. Good way to read others’ reviews, as well....See MoreHiring a designer? Architect? Contractor?
Comments (12)Joseph, I consider replacing a toilet to be a simple job. And, the shower valve is in an opened shower wall. All you have to do is just stand there and do it. There is absolutely nothing in the way and it is a clean and pleasant place to stand while you are working. I used to have a custom window treatment business and I understand what you mean about some people underestimating what they think they want and I also would not take jobs to remake their old curtains or refit anything old to a new window. If I was to "own" the job, it had to be mine from the beginning to the end, or I would not take responsibility for it. I understand that. It was futile to explain some things to some people, such as the fact that that double ruffle around those decorator pillows was going to take more labor and more fabric than the actual pillow and that is why it was going to cost so much more. Most saw the ruffle around the pillow being secondary to the pillow. The reality is much different. If that same customer wanted to give me precut pillow pieces that they cut themselves, I would have rejected that. However, if they wanted to put in their own pillow forms or provide the lining fabric for the pillows, that would have been fine. As someone who was called in and consulted on how to make their fantasies come true, I understand your point. What they thought they wanted and the reality were not coming together. But, I do wish that I could find someone to just create a basic bathroom for me and leave the finishing work to me. I wanted them to come in and leave me with an newly installed shower with a finished wall around it, a new subfloor ready to be finished and walls that were ready to be primed and painted. I guess what I was asking for was not one that would make for a good photo shoot on their portfolio. My BIL has been a contractor and he would not take on a job unless they agreed to take it back to the studs, so to speak. I have no problem with that, but I only want it finished to a degree. My budget is limited and I am still perfectly capable of doing finishing work. I, essentially, gave up on the complete remodel of the two rooms .The result is that I am now rebuilding one of the showers myself and I am now in need of some simple plumbing. It is going quite nicely, but slowly...new shower pan, tiled shower walls, etc. But, I do want a plumber to come and replace the shower valve before the wall gets closed in, and I don't like to mess around with plumbing that runs under the basement floor. Thus, I want a guy to come and put in a new toilet down there. Those jobs should be 101 plumbing jobs. That is all I am asking for now, simple plumbing. I did the upper level bathroom a few years ago--replacing tub, surround walls, new toilet, paint, new vanity and tilled floor. It went well. I did get a plumber to install a new shower valve. He left me with capped off live plumbing before the wall was closed in. But, I am not having the same luck now with finding someone to do that simple plumbing job. Hiring a tradesman or a contractor is a pain. I have a friend who got himself certified to do his own wiring because it was just easier than hiring someone. He got an actual certification and education to do it....See MoreKat
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoUser
3 years agoKat
3 years agoUser
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoHALLETT & Co.
3 years agoKat
3 years agoKat
3 years ago
Related Stories
WORKING 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 StoryWORKING WITH PROS10 Times to Hire a Design-Build Firm
Find out when you should consider a firm that offers design and construction services as a package
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSHow Much Does It Cost to Hire a Kitchen Designer?
Find out what these pros do and the various ways they charge for their work
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS10 Times to Hire an Interior Designer
A skilled design pro is especially valuable in these decorating and remodeling situations
Full StoryORGANIZING10 Times to Hire a Closet Designer
These pros create order out of chaos, whether in bedrooms, playrooms, garages or pantries
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSHow Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Interior designers may charge hourly rates, flat fees, cost-plus or a combination. Here’s what that means for you
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS10 Times to Hire a Kitchen Designer
These specialists can solve layout issues, update an older space, create thoughtful design details and more
Full StoryMODERN ARCHITECTUREDesign Workshop: 10 Surprising Twists on Window Trim
These modern approaches to window trim include no trim at all. Can you wrap your head around them?
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS10 Times to Hire a Professional Organizer
This pro can help you with tough projects and keep you on track during transitions
Full StoryARCHITECTURE15 Smart Design Choices for Cold Climates
Keep your home safe and comfortable in winter by choosing the right home features and systems
Full Story
GN Builders L.L.C