Color Zen. It is a difficult balance. In the end, I was wrong not to listen to my inner voice to speak up. However, she kept saying, "trust me," You have to trust the process," so I kept thinking she knows what she's doing. I tried emphasizing the lack of blues and how worried I was about getting unfinished rooms, lamps side tables and most important that console. In the end, I allowed it all to happen and take responsibility for what happened in this room - not the other room, which I'll post soon. I do think ordering so many pillows and not putting anything towards console, artwork, side tables, lamps was where I was taken advantage of. I learned so much from this experience but it also frightened me away from designers.
Before I hired one, I searched this place for advice on cost and hiring one but it's hard to get answers that specific to one single area. We were planning on building a home from scratch within the next three years. Now that scares me and I might not go in that direction.
SO my advice to those at home thinking of hiring a designer.
Put in writing what you want your color scheme to be if you have one.
Put in writing that you want this design to include a completed room - with lighting, side tables, artwork, painting, electrical, carpentry, delivery, white glove service, etc. AND if it's not doable, then you know and can look for another designer that is less costly.
Put in writing that you want to know DURING THE PROCESS whether an item selected will push the budget up and by how much.
Try to get in writing before project starts what the budget is for each specific item: sofa, carpet, chair, fabric for such, labor for such, pillows, lighting, artwork, items for styling.
Put in writing a time for completion.
Put in writing how you want payments to be made.
Most important, ask questions about how she will address the function of the room; for example, how will you give me the feeling of a reading room?
Another thing that upset me is that nothing was custom but the pillows and curtains. Everything ordered from stores. Yet. I could not use my credit cards. So all those points went to, guess who?
Wait until you hear about room 2, the family room. A. DISASTER.
P.s. One of my favorite designers is Sophie Paterson so I do like simplicity and I do have that but it needs so much more. I feel like I just have bones but in the wrong color scheme and a room that doesn't function as it was supposed to, as it should - a reading room. Thank you for your support. I'm going to look for that gorgeous blue throw, some more blue accents, and a great piece of art for that center shelf - and possibly a blue console. I'm thinking of the one posted by DIS - it is sooo inexpensive but before I decide on that, I need to find the artwork for the center. That will be key. Another factor is how the two rooms connect.
Q
DIS on styling unit.
Q