There are several ways to find an interior designer:
- Personal reference is always an excellent method. You may have admired an interior designer’s work at a friend’s home.
- Seeing the interior designer’s work in a magazine or showcase house.
- Referral services: The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) offers toll-free referral services for residential design projects and for commercial design projects. Many design centers around the country also offer referral services.
- Your local phone book. Be sure to ask for references.
- Try Google.com
Once you have a few names, call each design professional to set up an interview. Some interior designers charge for this; most do not. Some like to meet you at your home; others like to conduct interviews in their own offices. An interview is an opportunity for you to get to know the interior designer and for him or her to get a feel for your design project.
Ask to see the designer’s portfolio. Remember, however, that your job may be different than anything in the designer’s portfolio. Don’t expect to love every room; they were designed for clients whose requirements may be very different than yours. If every room is similar, however, be sure that you like the look. A well-trained, experienced interior designer should be able to work in several styles and with various budgets.
Following are a few of the most frequently asked questions:
How much will an interior designer’s services cost me?
Different designers have different methods of charging clients for services. Some of the most common methods include the following:
- Hourly plus a percentage markup on cost of purchases: This fee structure charges an hourly fee in addition to a cost-plus on purchases.
- Hourly and per diem: The designer is paid for all of his or her time. This may include, but is not limited to, consultations, conceptual design, space planning, preparation of drawings, cabinet designs, budget, observing contractors, shopping, and travel.
- Flat fee: One fee is decided upon for the entire project. This fee structure requires a thorough and detailed understanding of the services to be rendered and the specific areas involved. The written contract should state that no additional services are to be added.
- Retail: The designer charges a retail price for all items that are purchased. This fee structure generally is used when the designer works for a retail furniture store.
Many interior designers use a combination of the methods mentioned above. Do not be afraid to question the interior designer regarding exactly how he or she charges for services.
The interior designer will ask you about your budget and the type of investment you want to make. Furniture and good design are investments. Good-quality pieces will be with you for a very long time. Be prepared to give a ballpark figure. Even if you don’t know what furniture and design services cost today, you should still have some idea of what you are comfortable spending. Your designer can help you clarify exactly how far your money will go.
How do I choose which interior designer is right for me?
Working with an interior designer is similar to a marriage or a business partnership. It requires open communication and trust. This person will be spending many hours in your home, and it is important that you feel comfortable with and trust him or her. You are buying a service and paying for the expertise of your interior designer just as you pay for your attorney and accountant. Ask yourself these three questions: How’s our rapport? It is important that your interior designer listen to you as well as having great ideas. Can I speak frankly? If you feel intimidated saying, “I hate pink,” or, “This table costs twice what I can spend,” you may need a different interior designer. Am I being asked enough questions? Remember that the interior designer is interviewing you as much as you’re interviewing him or her. In order to get an interior that is customized to your needs, the designer must ask you a lot of questions.
Do I have to do the whole house at once?
Do not feel that you can only call an interior designer to do a complete house. Your interior designer will help you prioritize your design needs and make suggestions as to what can be accomplished with your present budget. It is not uncommon for a designer to work with a client for one to three years in order to complete a project. Most interior designers would rather do each area right on its own than do a whole house in a very short time. But at the same time, it is important to design for the entire house, so that each room flows into the next and there is a relationship between one area and the next.
What Happens After I Hire an Interior Designer?
Once you have made the decision to hire an interior designer, the following steps usually take place:
- Letter of agreement: A contract is signed between the interior designer and the client stating what is to be completed and the fee schedule.
- In-depth interview by interior designer with the client to determine lifestyle needs.
- Meeting with architect, if using one for this project.
- Room by room list of items to be completed both for furniture and construction. Approval of list.
- Measure and photograph the room (or rooms).
- Design and drawing of floorplans showing new furniture with sizes; design custom pieces. Approval of plans.
- Design and drawing of new cabinets for kitchen, bathroom, entertainment, closet, construction plans. Approval of plans.
- Lighting plan showing new lighting with specifications for contractor.
- If construction is a part of the plan, selection of all items that will be needed—floors, counters, faucets, fixtures, lights, doors, etc.
- Give construction plans to contractors for bids, if needed. (May be done by the architect.)
- Review bids and assist in choosing a contractor. (May be done by the architect.)
- Begin construction.
- Observation of construction. (Depending on the size of the project, this may be done by the architect.)
- Interior designer shops for nonconstruction items—furniture, fabrics, rugs, wallcoverings, and any other items that need to be purchased.
- Presentation of furniture ideas and fabrics to client.
- Shopping trip to see the furniture.
- Paint selection to go with the flooring and fabrics that have been selected.
- Approval of furniture, fabric, wallpaper, draperies, etc.
- Purchase items agreed upon.
- Completion of work by contractors.
- Carpet, furniture delivery, drapery installation.
- Accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the interior designer expect from me?
It is helpful to educate yourself when hiring an interior designer. Ask yourself the following questions: Who will be using this room? What are their ages? How many people will be eating, watching TV, doing homework, etc. in this space? What do I like to feel when I come into this room? Be prepared to answer many more questions that the interior designer will bring to the first meeting. Make a wish list and prioritize it. What are you in immediate need of? What can wait six months, one year, five years? Be prepared for trade-offs at a later date. Estimate your investment in this project. Although you may have no idea of the cost of your project, determine your maximum dollar expenditure. Be honest with the interior designer regarding your budget.
Even if you’re not sure what your design preferences are, an interior designer will be able to help you narrow your choices. Cut out pages from magazines. Buy an expandable file and start collecting pictures. Label files with pictures that show kitchens, baths, family rooms, color, space planning, furniture, lighting, etc. Be very specific—create files for faucets, sinks, chairs, tables, and lamps. It is also helpful to cut out pictures of things you don’t like. If you like only one item in a picture, circle it. Pictures are very valuable in helping communicate your needs to the interior designer. They can help the interior designer visualize the “style” and “feeling” that is right for you and your home.
How involved do you want to be? Some clients want to be in on every decision; others say, “Call me when it’s finished.” Be up front with the interior designer. If you want to do some of the work yourself, tell him or her before the job begins. Be clear about who will make the final decision, and have those people in on the design process from the beginning. MOST IMPORTANT: HAVE FUN! ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE! Look at the big picture. Let your interior designer worry about the detail—that’s what we are trained for.
What if I don’t like the things the interior designer shows me?
You and your interior designer should work as a team. It is important for the designer to design for you and your residence. Each home must reflect the lifestyle and feeling of the people who live there. Don’t be afraid to speak up and explain what you like and don’t like to the interior designer. Design is never a straight line. It is always a process and may zig-zag on its way to the final plan. Be flexible, be open, and enjoy the process.
When working with an interior designer, can I bring in another designer to do the lighting, accessories, or artwork?
In addition to working with architects and contractors, interior designers often work with specialized designers such as lighting designers, certified kitchen and bath designers, and art consultants. If you would like to have a specialized designer as part of the team, inform the interior designer at the beginning of the job so he or she does not include that part in the letter of agreement. On large projects, the interior designer will often suggest including a specialized designer.
What are some speciality rooms that professionally trained interior designers are qualified to design?
Professionally trained interior designers are trained to design kitchens, bathrooms, home offices, and closets, in addition to all other spaces in the house. Additionally, many interior designers have experience in designing for the elderly, handicapped, and children.
How a Lighting Designer Can Add Value to Your Home
One of the most overlooked aspects of remodeling and new home construction is proper and creative lighting. A well-thought-out lighting scheme is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make. Whether the project is a low-budget basement renovation or a completely new home, the time to think about lighting is before you drive the first nail.
So how do you start? In many projects a professional lighting designer can provide the services you need to ensure that your home takes full advantage of all of the creative possibilities that a good lighting scheme can provide. Following are answers to some important questions for you to consider.
What is a lighting designer?
A professional lighting designer is a person with a degree in architecture, interior architecture, or interior design with advanced studies in lighting design, or an engineer with a degree in the art and science of lighting.
What is the scope of service a lighting professional can provide?
A professional lighting designer should provide the following services for the homeowner:
- A specification binder with written description and related information provided on all of the lighting fixtures chosen for the residence, including lamps
- A reflected ceiling plan or lighting/electrical plan of the project
- Specification of dimming and switching for lighting fixtures
- Structural details for installation of fixtures where necessary
- Observation of lighting installation
- Follow-up with homeowner after completion of the project
What benefit can a lighting designer provide the homeowner?
If your lighting and switching control requirements are addressed from the planning stage of a project, it will save you time and money as the homeowner. A lighting designer can advise the architect or general contractor of structural elements that can impact the installation of lighting fixtures. The lighting professional knows the products available and can suggest designs and select fixtures within your budget. Additionally, if cost is a major concern, the lighting designer can design a lighting/electrical plan that can be implemented in phases. This involves prewiring the home for lighting and electronic equipment to be installed at some future date determined by the client’s growing needs.
What should I expect to pay for the services of a lighting designer?
A good professional will probably charge between $150 and $250 for the initial consultation and gather enough information at that time to give the client an estimate of fees. The fees may be billed either on an hourly basis or on the projected scope of services for the project.
Keywords: Interior Designer, Finding a Designer, Design Portfolio, Residential Design, Interior Decorator, Design Style, Home Renovation, Budget Planning, Design Consultation, Professional Credentials
