Mon 11 May 2009
DesignCoach: How to find contemporary interior designers to hire
Posted by interiordesigner under DesignCoach™No Comments
Each Monday on the DesignQuotient™ blog, DesignCoach™ James Swan answers readers’ questions. Post your design dilemma. DesignCoach™ can help you find the solution.
This week on the DesignCoach: How to find contemporary interior designers to hire
Q. I don’t know if there’s an interior designers’ code–and if there is such a thing, I wouldn’t want you to violate it–BUT, can you give me some insider’s tips on hiring and what to expect from a professional interior designer? We have a design center not far from our house and it’s not open to the public, it’s “trade only,” which I think means actual interior designers and the like. Do I pay by the hour? The project? Can I find a list of credible ones somewhere? Does hiring a pro automatically mean it will cost significantly more? Does everything have to be tufted? Flowery? Please help, I don’t want to do it all myself, but I have a lot of opinions about what I’ll tolerate in my house and what I’ll spend my hard-earned money on.
Photo: Home design projects may require the services of a skilled professional
A. If you are clear that you do not want to do the designing of your home by yourself then hiring a professional makes great sense. Here are six steps that will help you make this professional relationship work for you.
- Ask around. Speak with friends, neighbors and colleagues and find out who they have used or are using. Collect three or four names.
- Call the designer and inquire about their services. As a professional, they should be able to clearly speak about their work process, both the creative and the practical. Request from them, in simple written form, how they work which includes how they charge for their services. As everyone approaches this in a slightly different manner it is helpful to have it in writing. Also request a list of references who you can call.
- After doing your homework (speak with all references and review their business methods) decide who you feel comfortable with and are interested in learning more about.
- Schedule a face-to-face interview, at their office, with the designers you find of interest. Ask to see their work-in-process, review their portfolio and discuss with them the project you are considering. Narrow your list down to two.
- Schedule a second interview at your home, for the final two. By this time you should have a good idea of who you feel you can work with. Remember you are hiring them. They are not hiring you.
- Always have a written agreement signed by both parties.
Be clear with yourself and with the designer as to why you are hiring them. Stick to your guns while respecting the professional you have hired. Rely on their expertise. Listen carefully and with an open mind to all their ideas but remember, in the end it is your home. They should respect this as you respect the many ideas they will bring with them which can make your home more beautiful.
Let us know if we can help with your design dilemma. Send us your questions.
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