Thinking of Hiring a Professional Interior Designer? Read These 6 Tips First
A few years ago, we decided to expand our interior design services to offer even more value to our projects. Now we have the processes in place to guide the homeowner through the exciting, and sometimes challenging, journey of selecting every single interior finish and material for their home—including floor finishes, cabinet hardware, style of interior doors, and down to every light fixture and faucet. After those choices are made, it extends into furniture, window coverings, and detail pieces. It’s a very long list with strict deadlines and lead times to be managed, and we’re proud to be the guide for our clients throughout this process so they don’t have to do it alone!
Have you considered hiring a designer for your custom home? Truth be told, knowing how and when to use professional interior design services can be a challenge for most homeowners. That’s why we’ve put together some tips before you take the plunge!
Tip #1: Don’t wait until the end.
Because so many construction projects involve complex design and planning work, the specifics around the interior of the space are often pushed to the end. This can create conflicts between the structural and aesthetic decisions, which often lead to costly change orders or accepting an unintentional sacrifice. Involve a professional interior designer as early in the process as possible! Expose them to the general approach to the design and layout of the space, and seek ideas and suggestions that may impact interior looks.
Tip #2: Understand that all interior designers are not the same.
The term “interior designer” can be used by virtually anyone. Don’t base your choice of a designer solely on the recommendation of a builder, architect or contractor. Do your research. Are they a member of their professional organization? Do they have an advanced degree in design? How do they manage relationships with product and material suppliers, architects, and builders? A good interior designer is a helpful guide through a complex process and capable of working in constantly changing environments.
Tip #3: Ensure their approach to design is consistent with your vision.
Different designers create in different ways. That’s why it’s important to review their past projects to understand their styles and preferences. However, I wouldn’t lose sleep over this one! Look at their past work: Do they create lovely things? Do they describe past projects in terms of responding to their client? Have they created settings in multiple different styles? As with architects, a good interior designer understands scale, proportion, materials, and color. Trust your gut with this one.
Tip #4: Work within your budget.
Most experienced designers quote rates between $90 and $125 an hour. Many also earn revenues through markups on products they procure. Make sure you understand how an interior designer is quoting a project, and you’ll have a clear understanding of the scope of services. You should also explore the way changes to the scope may be handled. The interior designer should be a good business person, as well as a good designer!
Tip #5: Use a vision board.
A vision board will help organize your thoughts and dreams for your interior designer. You can create one by pinning images onto a pin board or go digital by collecting inspiring images on Pinterest or Houzz. Start with broad strokes first—just save everything that appeals to you. Then, after just one night on the couch looking through your gorgeous pictures, you will start to notice a pattern. The next night, go through those photos again and save the ones you love the most. This serves two purposes: For one, it narrows your focus, and secondly, it communicates to your designer what is difficult to put into words.
Tip #6: Speak up about your personal interests.
After touring a client’s home, I noticed her husband had collected these amazing antique radios in every room spread throughout the house. She also happened to collect fine China, which were stored in her hutch cabinets. So, we designed the foyer of her custom home with a few architectural recesses for her collection to live in. For her husband’s antique radio collection, we designed a 20-foot, museum-quality display in the entire basement stair wall, which was lit from behind. It was so warm and inviting! These personal touches can make a huge impact on the design of your home—don’t be afraid to speak up if there’s something you’d love to see displayed.
Deciding how, when, and maintaining consistent vision during a construction project can all be accomplished seamlessly when you hire a firm with both architecture and interior design practices. While truly separate disciplines, here at Springhouse Architects we work together throughout the entire project to ensure your project culminates in the very best design for you and your family.
Introducing Create A Home You Love
This online course is a one-of-a-kind experience that teaches you everything there is to know about custom homes—before getting started.
Together, we’ll determine your real long-term goals and internal motivators that drive your steps to build a house. Plus, you’ll learn how to set priorities early, establish a budget (and stick to it!), find the perfect location, and choose your team of professionals. By the end of this course, you’ll feel confident, organized, and equipped with everything you need to turn your vision into a reality. Learn more!
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When it comes to designing and building a custom home, nothing beats having a trusted, experienced team of architects on your side. Let’s set up a call to meet, discuss your goals, answer your questions, and settle your fears. We can’t wait to meet you!