Column: Keep calm and call an interior designer

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So you’re ready to move beyond your DIY decorating look and on to a polished, pulled together type of home. You would like to be assured that the investment in better furnishing will not be fraught with mistakes. You know enough to know that this is not your area of expertise. This is probably the time to call in an interior design professional.

If you have not used a designer before, this part can be quite intimidating. The fear and mystery can be enough to send a homeowner on a downward solo decorating spiral.

To make matters even more challenging, the best interior decorators are one part artist, one part business mind, and one part circus master, one part visionary and one part translator. One cannot simply do an internet search for a “designer” and come up with a name that will fit one’s needs.

While the most obvious trait to consider is artistic ability and a sense of style, the most important element is personality. Simply put, if you don’t click, the room won’t gel.

A close bond develops during the design process so, first and foremost, the individual who is about to step into your home has to mesh with you, your family, and your lifestyle. Trust is essential on so many levels.

Just as important, this must be a person who asks questions and listens to the answers. A good decorator should constantly probe to solicit a vision for the final product. If questions are not being posed, it is a sign that you are not the focus.

Getting referrals is critical. Beyond gleaning names from friends and neighbors, the interview is probably the most important part of the process.

I prefer to do interviews in studio. This gives a potential client an opportunity to see the dynamics at work. If occasional chaos is troubling to a client, I know that he or she belongs with a more staid design firm.

Come prepared with questions that are relevant to your project. Be prepared to discuss a budget, and don’t be afraid to ask about the fee process.

Unless the designer selected is completely devoid of talent, the benefits will far out-weigh the cost. Just the avoidance of one mistake is can be worth the entire consultation fee. Parts of a project that have to be redone due to error are costly.  The elimination of sleepless nights due to uncertainty is worth every cent of consultation billing.

Before committing to a designer, ask yourself the following:

Do I feel totally comfortable with this person or do I feel intimidated? Remember, you will be spending time with this person so a level of comfort is essential.

Does this person seem genuinely interested in my wishes? Grab your purse and run as fast as you can from the cookie cutter decorator who does the same look over and over and over and over.

Is he or she clear about the costs involved? There should be a clear understanding of how fees will be charged in advance. Surprises are not a good thing in this situation.

Hopefully, this is the start of a long-term relationship with someone who will have access to personal parts of your life so these factors are imperative.

Relationships between decorators and clients can be as interactive or hands-off as the client wishes. Let the designer know how involved you want to be prior to the commencement of the project to avoid duplicity of effort.

Working with a decorator opens up a world of resources that is generally closed to the public.  Also, designers have a resource list of talented labor that they can readily tap into as well as the ability to negotiate on behalf of a client.


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