Interior Designer Olathe Interior Design Olathe Olathe KS

How to choose an Interior Designer

The designer you envision is the perfect combination of Martha Stewart, Lisa LaPorta, and Candace Olson. Can you find her on a budget? Maybe not, but there are lots of talented designers out there who can give you design advice. The trick is to find one who will blend with you in personality and vision. Here are a few tips to help you separate the right one from the wannabes.

1. Budget. Remember that you are in charge of the budget. You know what you can afford and what you can't. If the designer consistently recommends ideas or items outside your budget (Oh! This chair is so worth the $10K, dear!), talk to him/her. If it continues to happen, this designer is not for you. He/she will end up costing you more than the design service is worth.

2. Timetable. If you can't afford to design a room or your home all at once, tell the designer. The designer should be willing to design in stages as you can afford it. If the designer isn't willing to work with your timetable, show them the door!

3. Games. If the designer tries to play you and your significant other against each other in fabrics, colors or furniture, change designers immediately. Your long-term intimate relationships are worth more than a temporary relationship with a designer.

4. Flexible. If your home is not a long-term residence, your designer should recommend flexible options that you can take with you when you move. If the designer isn't on board with finding furniture that is flexible enough to fit in your next home, you need another designer.

5. Change. If you don't like the design and your designer isn't willing to change it - and in fact, gets huffy (is that a designer term?) at the thought of changing his/her masterpiece, remind the Paragon of Design that you are the one who has to live with said design. Finding another designer is perfectly acceptable!

6. Choice. If you fall in love with a piece of furniture, art or other home decor and the designer is unwilling to incorporate the Loved Purple Sofa in his/her design, let the designer go and keep that sofa! The designer isn't flexible and you will be disappointed with the result.

7. Recycling. If the designer is unwilling to recycle much of your current furnishings (recovering or reupholstering wherever possible), then he/she may be wasteful and unimaginative. Do you want that kind of designer?

Every designer has his/her own tastes and preferences, but the room or home being designed is yours. It is the designer's job to give you a beautiful end product that is an expression of your taste and lifestyle and most designers will work with you to give you that outcome. If the designer isn't up to that job, then you need to find one who is. There are so many competent designers out there! Don't feel you have to stick with one that makes you uncomfortable! Do Your Research á Many consumers are somewhat intimidated by the thought of hiring an interior designer. They worry they'll lose control of the design, or the budget, and that the finished room may not be to their liking. á Doing some research on the web should help calm your fears. There you'll find many valuable resources to help you get comfortable with the whole idea of engaging a designer, and many more that will give you tips on how to find and work with a design professional. á How To Find A Designer ?Where should you look for an interior designer for your project? One of the best ways may be to find a room that you really like (in the homes of acquaintances or co-workers, decorator show houses, new housing tract model homes, furniture showrooms, or pictures in newspapers or magazines), then find out who designed it. á Alternatively, you could ask for recommendations from friends, inquire in retail decorating outlets, or search the yellow pages. Another excellent source is a referral service, such as a local chapter of ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers. Several national services are listed on the Hire a Designer Net Links page, including the ASID Online Referral Service which will give you the names of local designers via an online request form or an 800 number phone call. Next, Learn More . . . Find out more about hiring an interior designer in these links about Hiring a Designer, with tips on finding a designer, interviewing, what to expect from a designer, contracts, consultations, and fee structures. á Do Your Homework Your designer won't be able to create the perfect room for you unless you're able to communicate just what you want. It's often recommended that you begin to accumulate photos from magazines of rooms and furniture you like (and those you dislike), since this will give your designer a place to start in creating a design specifically for you. á Describe Your Vision Be able to explain to your designer the style you want, the colors you like, and the activities that will take place in the room. Make a list of furniture you own that you want to keep. Think about your preferences for furniture, fabrics, materials, and patterns. For further hints on defining your style, refer to articles on inspiration and making a project design file to get you organized. Communication is Key If you've ever thought about working with an interior designer, some doubts might have stopped you cold. Fearing it would be too expensive, or that you'd get stuck with a room you wouldn't like, you may have given up on the idea altogether. However, using a design professional can, and should, be a good experience. It can give your home continuity, function, and beauty. And it doesn't have to go over your budget. Working with a designer can save you money in many situations by allocating resources wisely, eliminating decorating mistakes, and increasing creative thinking about your project. Finding an interior designer is much easier once you have the right information. Prepare yourself - Decide on a budget. Collect color swatches you like. Have pictures to illustrate what you like and what you don't like. Think about the furniture pieces you hope to keep. Listen to all ideas, but never go against your heart. So, once you've found a designer, what happens next? How can you be helpful, remain in control, and ultimately end up with a design that is pleasing? Again, the resources on the Internet have the information you'll need. A good place to start is this overview of design professional fees. Communicate with your Designer - Listen. Talk. Listen. That's it in a nutshell. The designer will tell you your concept of the project, and be frank about your budget limitations (everyone has them). Finances - Which brings us to money. No one likes sticking to a budget, but everyone has one. Be conservative. Plan a project with goals and phase-in purchases over a few months or years if necessary. Make sure you're very clear on exactly how you'll be charged, when your designer needs deposits, how you'll be billed, what you get, and when the work should be complete. Will you be charged for phone calls, shopping trips, or in-home consultations? Are purchases marked up or discounted? Each designer has a different way of working and various fee structures, whether a flat fee, hourly fee, or percentage of purchases. Even if you don't want to spend a fortune, there are many ways to use a designer on a very tight budget. Start small if you wish, using a designer for a short time on an hourly basis for a specific project. Getting the Design You Want - The more information you can give to your designer the better. Your needs, your preferences, and your hopes can be conveyed in both words and pictures. Collect photos from magazines of rooms, furniture, and color schemes you like, and use these to illustrate your ideas. This will give your designer a place to start in creating a design specifically for you. (Make an extra set of color copies if needed.) See the article on Inspiration if you don't know where to start. In addition, learn how to make your own project design file to get you organized. Online Design Help - There are also some interior designers that offer online design advice and planning for a fee. Several of these are listed on the Hiring An Interior Designer Net Links page. You'll need to submit a questionnaire with information about your project, along with your room dimensions or a floor plan, and any questions or elements that need to be considered. Read details on each of these sites to learn about the report you will receive, and the fees charged for each service. However you choose to proceed with your project, whether you consult with a designer online or in person, by the hour or the day, for a room or your entire home -- you're sure to learn a lot and have a more beautiful and functional living space as well.

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