Working with an Interior Designer

Many people ask me how the process of working with an interior designer works. So, I thought I would give you a step-by-step introduction to the process.

Step 1
Firstly, we really evaluate your home. I've said this many times but the critical thing is to determine which rooms you want to transform. Is it just a bedroom? Maybe your kids have moved out and you want to be able to use the space but still have a room for your kids to stay when they visit. How can you do this?

Want to create a space on a lower floor or in a garage that can be a gym, media room, etc.? Let an expert help you with these projects. Design projects can have expensive mistakes so using a designer who has experience is key.

Step 2
Secondly and also really important is to know what you want to spend on your design project. What is your budget? If you need help because you have no idea what things cost, ask your designer to estimate what they think the job will cost. This is just an estimate based on what the designer sees and knows about you and your home can influence the amount they would suggest you budget for. 

I look at the quality of the house and the lifestyle of the family to help determine what price points make sense for the project. You always want a mix of high and low, antique and vintage pieces, and beautiful art. Think about all that to come up with an estimate. One of my clients got nervous about an entry table I proposed for her home. When I told her that yes, it was an expensive, hand-crafted piece but we were still on budget she went along with it, and now it’s a focal point in her entry!

Step 3
Ok, now let's get to the designer. Have you found her/ him on Instagram, from a friend who's used them or walked into a shop and felt a kindred vibe? Look around and try to determine which designer seems to fit the aesthetic you are going for. Next, set up an in-home consultation. You will most likely need to pay for this (any good designer charges for their time) but it is totally worth it.

Come prepared. Know again which rooms you want to tackle but also give the designer a full home tour so they can see the rooms you are happy with.

All designers work differently. The way I work is to give the client a list of things we spoke about at the consultation, and ideas I've had after the meeting, and make a list so you that you can check the items and rooms want to move forward with.

I also at this point discuss how you will use your rooms and space and what’s really important to you: color, texture, etc. Have your children moved out of the house? Maybe you want to get rid of your formal living room and turn it into a salon for music and late-night conversations.

Step 4
Next is the contract. This is SUPER important. If a designer does not have a contract be weary of moving forward. You want to know exactly what the terms of the agreement are. Think about storage, purchasing, deliveries, and what happens if you want to leave the contract: all should be spelled out.

Once all that is squared away and you have given the designer a deposit to start creating your dream house then the fun begins.

My process is to go back to the home and measure everything. There is an option for us to draw the rooms in 3-D. Unless you have a very experienced eye, I would strongly suggest this option. It eliminates any mistakes and you can SEE what your room will look like. Ask for measurements and either you or your design team can tape out the space so you feel very confident the layout works for you and your family.