What can a designer do for me that I cannot do for myself or that my architect or builder cannot do?
What do I need to do before contacting a design professional?
Doesn’t it cost more to hire a designer?
How do I know how much I need to spend?
What do I need to bring to the first meeting?
What questions do I ask when I am interviewing?
When should I seek the services of a design professional?
How am I going to be charged?
How long does this process take?
A designer’s point of view is very different from those of a builder, architect, or other trade professional.Designers account for the individuals who will occupy the actual space & how those needs may change over time as in the case with children, how the space is to be utilized by its occupants, etc. Many times space is created without thought towards the function of that space.An example of this is a large family room that is all windows, doors, & other openings; where does the television go without blocking a window or door?Where do the books &/or toys go?Or someone “needing more space” when what is really needed is a careful evaluation of the existing space & how it is being utilized.Perhaps, the right answer is not to add on but to reorganize the existing space to work better.
Ideally, a potential client will have done some homework regarding what their needs are, the budget, the timeframe, & some specifics in terms of pictures of some ideas from which to work.Really thinking through one’s needs both now & in the future is a critical component.Some things might be, “am I going to stay here for a very long time or am I realistically moving in a few years, how many kids do I plan on having or do I have, are grandparents/parents going to be moving in at some point, what are the chances that I will need to think about what if something happens to me or a family member & becomes handicapped”?Each question helps the designer better understand you & how (s)he can best serve your needs.
This is a two-fold answer of yes & no.Yes, you do pay for upfront cost & services, & no, because in the end the designer keeps the client from making costly mistakes & ensures that the end result is one that the client is going to be happy with for many years to come.The design professional can recommend a variety of solutions involving a variety of costs giving the client options that the client may not know about.The designer knows how to save time in terms of shopping & has a vast knowledge of resources for products & services that the client may not know about.The design professional has established relationships with skilled trades people.Designers are trained to make the best solution for a client’s needs even needs that the client may not have considered at the onset.
4. Ultimately, it is the client who determines the budget.The design professional will then be able to assess a variety of things such as is the budget realistic based upon the client’s expectations or does a reassessment of expectations need to occur?It is also helpful to seek out information from friends who have gone through similar processes such as a kitchen remodel.How different is the size & materials of what you want from what your friends have done?Speaking to other trade professionals or researching on line such as how much per square foot is reclaimed walnut flooring?This way you have some idea whether it is $2/sq ft or $20/sq ft & how that may fit in with your budget.
5.The best things one can bring to an initial meeting are a budget, what that budget covers, the time frame desired, any information that you can share about your ideas, an open mind, all decision makers, & questions.
6. Just start like you would with anyone:with small talk.Do you “click” or is there just nothing there?Sometimes the chemistry is simply not there.You need to feel confident & comfortable in your choices.You will be working with this person for weeks or months depending on the project. Ask to see their portfolio.Remember that this reflects their clients’ taste & not their taste.Ask for references.Does the designer actually listen to you?Does (s)he actually take notes?Does (s)he seem to be sincerely interestedin you & your project?
7. Do you think you can accomplish the redesign, have the time, the vetted trades people, & the desire?If yes, then you don’t need a designer.You ultimately need to be realistic about the amount of time, expertise you have, & money you are willing to spend.
8. Design professionals charge in various ways or combination of ways.Some may charge by the hour, some charge a flat fee, some may work from retainers & bill you the difference every month.Some may pass their designer discounts on to you.Some charge a percentage of the project, products, & services rendered.Some may work with a variety of options that are project specific.Whatever is agreed upon you need to ensure that you & the design professional understand the budget & it is clearly spelled out.
Minor colour changes or style changes generally made at no charge provided that it is actually minor & does not cause majour changes to the design concept.ASID recommends that you “minimize changes to your plan” as each change has repercussions.
Should you have questions about the design or dislike something you should speak to the design professional about it, (s)he made that plan based upon the conversations you had & it can be altered.Just be prepared to pay for that time.If you choose to make majour changes, expect to pay for the time that it takes to execute those changes.
If a client has received a plan & choose to not move forward with it for whatever reason, the client will be responsible to pay for the time that went into the preparation of said design.
9. Furniture has a lead time from 4-12 weeks.Some products can take longer.The time to prepare a plan varies depending on the complexity but can range from several days to a several weeks.Window treatments, once fabric is received by the workroom can vary from 1-6 weeks depending on the backlog & size of the job.Reupholstering takes several weeks to several months depending on fabric availability, backlog & size of job unless it is a very simple job such as dining chair seats.Construction is job specific so ask about your project.