Working with Designers: Benefitting from the Tricks of the Trade
Posted February 24, 2010  |  No Comments  | 

That condo at Vantage Pointe you've just bought came with many of the bells and whistles you long dreamed of--granite countertops, beautiful wood cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling windows... But, of course, it didn't come furnished. Putting your distinctive mark on your new space is up to you--the furniture and window treatments, colors of the walls, lighting, floor coverings... There are a lot of decisions to make and, let's face it, it can be overwhelming to go it alone with so many choices of fabrics and paint colors, furniture styles and light fixtures. This can be especially challenging in an urban condo.

Interior designer and realtor Christine Diveley of Christine Diveley Interior Design and Real Estate notes that typically these spaces are smaller than suburban homes, "so every piece of furniture is important, as is scale. Everything counts." She points out that shopping in a large showroom with high ceilings can make crucial choices difficult because it's hard to get the sense of scale you'll need in your more intimate sized home.

Kellie McCormick is president elect of the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, or ASID, and an interior designer with Bast/Wright Interiors. She adds that these spaces often also need to be multifunctional, with a room perhaps serving as an office during the day and bedroom at night.

"Being able to properly plan and design the space can really change the function," she notes. So, even if you feel you have great taste, it may be the moment to hire an interior designer, someone to keep you focused and on track, who gets what you're trying to accomplish, who understands scale, and can create a consistent, functional look for your new home that reflects who you are and how you live.

What Do You Need?
For some projects--purchasing new living room furniture, for example--a furniture store's in-house stylist may be sufficient. If demolition is involved, call an architect. It's that middle ground that calls for an interior designer. They're trained to develop floor plans, coordinate colors, deal with purchasing, and manage installations.

"We can look at the bigger picture for a concept that respects the space's architecture and the client's personality and lifestyle," explains Blakeley. "We want to understand who the users are, how the space will be used, do they entertain. Once we have a concept, we help with a budget and prioritizing what needs to be done."

The Hiring Process
First, think hard about what you want and need. Who is this space for, what will happen in it, what's your budget and timeframe? Perhaps you have a lot of details that need attending to or you just need a couple of hours of consultation to get ideas for choosing furniture, paint colors, and lighting. Then interview designers. Get referrals from people whose taste and judgment you trust, check out web sites, get names from shelter magazine stories or programs on HGTV or San Diego's local ASID chapter web site. They're the design industry's professional organization.

Of course, what you're looking for is someone creative and talented with whom you can work closely, who listens to you and understands what you want, and can lead you through the design process. Among the questions you'll is the designer's education and training, the projects he or she's worked on, and their scope of services.

In fact, you'll want to know if the people you're considering are trained interior designers who belong to the ASID or simply decorators, says Diveley.  "Ask about their experience. Designing a huge house is very different compared with a two-bedroom condo. There are a lot of issues that come up with condominiums, like getting furniture into the space or working with HOA rules."

Discuss fees, communications parameters, and any other concerns you have. Be honest with the designer about your budget and be upfront about asking about fees. Some charge a fixed or flat fee for all services. Some charge hourly, others cost plus--meaning they buy the materials, furniture, services, etc. at cost and then sell it to you at cost plus a percentage you agree to. Those numbers should be transparent, says Diveley.

"Fees can vary from project to project," explains McCormick. "Talking openly and upfront about your budget and what types of services you feel you need is very important. Setting parameters helps you and the designer. For larger projects designers typically put together an in-depth contract that outlines the different phases of design as well as a cost estimate. Some designers do flat-fee contracts, and for smaller projects paying the designer by the hour may be the most appropriate."

Once you've decided on someone, you'll want to sign a contract to define the scope of the project, who's responsible for what, the duration of the project, and the budget.

Be a Good Client           
This is a partnership so as a client you have your responsibilities as well to make sure your project turns out the way you want and to keep costs down and tempers even. A good start, says McCormick, is to do some preliminary research, like looking through magazines and pulling visuals to help express their needs. "This can be extremely helpful because they have something visual and tangible to communicate with," she notes.

Once you are in a working relationship with a designer, the ASID suggests you:

• Minimize changes to your plans.
  
• Consider carefully and make notes before you call your designer.
  
• Stay flexible.
  
• Trust your gut.
  
• Avoid open-ended requests.
  

"When I first meet a client I openly discuss and ask about their goals, discuss budget, and get to the bottom of what they need," says McCormick. "There isn't a fixed formula for hiring a designer, but the first, and I think, the most important component to accomplish is to make sure your client understands that you are listening--whether it be about design ideas, budget, or how many shoes they want to fit in their closet. It all is important. I try to put myself in their shoes and do what's best for them and I think that makes a big difference."