Tips for Working with an Interior Designer

This week up on the blog we are featuring the work of Lisa Frederick, a Houzz Contributor.  She shares her 8 tips for working with an Interior Designer.

1. Be sure the designer is a good match for your style.

No two clients are alike, and good interior designers are nimble enough to hop from urban pied-à-terre to rustic farmhouse to beachside getaway without missing a beat. 

Most do have a fundamental aesthetic that remains consistent throughout their work. When interviewing designers, ask them about their design approach, and look for parallels between their previous work and the design you want. Above all, look for someone you feel comfortable communicating with.

Photo Cred:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/468233692490235668/

 2. Collect samples. 

Even if you have trouble articulating your desired look, pictures of rooms you love can instantly give the designer a sense of what you crave. He or she will ask you about specific points of the design that resonate with you and use those as guidelines. Fabric swatches, paint chips, furniture catalogs and your own Houzz ideabooks are other good sources for showing items you like. On the flip side, pull examples of colors, motifs and furniture styles that turn you off, which can be equally helpful.

Photo Cred: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/527695281318966421/

3. Decide in advance which pieces must stay. 

Not willing to get rid of your Biedermeier sideboard or your majolica collection? The process will go more smoothly if you share that information with your designer during the initial site visit and consultation. That way, he or she can plan around the items that you don’t want to give up.

4. Involve the designer as early as possible in the building process. 

If you’re remodeling or building from scratch, include the designer in the planning stages with your architect, building designer and contractor. This way, the pros involved will all be on the same page and can iron out any potential discrepancies — particularly those that involve the bones of a home, such as doorways, ceiling beams or interior columns. It’s one thing to reorient a window on paper; it’s another entirely to move it after installation.

5. Try to have key household members present at the outset. 

Having all the adults’ input from the get-go helps to avoid potential conflicts down the road. If a spouse or loved one objects to a certain color or reveals that he or she just can’t part with Grandmother’s antique dining table, it’s easiest to work out those issues right away.

Photo Cred:  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AVzD7v5vLMDUc9gnmmgJv1eeIwx1sewfEGV13j-aqB6cv_l7e6z42I4/

6. Ask the designer to clarify billing procedures. 

Find out at the beginning when you’ll be charged and what for. In addition to the design itself, you may be billed for travel time, site visits, shopping, phone conversations and more. Also, ask how you’ll be billed for furnishings, accents, materials or other items. This way, you’ll be able to anticipate fairly closely what and when to pay.

7. Keep an open mind. 

It’s a rare client who loves 100 percent of a designer’s suggestions right off the bat. Your designer might recommend a piece of furniture or a wallpaper pattern that you’re iffy about, but don’t say no without giving the idea some time to sink in. Chances are that when you ask your designer why he or she chose it, and when you take a little time to live with it, you’ll appreciate the reason it works. 

8. Look toward refreshing down the road. 

Even the best design doesn’t stay current forever. Ask your designer if tune-up visits in the future are an option, whether they involve simply swapping out a few accessories, reupholstering furniture or choosing new paint colors.