How to Find an Interior Designer
Why is it so hard to find an interior designer? Many people just don’t know where to begin or they feel intimidated by the entire process. They want the service, they are uncomfortable with how to get there.
A good first step is to gather information. Go online and view the online portfolios of interior designers. The American Society of Interior Designers, Design Finder, Ava Living and Furnitureseen provide designer listings with links to web pages where you can view their portfolios. This takes time and work, but is well worth it in the end.
The search does not end on the internet – only about 38% of Interior Designers maintain websites for their practices, so the majority are not even going to be online. Talk to friends and peruse shelter magazines. Save the pages with details you like. Add those designers to your list of potential candidates.
Once you have a short list, define your scope of work. How many rooms will be included? Will you want to incorporate any existing pieces? Will there be any interior remodel or is it just a furnishing and finshes job?
Assign a budget. You must give a potential designer an idea of what you have to spend. There are many designers that can work within a budget, but only if they know what it is. Designers are happy to discuss your project to help you get that number if you are completely lost.
Make the calls. Contact the designers on the phone. Tell them what you are looking for and what you think your budget is. If it feels right, set up a face-to-face meeting.
Consider meeting at the designers office so you can get a sense of the operation. How many people are in the office, will you be working with the principal designer or an associate? What materials are in the office, are there renderings of current projects? Ask the designer to walk you through the process. What steps will be taken from start to finish. What are the fees? Does the designer feel your budget makes sense for the scope of work you have outlined?
Finally, once you decide on a designer, make sure you execute a written contract for the work.
