Hiring an interior designer for you home can be a big feat. Emotions, visions, and expenses are all intertwined.
… And it is safe to say you want to hire someone who will not only create a beautiful space for you, but make the process enjoyable and straightforward. Oh, and interior designers want the same thing! We want our clients to be happy, our team to be successful, and to flex our creative muscles along the way.
So you might be asking yourself, “How do you know if an interior designer is the right fit for me? Here are five questions to ask to help you out!
1. What is your design and sourcing process?
We’ve always been very open about our processes and we believe that this transparency is vital so that our clients know how we gather and use inspiration, how we design within our team, how much involvement they will have in the process, and where we are sourcing our products. Every person should be asking their designer where they source product: Are they going to trade shows or shopping retail sources? Do they have relationships with custom vendors? All of these things will have an impact on the end result, and you should know up front.
2. How many jobs do you take on at one time?
We only take on a certain number of jobs at a time to avoid burn out, and make sure our clients are getting the best experience and the best design from us. If a firm is over-extended, it may lengthen your project timeline and you may not get the level of communication you are expecting.
3. How many people will I be working with from your team?
It’s important for potential clients to know who they will be communicating with directly, what role each team member has on the project, and whether the owner/principle designer will be involved. There is likely a team of capable designers behind all those beautiful images on their website.
4. How do you collaborate on design with your clients?
To have a mutually beneficial relationship, this topic is SO incredibly important. We collaborate with our clients early in the process to get a feel for their inspiration and goals for the space. As a potential client, you’ll want to know how much you can be involved and set your expectations accordingly from the start.
5. How do you work through tough topics like time frame and budget?
Before getting started, you should know how and when your designer bills what steps they take to make sure the budget and timeline is on track. How often will they check in and who will initiate that conversation? Who will handle issues when they arise?
As with any business or personal relationship, honesty are transparency are the keys to a good experience. If the team is open about their processes and you can set appropriate expectations, your space will be beautiful in no time!
You can learn more about our interior design services here.
