How to chose an interior designer for your project
With a variety of skill sets, styles, and personalities to choose from, it can feel a little overwhelming with where to begin.
There are interior designers that know how to create a home out of nothing and by nothing, I mean talent and vision. From blueprint designs to detailed millwork renderings and lighting layouts to knowing how to guide a construction crew from concept through to completion.
Then there are ‘designers’ whose skill sets don’t leave the retail floor. Where their specialty is limited to furniture shopping and pillow fluffing.
At Curated Home, we like to call them ‘Debby decorators’.
You know, the board housewives or socialites with a keen interest HGTV and an eye for trends who will help people decorate homes by utilizing the expertise of the staff that works in the shops they love to frequent. I can’t tell you how many times I experienced this first hand when I worked at Chintz & Co ages ago. Caroline and I have a chuckle from time to time as we swap stories of the ‘designers’ that would consume hours of our time as we helped them design spaces for their clients.
Now don’t get me wrong, there’s a place for everyone in the realm of home decor and design. Not everyone needs the full skillset of a seasoned designer and there are many who are satisfied with a simple shopping companion but it’s important to differentiate the two.
Be cautious of the ‘Debby Decorators’ sell themselves as interior designers and utilize the talents of others to execute a project they’re not skilled enough to do themselves. You should not be paying for high level design if your ‘designer’ isn’t really a designer.
All too often these hobby designers over inflate their rates to try to compensate for their lack of credibility and sadly, some people fall for it.
Now, it’s not to say that all skill sets are created equal. There are some designers and stylists who can run circles around the most qualified designers and I’ve witnessed certified designers fail miserably in their field.
Techniques and theories can be taught but style, grace, and a keen aesthetic eye are gifts you were born with … or not and that’s the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what differentiates a talented designer from the rest.
There are some designers who have the eye but then lack the ability to properly coordinate and execute a project.
Then there is project management, which is an entirely different skillset; one of which is fundamental in running a successful project. It’s one thing to conceptualize a vision but it’s an entirely different thing to bring a vision to life. Cultivating a positive and smooth experience for a client is just as essential as the design itself. Managing timelines, budgets, expectations, trades, and coordinating deliveries and installations to create a while glove experience requires careful orchestration and is a skill set that should not be overlooked when hiring the right designer. If you’re looking for a truly white-glove experience, I advise you to work with a firm that has the team in place to perform for you.
Ensure you understand the talent and skill level of the person you choose to work with before hiring your designer.
Degrees don’t necessarily equate to talent but do be cautious of overpaying for those who ‘Debby decorators’ are leveraging off of the skill set of others and don’t know the first thing about full scope design execution.
A good designer is one who’s been vetted and comes with a long list of clients who are elated with their work.
A reputable designer has an established brand and following and knows how to navigate murky waters when things get challenging because let’s be honest, builds and renovations can get messy sometimes. They often aren’t as straight forward as you would like and will at times require quick, well thought out solutions to unexpected challenges.
Navigating city permits, drawing requirements, and establishing a vision, choosing the right team for the vision to ensure that it’s properly executed takes skill. A skill that isn’t learned in a textbook, skill that takes years of field experience to harvest. Knowing who’s who in the world of trades and vendors is just one of the secret ingredients to becoming a great designer.
Knowing what fabrics are best suited for certain applications, knowing how to navigate a budget so a client gets the most visual impact and best quality possible is learned through years of experience and building relationships with the right suppliers. A seasoned designer will charge more than someone just cutting their teeth in the industry but I can assure you that the cost savings of inexperienced design will cost you more in the long run.
Just like most anything, it’s an experience game and you get what you pay for.
If I want a spectacular suit, you bet I’m going to a tailor who’s been around the block, the same principle applies to a good divorce lawyer or interior designer. If you want the best experience and most beautiful outcome, expect their rates to reflect their talent and resources.
Finding someone who resonates with you is incredibly important but please ensure that they aren’t just a pretty face and with a fluffy portfolio.
If you’ve got a big project, ask them what their biggest scope of work has been and check out their references. Google and Houzz are great because they verify the authenticity of the reviews, the more reviews the better.
Next, ask them if they have any awards. Builders association awards are great but have a reputation in the industry for being won as a popularity contest and longstanding members. International awards are even better as most are peer reviewed by some of the top talent in the world and are harder to shortlist for to begin with. A shortlisted international award entry for example holds far more weight than a fist place award in a city. The reason being, it’s very difficult to have your work shortlisted when competing on a world stage.
Next, make sure you have the right chemistry. A good designer regardless of their ‘success’ level should offer a complimentary meet and greet at their office or a chic cafe.
It’s important that any designer you are wanting to work with will offer you the opportunity to connect and get acquainted without billing. It’s nice to test drive the company of the person who is supposed to come alongside you to guide you in all your decision making and the chances are if they can afford a retail space or nice office, their not all smoke and mirrors.
However, be wary of designers who do free in-home consultations.
It’s often a sign that' they’re not in demand enough to bill for their time and I can assure you that they will pad their time into your fees later. It’s always better to work with people who are transparent and in demand.
When it come to hiring the best interior designer, connection is Key
You want to make sure that you feel comfortable being your most authentic self with them.
Are they warm and approachable, eager to listen, and excited to hear about what sets your heart on fire or are they quick to tell you all about their ‘big wig’ clients and spend the time together discussing their fee structure and invoicing systems?
Yes, it’s good to ask all those questions but I would encourage you to choose someone who isn’t trying to sell you.
Your design journey will be a more enjoyable one if you can find an interior designer who genuinely wants to connect with you and who has the right skillset for your scope of work.
Do you feel like they ‘get you’, are you able to laugh and discuss your design goals and leave feeling excited?
It’s important that you can because when you’re knee-deep in building or renovating, you will need someone who can keep you excited and your eyes on the prize. Even re-furnishing an entire home can feel a little daunting at times. Wouldn’t you rather choose velvet over a glass of bubble or a cappuccino than feel rushed to choose a fabric to ensure the meeting doesn’t go a minute over schedule?
For me, I’m in this for the sole reason that there is nothing better than creating works of living art that elevate my client’s quality of day to day life experience.
From how they function more smoothly in the kitchen and entertain with pride in how their dining rooms inspire engaging conversations and bedrooms inspire stronger libido. I love what I do because it changes lives. I love what I do because I’m a visually sensitive creature and creating a life more beautiful for others makes me extremely happy.
Here are the top 3 most important things to consider when hiring an interior designer.
Skill: They have the right skill set for your project and the portfolio and testimonies to back it up. Also be sure not to hire a designer who is over qualified for your scope of work. Typically senior designers have a minimum scope of work criteria but you don’t need to work with a principle designer if you are choosing a few pieces of new furniture for your home.
Communication Compatibility: You feel seen and heard by your designers and feel comfortable sharing any ideas with them. If you don’t feel like you can be yourself and have a good flow of conversation with a potential designer, keep searching until you find someone that you feel you mesh well with.
Fee Structure: Ensure that you’re comfortable with their billing protocols. There is no set standard so don’t be shy when it comes to inquiring about their billing structure. Remember that you often get what you pay for. Saving money in design fees for someone unqualified for your project will only cost you with oversights and mistakes later. To correct any custom furniture errors or construction mistakes is a very costly endeavour.
Style Compatibility: If however a designers portfolio all looks the same, it’s a sign that they are more ridged with their design style. Unless you like the style of their portfolio, it’s best to work with a designer who has a more eclectic portfolio and has a client centric philosophy or has done past work that resonates with you. You wouldn’t want to hire a ultra designer to do a traditional home if their portfolio is limited to highly modern properties.
Passion: The secret sauce to any expert. The ones that LOVE what they do are often better at it. They are also more likely to go above and beyond for you so ensure that you feel a sense of passion and enthusiasm from the designer you are considering for your deisgn journey. Builds and renovations can be fatiguing, the last thing you need it to work with a tire professional who’s lost their spark for their craft.
I hope this gives you some insight on some of the important things to consider when selecting the right designer for your project.
If you would like to discover what working with Curated Home might look like, we would love to learn how we can best serve you.
If you’re an American, consider the benefits of working with a Canadian design firm. With strategically placed logistics teams across the US, we are able to offer exceptional digital design services with a white-glove approach. Upon request, we can also travel to meet your needs. Tax benefits also allow for maximizing budget equity in your home.
I welcome you to schedule a complimentary consultion should you wish to explore the possibility of working with us Curated Home. Give us a call at 604-564-0404, contact us online, or visit our boutique design store at 1637 W 3rd Ave, Vancouver.
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