Hiring an Interior Designer

by Hawaii Island Architects, LLC

Working with an interior designer can save you time and money, as they have many years of expertise and can collaborate with you to decide how your household will ultimately look.

Any changes made to your home will need to be carried out by someone who cares about what they do; as such, the interior designer you meet must be aware of what you want, as well as understand that the work you do together must be a labor of love. After all, since we live in our homes for many years, we must be genuinely happy with the work that has been done and who we have chosen to help us through the process. An expert interior designer can offer their personal assessment and help make your vision a reality. They will also help to highlight the practical demands behind what you want, as well as working within a limited budget.

The first and most important step is to find the right designer for your particular needs. Any interior design job will personally matter to the homeowner, and the interior designer you employ is expected to show the reverence and respect the work naturally deserves. Therefore, you must do your research about what you would like your interior designer to do for you: are they helping to redecorate an entire home, or perhaps just a single room? And to what extent does this redecoration work constitute: are they helping with everything? Or do you want them to leave certain responsibilities to you, meaning they are only allowed to assist with a few aspects?

Carry out detailed research and ask for references from friends and family. If you know of particular elements in a friend's house that you adore, ask them who helped with the work and how the result was achieved in the end. Spend time looking in magazines or online, and fashion a list of interior designers who are local to you who you think can help. Also look around decorator showhouses and furniture showrooms for ideas.

When looking online, pay attention to samples shown on an interior designer's website, so you can get an idea of their own sense of style and whether what they can bring to the project will work for you. You can also peruse the ASID Referral Service (http://www.asid.org/) that offers a list of local designers as well as a handy "Find a Designer" online search database.

Interviewing different interior designers will help you gauge who is most suited to the job. You will need confidence in what you would like to do and, with personal projects such as this, having chemistry with those you work with is essential to its overall success. Describe your vision by referring to specific color schemes or pieces of furniture from magazine articles or website photos if possible and never become intimidated or nervous about asking for help. Communication is key.

After finding an interior designer, research the costs of the project as well as factor in their own fees. Many costs in relation to the project itself will change over time, so determine a sensible (and realistic!) budget that you can adhere to without having to struggle. Bear in mind that an interior designer may be able to help you to minimize your expenses as time progresses. They will also be able to streamline the process and help you to find the reliable construction and remodeling contractors you need.

An interior designer has accrued a wealth of resources throughout their time in the business; they will already have knowledge of certain products, brands and price ranges you may be attracted to before you even begin talking with them! They will also be able to liase with other people who work in the industry and will be able to share a pool of helpful information, a vast array of different contacts, and that all-important trained eye for style.