Working With A Designer (via House Beautiful)
Hey there! Kylie here again this week - and I’m here to share an amazing article written by Kaitlin Petersen (the editor in chief of Business of Home) for House Beautiful. We preach about this topic all the time and this article could not have said it better! Plus, it came at a perfect time when clients have been confined to their homes over the past several months, staring at their walls thinking, “Hmmm, maybe it’s time for a remodel?!”
If you’ve never worked with a designer but you’re considering one, then this is definitely for you! And if you have worked with a designer, it’s a great refresh of what to expect!
One of the first things that caught our attention is something that we say to prospective clients all the time:
Just as you’re looking for the perfect designer, they are looking for the right fit too which means first impressions definitely count.
This is so true. We are looking for the right fit for our clients as well. Does your aesthetic match with ours? If you are looking for contemporary that really is not our forte. Work with someone who shares your aesthetic, it will save you time and money. Other things we look for:
Can you roll with the punches when one of the hundreds of items we’ve ordered for you gets damaged or delayed? The likelihood of that happening is high. Especially in the time of Covid - when we can’t guarantee shipping times as quickly as we would like!
Are you able to make a decision quickly when we give you a few choices? Because the quicker you can make a decision, the fewer revisions (AND LESS BILLABLE HOURS!) we have to spend!
Are you able to trust your designer? If you can’t trust us and our vision, then we, once again, spend more time revising!
We also look to see how subcontractors are treated:
Every designer has a crazy story about that one nightmare client who drove them up the wall. Maybe they were rude to the painters and installers, quibbled over agree-upon billing, or just couldn’t make up their minds.
Something like this can easily be avoided! There are so many great tips in this article, here are a few of our favorites!
The Initial Consult Phase and Contract Signing
Ok, so you’ve come in for your initial consult, and you are discussing possibly working with this designer. During that initial meeting, the designer is likely asking you about your style, asking about your Pinterest pages, and of course…going through the contract! Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:
That’s right! Before you’ve even read the contract, don’t start off with questions about our fees! Our fees are based on our expertise, they are not based on your budget. If you feel that your designer’s fee is too high, that’s ok! But you need to determine that before signing contracts.
Another bad idea? Talking about your last designer in a negative way. That gives us a signal that perhaps we should not take on the project. If you want a designer to consider taking you on as a client, be respectful of previous designers’ work.
Beginning Phases of a Project
Now, let’s say you have started your project with us. We’ve begun the nitty-gritty design process and we’ve selected some GREAT options for you. Remember to TRUST us - we know what we’re doing. If you can trust us, then make a decision! If you can’t, it can only hurt you financially in the end. (And if you can’t, that’s ok! Perhaps it’s not time to use a designer just yet - no harm in waiting or deciding it’s just not the right fit for you. It’s better to make that decision before you get into the contract phase!)
A lot of times, the upfront design is hefty work. In fact, the client rarely understands all the work that goes on behind the scenes, especially at the beginning of the project. We are spending hours finding the perfect color scheme, fabrics, tile samples, etc. When that first or second bill comes, you may have sticker shock at first. This is why we talk about this at our first consult with potential clients: we want you to know what’s happening behind the scenes and how the invoices add up! This statement below is so true - we don’t charge for all the hours we work on your project!! All those special trips to the antique stores digging for the “perfect” accessory - we likely didn’t charge for that time!
During the Construction Phase
What happens towards the end when we’re doing installations or we’re working with the subcontractors such as cabinet makers, electricians, wallpaper installer, etc.? We always look for our clients to be respectful and treat the subcontractors how we want to be treated! If you are negative to someone on the team, it shows. Sadly, it makes for a very long project for both the client and the design/construction team. This next tidbit is so telling and so true!
This is just a handful of helpful tips if you’re looking to engage an interior designer for your project. There are so many more in the full article at House Beautiful! If you want to know all the ways that an interior designer can help you, check out this blog we featured last week. There are many different ways to use a designers’ skillset and ways that engaging a designer can actually save you time, money, and grief along the way! (Don’t worry - not all the ways will break the bank, we promise!)
Let us know what you’ve done in the past to make your relationship with your designer the best that it can be! We’d love to hear from you!