How do I choose and work with an Interior Designer?

Q. How do I choose an interior designer to design my custom home or remodeling project?

A. Compile a list of designers, using professional sources and references (see Chicago Luxury Home & Condo
and search interior designers on ChicagoLuxuryHomeandCondo.com.) If a certain room grabs your eye, find
out who designed it. Go and check out other projects that the designer has been working on. A great interior
designer, like a great architect or builder, sees space creatively, applying years of education and experience
to deliver a distinguished residence at the highest level of quality in an organized, professional
manner. Intensely visual, these talented individuals imprint a home with the spirit
and personality of the family living there.

Q. I have a pretty firm sense of what I want, but I am unsure how to translate that for my interior designer.
How can I best communicate to potential interior designers what I like?

A. The more exposure you have to good design, the easier it becomes to develop your style.
Here are some ideas that will give you a basic understanding of where to begin:

• Haunt the bookstores that have large selections of shelter magazines and
stacks of books on decorating, design and architecture.

• Attend show houses, especially the Designer Showcase homes presented
twice annually by ASID, and visit model homes, apartments or lofts.

• Go on house tours in your area. Take pictures with your camera or cell phone
(if permitted) to capture an idea on film.

All of these ideas will give your interior designer a better sense of what you think is aesthetically
pleasing. Remember, this project is all about you and what makes you feel at home.

Before you start scheduling initial interviews with interior designers, start compiling an
“Dream Room Scrapbook” – it’s the best tool for developing an awareness of your personal style. Buy a
three-ring notebook and fill it with acetate sheet holders and graph paper. Using tabbed dividers, organize
the information by room or product, and fill the scrapbook with ideas. Inspiration is everywhere – take pictures
(cell phones are good for this) of things you see, and scour magazines and websites. We offer the most images
in the Chicago area here on ChicagoLuxuryHomeandCondo.com. You can compile your own digital
scrapbook on our website by saving your favorites into in your own personal file. Bringing this scrapbook
to the interview helps both you and the interior designer see if you are on the same “wavelength” –
are your aesthetics compatible? Some interior designers prefer to specialize
in one style – and this style might not be yours.

This “Dream Room Scrapbook” will continue to be an important part of the designing and building process.
Pictures can show what is so hard to put into words. These pictures as a whole also offer an overall
view of what your taste in design. You may say you love traditional rooms, while your
book shows a more modern, cutting-edge sensibility.

Then, when you hold the initial meeting, you, too, will have a book of ideas to share. Although a smart
designer will be able to coax this information from you, it’s tremendously more reliable to have visual
representatives than to depend on a verbal description. It also saves a tremendous amount of time.


Q. What should I know before going into an interview with a potential interior designer?

A. Of course, you should feel free to ask absolutely anything – this is a test of the comfort level
you should be able to expect when working with your interior designer. But, to make sure you get the
information you need, here are some topics you should think about before going into the interview:

• Know what level of guidance you want: a person to handle every detail,
someone to collaborate with you or simply an occasional consultation.

• Know what you’re trying to achieve. Don’t forget your scrapbook.
This will help you define your style and stay true to your goal.

• Know your budget. Prices of high-end furnishings know no upper limit. Adopt a “master plan”
to phase in design elements if your tastes are outpacing your pocketbook.

• Know what’s going on. Always ask; don’t assume. Design is not a mystical process.

• Know yourself. Don’t get blinded by beauty. Stay focused on what
makes you feel “at home”, and you’ll be successful.


Q. There are so many great interior designers out there. How do I decide which one is right for me?

A. During the initial meeting, count on your intuition to guide you toward the best designer for you.
Decorating a home is an intimate and very personal experience, so a comfortable relationship with a high
degree of trust is absolutely necessary for a good result. You may adore what a designer did for a friend, but
if you can’t easily express your ideas, or if you feel he or she isn’t interested in your point of view,
don’t pursue the relationship. Unless you can imagine yourself working with a designer
two or three home from now, keep interviewing.

You may wish to hire a designer for one room before making a commitment to do the whole house.

Some designers maintain a high degree of confidentiality regarding their clients, but if possible,
get references and contact them, especially clients with whom they’ve worked on more
than one home. Be sure to ask about the quality of follow-up service.

Be prepared to talk in specific terms about your project, and to honestly access your lifestyle.
For a home or a room to work well, function must be considered along with the
evolving style. Designers ask many questions; some of them may be:

• What function should each room serve? Will a living room double as home theater?
Will a guest room also be an office?

• Who uses the rooms? Growing children, adults, friends?
Which are shared and which are private?

• What safety and maintenance issues must be addressed?
A growing family or a family pet may dictate the degree of elegance of a home.

• What kind of relationship do you want to establish between the interior and the landscape?

• Style: Formal, casual or a bit of both?

• Are you comfortable with color?

• Are you sentimental, practical?

• Are you naturally organized or disorganized?

• What kind of art do you like? Do you own art that needs to be highlighted
or displayed in a certain way? Do you need space for a growing collection?

• Do you feel at home in a dog-eared, low maintenance family room
or do you soothe by rich cabinetry and Oriental rugs?

• What kind of furniture do you like? Queen Anne, contemporary, American Arts
and Crafts, casual wicker, or eclectic mixing of styles?

• What words describe the feeling you want to achieve? Cheerful, cozy, tranquil, elegant, classic?

Q. What exactly should I expect from my interior designer?

A. Every interior designer is going to be different, but here is a basic checklist
to use when comparing candidates for your project:

Experience
A top quality interior designer who is licensed by the state is well educated in the field of
interior design, usually holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the subject. This educational
background coupled with practical experience is vital. You need not know where to get the best down-filled
pillows or when French fabric mills close each summer. You need not learn the difference between
French Country and English Country, how to match patterns, or how to correctly balance a
floor plan. Rely on a knowledgeable designer for that information.

Business Savvy
A great interior designer also handles the “nuts and bolts” business end of the project.
With skill and experience in placing and tracking orders, scheduling shipping, delivery and
installation, the designer can bring your project to its perfect conclusion.

Creativity
That special talent to see the possibilities in a living room, library, or little reading nook, is the most
important asset an interior designer will bring to a project. Particularly in upper-end interiors, where
the expense of sumptuous furnishings is often a secondary concern,
the creative vision is what makes a room extraordinary.

Q. How do I even begin to discuss money? Staying within budget is important to me, and what
should I expect when discussing the interior designer’s fee? How will I be charged for her services?

A. Everyone has a budget, and a good interior designer understands this. Being frank and honest about
costs and expectations is important from day one. Your prospective architect should be very open
about what kind of budget he is comfortable working in and how he will bill you.

Designers use individual contracts, standard contracts drawn up by the American Society of Interior
Designers (ASID), or letters of agreements as legal documents. The ASID contract outlines seven
project phases – programming, schematic, design development, contract documents, contract
administration, project representation beyond basic services, and additional services. It outlines
the designer’s special responsibilities, the fees agreed upon, and the method of
payments to the designer, including reimbursement of expenses.

Payment deadlines vary. Payments may be due at the completion of each project phase, on a monthly
or quarterly basis, or as orders are made. You can usually expect to pay a retainer or a
50 percent deposit on goods as they are ordered, 40 percent upon the start
of installation, and the balance when the job is completed.

Design fees, which may be based on “current market rate,” are also computed in various ways. They may be
changed on a flat fee or hourly basis, or may be tied to retail costs. Expect fees of approximately $100 an hour,
varying by experience, reputation and workload. If an hourly rate is being used, ask if there is a cap per day,
and if different rates are charged for an assistant’s or drafter’s time. Percentages may be figured as a certain
amount above the retail or trade price, and can range from 15 to 100 percent. Make sure you understand
your fee structure early on. Separate design fees may be charged by the hour, room, or entire project.
It is imperative to trust your designer and rely on his or her reputation of delivering a
top quality project in an honest, reliable fashion. You must feel you’re
being given a reliable service for a fair price.

If you work with a designer at a retail store, a design service fee ranging from
$100 to $500 may be charged and applied against purchases.

Q. The interior designer is just one part of my team for redoing my rooms. I worry about the
communication process. How do I make sure that everyone is on the same page?

A. Communication is not something that should be left to chance! Be sure to schedule
meetings with all members of your team to make sure that everyone knows what is going on. A skilled
designer can collaborate with the other professionals on matters such as window and door location,
appropriate room size, and practical and accent lighting plans. In new construction and
remodeling, try to make your floor plan and furniture choices simultaneously, to avoid
common design problems, such as traffic corridors running through a formal
space or awkward locations of electrical outlets.

Q. Okay, I’ve got my interior designer. How do I begin the process of working with this
person designing my custom home or remodeling project?

A. To establish the most successful and pleasant relationship with an interior
designer, make a personal commitment to be involved.

Start by defining your needs, in terms of service and the end result. Have an interior designer
involved during the architectural drawing phase of a new or renovation project, and get the process
started early. Be clear about how much help you want from a designer. Some homeowners have a strong
sense of what they want and simply need a consultant-type relationship. Others want significant
guidance from a professional who will oversee the entire process.

Set up a relationship that encourages an open exchange of ideas. In pursuit of personal style,
you need to trust a professional designer to interpret your thoughts and needs. You must be comfortable
saying, “No, I don’t like that,” and receptive to hearing, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Be forthcoming about your budget. Not all interiors are guided by budget, but the majority are.
Your designer must know and respect your financial parameters and priorities. If a gorgeous dining room
table is a top priority, objets d’art can be added later as you find them. Prices of exquisite furniture, custom-carved
cabinets, and other high-end furnishings know no upper limit. Be realistic about what you will spend and what
you expect to achieve. Do some research in furniture stores and specialty shops, starting with those
showcased in this book. If your expectations temporarily exceed your
budget, phase in the décor over a period of time.

Be inquisitive as the design unfolds. This is a creative effort on your behalf,
so let yourself enjoy it, understand it and be stimulated by it.


Q. Is there any more advice you can give me before I begin this project?

A. Once you’ve found a designer who you like and trust, and have signed a clear, specific agreement,
you’re ready to embark on the adventure. Here are some things to remember before you begin:

• Just as you’ve allowed time to carefully consider and reconsider architectural blueprints,
temper your enthusiasm to rush into decisions regarding your interiors. Leave fabric swatches where you
see them day after day. Look at paint samples in daylight, evening light and artificial light. If possible,
have everyone in the family “test sit” a kitchen chair for a week before ordering the whole set, and play
with furniture placement. This small investment of time will play handsomely in the end.

• Appropriate light and well-designed accent lighting are very important to the overall comfort and
functionality of a home. Neither the stunning volume ceiling nor the cozy breakfast nook can reach their
potential if the lighting is wrong. Ask your interior designer for his or her lighting ideas. These choices
need to be made in coordination with the building, so plan and place orders early.

• Be prepared to wait for your interiors to be installed. It’s realistic to allow eight months to complete
a room, and eight to 12 months to decorate an entire home.

• Decide if you want your interiors to be installed piecemeal or all at once. Many
designers recommend waiting for one installation, if you have the patience. Homeowners
tend to rethink their original decisions when pieces are brought in as they arrive. By waiting for
one installation, they treat themselves to a stunning visual and emotional thrill.

Photo Courtsey of: Susan Fredman & Associates Photography by: Nick Novelli
http://www.susanfredman.com