How Do I Hire

an Interior
Designer?

T ips for Finding, Hiring and Working

with an Interior Design Professional
Within Your Budget

By Mark Lewison

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© 2009 Mark Lewison, Sherri Houtz, John R. Haigh

Copyright holder is licensing this under the Creative Commons License, Attribution 3.0.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/

http://WhatWouldYouDoWithThisRoom.com

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I. INTRODUCTION

Though hiring a residential interior designer for an

entire project can be costly, hiring a designer in a lesser capacity doesn’t
have to break the bank. This can be a great way for the do-it-yourselfer to
save money and get professional feedback.
A designer can assist you in creating the best possible version of your
vision. Using a designer to a smaller degree can be a useful insurance policy
for getting your project—or aspects of your project—done properly and
within your budget.
We will take a look at all the different capacities in which you can
work with a designer, design fees, finding the right interior designer for your
project, preparing for the designer consultation, and what an initial designer
consultation may entail.

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II. WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

There are five general ways to work with a

designer, though infinite arrangements and combinations exist. Ultimately it
comes down to the agreement arranged between both parties. The designer
can: (1) handle the entire project, (2) create the design concept and general
look of the project, (3) act as an on-call consultant, (4) assist as a purchasing
agent, or (5) act as a contacts and references consultant.

(1) The Designer Handles the Entire Project:

The designer acts as the project manager and handles everything from
start to finish. The client approves samples, selections, and budget. The
designer creates the design concept, purchases supplies, and hires and
manages contractors as needed. This can be the most involved and expensive
option, but can be the perfect solution for those people who have no do-it-
yourself experience or the interest to “get dirty.” Also, the designer will be
ultimately responsible for the end product and seeing that everything goes
smoothly and in a timely manner.

* For this type of service, the designer will customarily charge an hourly fee and
possibly a percentage added to goods and services purchased for the project.

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(2) The Designer as Concept Creator:

The designer creates a concept and total “look” with your input and
can provide drawings and all production details as needed. The designer can
also provide an estimate of any and all aspects of the project, where to buy
materials, and which contractors to use. The client is responsible for
purchasing all materials, hiring and supervising any workers, and carrying
out all aspects of the concept, unless other arrangements are made for the
designer to do so.

* For this type of service, the designer will customarily charge an hourly fee.

(3) The Designer as On-Call Consultant:

This is an “on-call” or as-needed arrangement with the designer. The

designer can handle project details or any related project task that the client
needs help with or cannot do alone. These tasks include (but are not limited
to) shopping with the client and giving the final approval of the clients’
materials selections, and hiring and supervising a contractor for a particular
aspect of the job.

* For this type of service, the designer will customarily charge an hourly fee.

(4) The Designer as Purchasing Agent:

This arrangement is beneficial when the client knows exactly what

materials, furnishings, or merchandise they would like to purchase but needs
the designer to do the purchasing. The designer can purchase items at

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designer discount prices or in “trade only” showrooms to which the client
may not have access. The client will usually need to know the specific
manufacturer (and possibly the model or item numbers of the desired
materials), or at least have a clear picture of the items. Interior design
magazines and periodicals are a great tool for the client to use here.

* For this type of service, the designer will customarily charge an hourly fee as
well as an agreed-upon percentage of the item purchase price.

(5) The Designer as Contacts and References Consultant:

This is a great way to get the “insider’s list” of product vendors,

custom furniture builders, or preferred contractors that the designer has used,
trusts, and feels comfortable referring to the client. Most designers’ sources
are generally not advertised to the public so this information alone can be
worth its weight in gold.

* For this type of service, the designer will customarily charge an hourly fee.

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III. DESIGN FEES

A variety of payment structures and

arrangements exist when hiring and working with a designer. A designer
will usually request a retainer to start, and will then begin by charging his or
her hours against the retainer according to the terms of the contract. A
retainer is a “deposit” toward hours or materials. An exception to this can be
when you hire a designer on a consultation basis. In this case, it is customary
for the designer to charge by the hour, with periodic billing commencing
shortly after the start of the project.

The primary methods of designer compensation are through hourly

fees (billable hours) or a percentage of the project costs and/or furnishings
costs. In some cases, designer fees may include a combination of the two.

Fees may include time spent on the project design, merchandise

ordering, shopping, or hiring and overseeing contractors. Fees, or billable
hours, can also include travel time and transportation costs to and from
appointments and showrooms. Also, time spent on telephone calls, office
work associated with the client’s project, and other expenses may count as
billable time. As always, have a clear understanding with your designer as to
which are billable charges and which are not.

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 With a percentage basis agreement, an agreed upon percentage is
added onto the designer’s cost for all merchandise and services purchased
for the client’s project. This may be the only fee assessed. It is extremely
important to have this clearly spelled out in the designer/client contract or
written agreement. We reiterate how important it is to have a clear
understanding of the costs of services and materials. Your designer can help
you understand these costs.

A combination charge (for instance, an hourly fee plus 10%-15%

added to all merchandise and services purchased for the project) is common
practice for designers. It is always prudent to make sure all charges and
payment terms are clarified in writing before work commences.

It’s always best to be on the same page as your designer, especially

when it comes to budget and designer charges. The recommendation of this
book is that the client should always request, and the designer should always
provide, a written contract or agreement that clearly spells out the payment
terms and designer/client responsibilities.

Hourly design fees charged by design professionals will vary widely

according to geographic location, experience, and whether the designer is a
single practitioner or part of a larger design team or firm. Estimated average
hourly design fees, based on the designer being a sole practitioner in a
metropolitan area, are as follows (all prices in USD):

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• New Designer (limited experience): $45-$75 per hour
• Experienced Designer (1-10 yrs. experience): $75-$175
• Highly Experienced Designer (10-15 yrs. experience): $125-$250+

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IV. FINDING THE RIGHT INTERIOR DESIGNER FOR YOUR PROJECT

The top strategy for finding an interior designer is a

word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted family member, friend, or
colleague. Remember that this is your home, your money, and your vision.
You will want to work with a designer whom you can trust and who makes
you feel comfortable. This will be an intimate relationship. The designer
may have keys to your home and be privy to your habits (as well as the
contents of your closets and medicine cabinets). All of your intimacies will
be on display.

Ideally, if you find a room or home that you like, ask the owner who
designed it. Following, is a list of questions you should ask when looking for
the right designer. You may also use these questions when contacting former
clients and referrals the designer has furnished to you.

1. Does the designer show up on time?

2. What type of personality does the designer have?

3. Did the designer work cleanly and as quietly as possible so as not to

disturb neighbors and other building tenants? (This includes any
contractors the designer hired.)

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 4. Was the designer responsive to the clients’ needs in a timely manner?

5. Did you get the results that you were hoping for?

6. Did any problems arise during the course of the project? If so, how were
they overcome?

7. Did the designer stay within your budget?

8. What were the designer’s payment terms?

9. Was the designer’s contract or agreement clear?

10. Would you hire the designer again?

Another great option for finding a designer is to contact designer

showrooms (listed in your phone directory or the yellow Web pages) or
retail furniture, lighting, or fabric stores. Ask the owner or manager to
recommend a professional designer. This word-of-mouth recommendation
can be a great solution to finding a new or unknown design talent who may
be a real jewel. Also, don’t forget about contacting local design colleges and
schools for excellent referrals in the quest for new talent.

Additionally, there are professional organizations online that can

assist you. They offer listings and referrals of professional interior designers
in your area as well as sample contracts and other helpful information that
will assist you in finding the right interior designer.

ASID.ORG – American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the oldest,

largest, and leading professional organization for interior designers. More
than 40,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and

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activities through a network of forty-eight chapters throughout the United
States and Canada.

IIDA.ORG – International Interior Design Association (IIDA) is a

professional networking and educational association of twelve thousand
members in nine specialty forums in thirty chapters around the world.

ANGIESLIST.COM – An online word-of-mouth network for consumers in

search of contractors with over six hundred thousand members across 124
cities. This is a collection of homeowners' real-world experiences with local
service companies. Find highly rated, sometimes award-winning, provincial
assistance to use, as well as poorly rated businesses to avoid.

BBB.ORG – Better Business Bureau’s purpose is to act as a mutually

trusted intermediary between consumers and businesses to resolve disputes,
to facilitate communication, and to provide information on ethical business
practices. Check out any potential designer. Remember, there are always two
sides to every story.

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V. PREPARING FOR THE DESIGNER CONSULTATION

Prepare for your initial designer consultation by

putting together a design folder to clarify your vision. You may include
pictures from magazines or the Internet. You might take photos of rooms
that you love or find spaces that give you the feeling and look that you are
trying to achieve within your own home.

If you have no idea what style or feeling you might want for your
project, start scouting and critiquing rooms that you like and dislike. Ask
yourself why this space is pleasing. This will bring you closer to finding
what works for you. There may be a particular sofa, accessory, paint color,
or fabric that you definitely want included in your own project. Add fabric
and finish samples that you like to your design folder.

Next, decide what aspects of your project you can accomplish on your
own. Honestly assess your personal strengths and weaknesses as they relate
to designing your space. Decide to handle tasks you can excel at while
delegating the tasks that may overwhelm you. This will lead to the most
cost-effective use of your time and budget.

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 Clarify with the designer what your involvement in the project will be
in advance. Will you delegate an entire room to the designer? Will you work
side by side with the designer? Will you be using the designer as a
consultant?

Determine what you can realistically afford to spend on your project

and remember to include the cost of the designers’ fees when planning your
project budget. Research the costs of specific furnishings and materials and
have a general idea what local contractors are currently charging for their
services. Remember to write this down ahead of time.

Consider what time frame you are planning to work within. Methods,
timing, and costs can vary considerably depending on the season, your
location, and the current state of the economy. If you are including custom-
made or designer showroom pieces in your project, project completion could
realistically take several weeks or months, so plan ahead!

If you live with others, it is vital to include them in the planning

process, as your choices will affect them. Good communication will ensure
that everyone in your family or living in your home is delighted with the
changes. This is a great way to save money by avoiding design disparity.

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VI. THE DESIGNER/CLIENT INITIAL CONSULTATION

After you have found one designer (or several) you

would like to interview, it’s time for the first meeting or consultation. Most
interior designers will offer an initial consultation free of charge. This initial
consultation will usually consist of an hour meeting with the designer and
the client. In order to maximize this meeting, it’s important to establish a
mutual rapport with your prospective new hire as soon as possible. We
reiterate that this will be a very intimate relationship you will be developing.
If you find it difficult to get comfortable during the initial stages, this may
not be the interior designer for you. Ask all pertinent questions. As the
saying goes, there are no stupid questions unless they aren’t asked. This is an
employment interview. Treat it as such.

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To Do List

Share your design folder, your budget, and how you would like to work
with the designer.

Let the designer know what your time frame is, then mutually determine
if this time frame is feasible.

Give the designer as much information as possible so as to obtain

accurate time and cost estimates.

Ask the designer about his or her preferred style and design vision or
point of view.

Ask what the designer does differently or uniquely that separates him or
her from the rest of the design pack. How can the designer dazzle and
excite you?

Ask to see examples, photos, Web sites, or publications featuring the

designer’s work.

Request references (including previous clients), and contact them.

Sometimes it is more comfortable asking the references questions
concerning money, work ethic, and personality than asking the designer
directly.

Don’t be afraid to say “I’ll be in touch with you” or “I want to review

your information.” Take your time, take your time, take your time.

Include other members of your household. Get their input. They are an
integral part of the entire design process.

Project execution, payment terms, and any return policies of the written
contract or agreement should be spelled out clearly and to your
satisfaction.

Find out all the ways that you are able to communicate with your
designer. Let him or her know your preferred communication methods
and how often you would like progress updates.

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Express your expectations for the project. How might they be met or
exceeded?

Be wary of an extremely low estimate for the cost of the project. A

realistic estimate is far better than an unrealistic one that will just result
in surprise bills and overages. Again, it pays to know what goods and
services cost. Averting surprises will keep you sane and save you money.

What Would I Do?

Get to Work and Have

Some Fun!

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