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| Interiors by Sarah Richardson |
It seems like an unnecessary luxury during these difficult economic times, doesn't it? And it is a luxury to be able to hire anyone to do something that you could probably do yourself. But if you are designing a new house or even just considering spending a few hundred dollars on updating a room - it's probably worth it to consult an interior designer. Here's why:
1. You need a plan
Number one, numero uno rule is that YOU NEED A PLAN. Have you ever found the most wonderful ________ (insert noun here - preferably something to do with home furnishings) that you simply loved, and could not live without, and had to have (even though you had no place for it?). Sure - everyone has. Now, raise your hand if you ever found the perfect place for said item? That's what i thought. Without a plan, these coveted items simply collect dust in your attic and never see the light of day. Having a plan allows you to make your shopping trips more meaningful and focused, and the decisions easier. And cheaper. You won't be buying a bunch of things that you may never use. If you have a plan, you know when you buy something that it will be perfect, and it will fit into the plan that will ultimately make your home a more beautiful place to live.
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| Photo courtesy of House Beautiful |
2. You don't have time to do it yourself
I used to be a do-it-yourselfer, but that was before I had 2 small children and a full-time job. I don't have time to do anything on the weekend, much less shop for new clothes. This is why we hire people to clean our houses and maintain our yards. There is simply not enough time to do it all, no matter how much we actually enjoy doing it. Ask anyone who has ever built or renovated a home: the number of choices and decisions are endless. It's comparable to planning a wedding. You almost have to take a sabbatical from your job in order to get it all done.
3. I know people
A good designer has contacts. Lots of contacts. A designer will know exactly the best tradesperson (i.e. painter, contractor, wallpaper hanger, carpet installer, drapery workroom, cabinetmaker, etc.) to get a job done well. The will have relationships with these tradespeople, and those tradespeople want to work for them because they will give them more work if they do a good job. Absolutely ANYTHING is possible with enough time, money, and the right contacts.
4. You want to save money
I realize this sounds counterintuitive, since you have to pay an interior designer for their services, but see reason #1 above. Have you ever bought something and once you got it home (or even after you lived with it awhile) you just never thought it looked quite right? We all have. Then we either try to design the room around this item, hoping that new throw pillows or a new rug will somehow help the situation. (It doesn't). Or maybe we give up and decide to cut our losses, sell it on Craigslist, and start over. Either way, you are wasting money. Wouldn't it be great to get it right the first time?
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| Interiors by Brooke Gianetti |
5. I've done this before
. . . and I know what problems you will run into (and you will always run into problems). Granted, even the best designer won't be able to foresee every possible problem but a seasoned professional will have seen his/her fair share. And when problems do arise, good designers will either know a good trick to get you out of the bad situation or (see reason #3) they will know someone who can.
6. You have no idea what is out there
I have a client who recently told me (and I quote): '....you have opened our eyes to a new world - a world we didn't even know existed! This new world of 'Awesomeness' as we all called it.....we both thank you and curse you'.
I loved that comment. This same client also told me that a new phrase they've started using around the house is 'WWBD' (What Would Bronwyn Do?).
But enough about me. In all seriousness, there is so much more to home decor than what's in Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Lowe's, IKEA. I do purchase things from these stores and I am not knocking them, but if you work with a designer you will see all kinds of products - fabrics, furniture, lighting, plumbing fixtures, tile - in the most beautiful colors, patterns, designs, finishes that you could imagine. They could be small companies, large companies, local businesses, or international. Some of these vendors are 'to-the-trade-only' (meaning they do not sell their products directly to consumers, only through qualified interior designers) but others may be small boutique vendors in your home state. They may be extremely exclusive and high-end, or they may be very affordable. The point is, designers spend a lot of time searching for these vendors by attending furniture and gift markets and scouring showrooms to seek out the most unique and most beautiful products to offer their clients. We do not want our client's homes to look like a page out of a catalog (a magazine, perhaps). Plus, you should not pay a designer to order everything out of a catalog. You could do that yourself.
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| Chandelier design by Bronwyn Ford |
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| Bench by Bourgeoisie 3D |
This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list, since certainly the most important reason to consult an interior designer is that they are trained professionals with a solid base of knowledge and experience. An interior designer doesn't just have good taste - they have completed a degree program interior design and been trained to understand proper proportion, scale, balance, color, light, and space. While much of it is an art, a big part of good design is in the appropriate application of these elements.
I hope that this has helped you understand the value of your designer, why I do what I do, and why I would love to help you to create the home of your dreams.
Have a great week and thanks for reading!
Bronwyn
