Okay, so you have the time, money and resources to remodel your house.  You also are able to hire an Interior Designer.  That’s fantastic!  I am so happy for you.  You begin scouring the internet and your friends recommendations for the perfect designer.  You find them!  Again, that’s awesome.  But just because they seem like the perfect designer for you, doesn’t mean that they will tell you everything you might want and need to know.  The Wall Street Journal recently posted some things that designers probably will not tell you (which is adapted from the book by Jonathan Dahl 1,001 Thing They Won’t Tell You: An Insider’s Guide to Spending, Saving, and Living Wisely).  Here’s what I thought you needed to know before your project begins!

1. Their Qualifications: “My qualifications?  My good taste, naturally.” There are a lot of people out there who call themselves interior designers.  Though I love interior design and believe I have a good taste, I would never call myself that or charge someone for advice.  I simply have no technical training and would not want someone to have any issues based on my work. “Hiring someone who doesn’t have the knowledge can result in a slip-and-fall from the wrong flooring or allowing the homeowner to go ahead with a design that can’t be executed because of technical issues in the home,” says Bruce Goff, a Reno, Nev.-based interior designer with the firm Domus.  According to the Wall Street Journal, “there are scant regulations defining what constitutes an interior designer or decorator. Only a little more than half of the states have rules establishing the qualifications a person must complete before legally calling himself or herself a licensed, registered or certified interior designer.”  So, do some research before hiring out!  Know what their exact qualifications are and speak with previous clients.  You can also go to the International Interior Design Association’s website for more info.



2. How Much They’ll Listen to What You Want: “I’ll decorate in my style, not yours.” Most likely, you will have trouble convincing an interior designer to do something very different from what they want.  So, you need to find a designer who’s work is a good representation of what you want in your home.  Don’t pick someone who uses a lot of color when you desire whites and tans.  Also, don’t pick a luxury designer if you have a more laid back lifestyle. “Specializing in one thing means they don’t know how to do anything else,” says Beth Whitlinger, an interior designer in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.  So, if you want something specific, it’s best to set up a meeting before any decisions are made to discuss your vision.  Take this opportunity to show pictures of what you’d like.
3. How Much Money They’ll Spend: “I’ll redesign your budget, along with your rooms.”  You know what you want and can afford to spend.  Just because they are a fancy interior designer, doesn’t mean you can’t speak to them about money and your budget.  “Designers assume that budgets don’t include things like their fees and taxes,” Whitlinger says, “They likely regard that number as the amount they can spend on furnishings and finishes alone.”  With that said, it’s best to sit down with your designer before any work is actually done and have them show you an itemized proposal with prices attached to everything.  Don’t be afraid to be direct!  If they give you a hard time about the amount you are willing to spend, it’s time to find a new designer.
4. About Their Fees: “You have no idea how much that sofa costs.” I’ll bet you didn’t know that that piece of furniture your designer bought was from a trade showroom at a discounted price?  Yup, most designers will purchase at a discount and then add a markup of 30%-40%.  But you should never, ever pay more for an item through your designer, than you would have paid by purchasing it retail. “I guarantee my clients they’ll never pay more than retail for anything,” says Anne Vincent, president-elect of the ASID Georgia chapter.  She believes that openness is best in her client relationships.  Make sure you know your designers fees and what the final cost of the item will be.
5. How Much They’ll Charge: “My hourly rate will make you see red.” Some designers charge a flat fee while others may charge an hourly rate of $75-$250.  Now, depending on your budget, that hourly rate may not be in the cards.  So lay out with your designer how they will be charging you.  If you would be more comfortable with a flat fee, ask them to try and make that work.  Keeping in mind The Wall Street Journal says a simple room typically takes about 20 hours of designer work to complete.
6. That You Don’t Have to Pay For Them: “Shop at the right stores and you’ll pay less for designers.” You may not be able to unload your bank account on a designer but did you know that if you are making a purchase at stores like Ethan Allen, Bloomingdale’s, Chestnut Hill or The Design Store in Manhattan you can get an interior designer for free?  Well, you can.  You just need to be aware of the minimum purchase for the service to be free.  Also, be sure that the designer you’re working with is a qualified interior designer, but we covered that already.
7. They Might Be Getting a Kickback: “Using my contractors will cost you.” Your designer may want to hire contractors that they have worked with in the past for several reasons.  One is that they trust their work, but the other is that they get a hidden referal fee, or kickback.  Hidden referral fees are actually against ASID’s ethics code, so ask your designer upfront about their policy.