There can be a lot of misconceptions about hiring an interior designer. When we complete a project, we ask our clients about the process and here is why they were happy with the decision to hire a designer: staying on budget, repurposing a room to become the family's favorite hang out spot, and achieving a design they wouldn't have created on their own.
To answer some of your questions about why it is beneficial, and often pays for itself – here are 5 myths about hiring an interior designer:
Myth #1 – The budget will get out of control, and I’ll spend more money on the project.
At Grace Hill, the budget is provided upfront, so you know the investment PRIOR to spending any money or approving any design elements.
The full project scope is outlined, and our knowledge of project costs/resources provides a realistic and attainable budget which means there are no costly surprises during the project.
The design/project management process keeps budgets on track.
Designers know how to assess existing furniture, art, rugs, etc to see what we can work with to avoid replacing all items in the room.
We can accomplish a “high/low” room that gives you full impact without spending unnecessarily – we know where to spend and where to save for the best outcome.
Myth #2 – The room isn’t going to look like ME, it will look like the designer’s style.
As designers, one of our superpowers is REALLY LISTENING to our clients and how they describe their style, how they want the room to feel, and what works and doesn’t work in the room for them – all leading to solid design direction.
In fact, it’s quite common for clients to mislabel or describe their style with the wrong “buzz words” but follow up questions can reveal what a client truly wants. We also use visuals to discuss various styles to clarify before moving forward with the design.
As part of our design process, we also create a Mood Board for the project to ensure we fully understand your design style prior to starting the conceptual design.
Myth #3 – Having so many options with endless trade resources is overwhelming.
- We have a very defined Design Process, built to create a space that has been designed specifically for your home, allowing you to make decisions with ease and confidence.
Sourcing and being well educated on a wide array of furniture, fabrics, wallpapers, lighting and accessories is key to our role as a leading designer. We attend several trade-only design markets in High Point, NC, and Atlanta each year to stay informed on the best options available for our clients. We are not there to identify trends – we attend Market to sit in and test furniture comfortability, and to learn about new products and new technologies that are designed to make our clients’ lives easier.
Education in the industry is our #1 responsibility, and EDITING is our #2 objective during the design process. Researching and pulling ALL the options is how we start. We order samples, test durability and toss it all together into the design mix to see a broad overview of the possibilities for your space. At that point, making tough choices and narrowing down which design elements stay, how they play with each other, and what role they have in the balanced space can be the hardest part of the design process. This is when we put the puzzle pieces together for you – presenting you with the very best design plan.
Myth #4 – I just need a table and chairs for this room.
- We often get requests when a client says “I just need x,y,z for this space. Can you buy that for me?” Of course, we look at those items for the room and will come up with a curated solution for you, but we will always consider the full space from top to bottom – also evaluating how it flows with nearby rooms.
Before we even start the design process, we provide you with a "Furniture Investment Budget" which includes all the things the room needs to get the feel and functionality you want in the space. It gives a wholistic approach to the space, so it is a success at the end of the project. That is what our Furniture Investment Budget includes.
For example, in the room shown above, the client wanted "a new table and chairs" for a Breakfast Nook. When we discussed how her family uses the space, we learned that she works from home and this space is often used as her Home Office where she has Zoom calls and works on her computer.
Therefore, we knew it needed to be more than a table and chairs to eat. It also needed to have a pretty backdrop with comfortable chairs and be pulled together enough for her to feel inspired while working.
So, we used an existing table while adding upholstered chairs in an outdoor fabric for comfort and durability. We chose an affordable jute rug to ground the space and added a few rolls of wallpaper for high impact to define the space from the Kitchen area. A dramatic light fixture, a great piece of art and a bowl filled with lemons completed the space. It is now her favorite spot in the home! Knowing what was needed in the room and balancing the cost of certain items gave her the best use of her budget and made her space multipurpose.
Myth #5 – Customization costs more money, and my budget can’t afford that.
- Our furniture vendors offer customization options that include fabrics, finishes, overall depth, leg or skirt options, Spring Blend Down cushions or Hypoallergenic Alternatives, 3-over-3 cushions or bench seat options. The customization options are endless for our clients, and it does not necessarily add costs.
We design the upholstered furniture pieces for your specific comfort. We can custom paint or select from various stains on case goods. We can custom size a rug, so it is optimally made for your room and furniture configuration.
Customization may not always add to the cost, but it is only available to designers who request and manage the customization through their vendors. This opens up the options which are not available through big box or online retailers, providing you with very personal spaces that no one else has pulled together.
I hope this answers some of your questions about working with an interior designer. We are passionate about creating spaces that are functional and beautiful, so our clients fully enjoy living in their homes.
All the best,
Kristi