Working with an Interior Designer Part I

 Thinking of hiring an interior designer?

But don’t know where to start and what to expect? Here are a few things to look for as you search for an interior designer.

Good interior designers create plans for clients and not for their own portfolios. A good practitioner will have a portfolio of projects that represents a variety of styles.

Good interior designers avoid having a signature style. They ensure the outcome of each project is always a product of the client’s taste, style and budget.

Good interior designers listen carefully to the client’s home improvement goals and expectations. Problem solving with the Principles of Design, they know how to create flow and balance. Knowing how to bend the guidelines when necessary is key to their success.

Good interior designers walk effortlessly through the maze of material selections when the client feels overwhelmed. The client’s vision easily guides the designer through difficult decisions.

Good interior designers modify homes, but great designers change lives. Most people hire an interior designer because they are uncomfortable in their home and don’t know why. They don’t know where to begin to alleviate these awkward feelings. Great designers are gifted and intuitively know how create comfort and well-being for their clients.

Finally, great interior designers appreciate being invited into your home. Hiring an interior designer takes trust and a great one will never take that trust for granted. Are you ready to remodel? In the end, you’ll know hiring a designer was the best thing you ever did! Well Done!

Be sure to read: Working with Interior Designer Part II

Lisa Stewart is an interior designer serving the Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC.