Hiring an Interior Designer

By Craig Kellogg, Home Magazine, January 2006

If you're a regular Home reader, you may be thinking, "Interior designer? Why?" After all, each month our editors work to give you the know-how to design and decorate with confidence. But a day may come when scheduling constraints, blocked creativity, or a thorny layout problem makes hiring an interior designer the best option. So here's a go-to guide.

First, make sure the scale of the project really warrants an interior designer. If you just want to add a piece or two to a room, many furniture stores have in-house stylists who can advise you. On the other hand, if you're talking demolition, you'll need an architect. Interior designers fall somewhere in between: They create furniture plans, coordinate colors, handle purchasing, and manage the installations through a rolodex of reliable subcontractors.

"You have to like the person; they have to like you," says Debbie Wiener, of the Washington, D.C.—area firm Designing Solutions. "After all, you're hiring a new best friend for the next six months—and that's assuming it's a short project."

Though all general contractors and architects rely on written contracts, not all interior designers do. Our advice? Get a contract and make sure it includes the following clauses:

Design Services Details all meetings that will occur between you and the designer as well as the various plans and sketches that will be drawn up.

Shopping and Purchasing Services Lists an itemized total of all furnishings, merchandise, and materials that the designer will be responsible for picking out and purchasing, pending your final approval of the design plans.

Project Management Specifies which aspects of the project will be overseen by the designer (including scheduling of deliveries) and how often the designer will be on site during installations.

Compensation Breaks down designer fees, including retainers, hourly and/or flat rates, cost-plus, cost-of-construction fees, payment schedule, and any other charges that may be part of the pay structure, like those relating to a breach of contract.

how much will it cost?

Most rooms evolve over a long period of time, so the average homeowner has little sense of how much money goes into one. Says Karla Trincanello, principal of Interior Decisions in Florham Park, New Jersey: "It's a shock for people to realize that they can easily drop $25,000 on a single room—and that's just for the stuff.” On top of that, designers tend to charge either hourly design fees ($150/hour on average) extending over the planning and execution stages, or a flat fee based on a percentage of the overall budget. (For large projects, many designers will also ask for a retainer—anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.) To put this in perspective, Designing Solutions' Wiener says she ends up billing about $3,500 (over and above the cost of merchandise) to decorate a great room that includes furniture, lighting, carpets and rugs, wall coverings, and so on. Most designers also charge a cost-plus, usually around 25 percent. This means that they'll charge you a quarter on top of every dollar they spend on merchandise—though keep in mind that because they get trade discounts of up to 50 percent, you'll still end up paying less than retail. Additionally, a designer may ask for a cost-of-construction fee (15 to 20 percent of the total construction budget) for the hiring and oversight of subcontractors.

Must-ask questions for the designer, plus the answers you want to hear.

DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE STYLE? I listen closely to my clients so I can produce unique, personalized rooms that reflect them, not me. That said, my best relationships start with a common aesthetic. Look at my past projects to see if we're simpatico.

CAN YOU WORK WITHIN MY BUDGET? Assuming we have the same basic parameters for the project—some of us work with more expensive sources than others, which drives up the overall cost—I'll deliver top value for your dollar. If necessary, we can do the work in phases. Trust me, I have projects that are measured in years, not months.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO OUR FIRST MEETING? A scrapbook with clips of pictures of rooms you like, with a few words describing what appeals to you in each. Try to come up with a color palette using anything that inspires you, from paint and fabric swatches to a crayon, blouse, or flower. ,

DO I HAVE TO HIRE YOU FOR THE WHOLE HOUSE? I'm happy to help with a smaller project as we develop a bond. Again, I hope this is the start of a lasting relationship.

DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE? Few states formally license interior designers. Elsewhere regulations vary (in some states, there are none). Choose pros with at least five years' experience, degrees from accredited schools, and good client references.

WILL YOU INCORPORATE MY FURNISHINGS? We'll try to work in pieces with sentimental or practical value. But old items can get in the way of new design goals, so be willing to let go—or at least to update them with new fabrics, finishes, or hardware.

WILL YOU HIRE QUALIFIED SUBCONTRACTORS? I have long histories with my delivery people and contractors, all of whom carry the required licenses and insurance. What's more, they'll treat you and your home with respect or never work for me again.

WHAT ARE YOUR PET PEEVES? Miscommunication between partners makes my job hard. If you want to start with the kitchen, make sure your spouse does, too! Excessive phone calls can also slow things down. Keep a list of questions that we can cover all at once. Finally, chronic indecision or reverse of decisions can bring a project to a halt.