You've been planning this remodel for a while and wishing that a snap of your fingers would transform your space. Like many, you were probably stuck in your house during shelter-in-place (either by yourself or your family and pets) and realized that the layout of your space could use remodeling to be more functional in order to accommodate the new way of life. A lot of people are now working from home, and students are now transitioned to distant learning. Being sheltered in your home should not only be safe but comfortable, practical, and enjoyable.
In reality, it takes initial work on your end to get the ball rolling. But where do you start? Thinking about this big endeavor seems to be overwhelming, especially when you are busy with life, and you are unfamiliar with the process.
You have ideas in your head, but they need to be extracted from your mind into something visual, so you can have descriptions and words to your thoughts. If you are making some layout changes in your space, you would need existing and proposed plans to be able to communicate efficiently with a contractor.
Consulting and working with a professional like a designer can ease your stress and anxiety.
There are many types and kinds of designers in the Interior Design industry. You should make sure that you hire an "expert" in the area of your project. There are textile designers, residential lighting designers, color experts, kitchen and bath designers, furniture designers, and more! Do your research and talk to references and previous clients before committing your time and effort with anyone!
What exactly is an expert?
Anyone can spend countless hours reading reviews online or in Consumer Reports, watch hundreds of YouTube tutorials, and episodes of HGTV home makeover shows, but it doesn't necessarily make that person an expert.
An expert is someone who went to school or took some classes and training in preparation for practicing their craft or profession. They don't necessarily have a 4-year degree, but they are usually members of an industry organization. Most of them invested in achieving certifications or obtain licensures to be on cutting edge of the industry.
In some cases, these designers may not have an academic design background, but they are gifted and passionate enough with what they do, so they naturally engage in activities to further educate themselves in a particular expertise. Attending product demonstrations, seminars and webinars, design showcases, visiting manufacturer's factories, and consistently meeting with other mentors and experts are just some of the other avenues to get educated.
Industry training and field experience are very crucial in molding a design professional.
Designers have to be consistently up to date with current trends, technology, products, residential codes and regulations, and clients' evolutional needs. Being actively engaged in the industry in the form of networking with other professionals is also a great way to stay ahead of the game.
There's also no better way to hone someone's craft by working in the field for at least an average of 5 years. School is beneficial, but there's no replacement for actual work experience. A designer only learns to deal with different clientele and projects by actually working clients. Each client's needs and personalities are different. Each house condition and design dilemmas are unique. Each project is special on its own. Learning to resolve conflicts and design issues would definitely sharpen the designer's skills over the years.
When I was a young designer, I took it to heart and got offended when my client complained to my boss that I was "inexperienced." She decided to work with my colleague who then had a 15-year design experience. It might sound discriminating to young designers, but for a client who had been saving all their hard-earned money to have a beautiful and long-lasting space, he or she has to be selective whom to work with. It hurts then, but now I fully understand.
What else should you be looking for in a designer aside from his or her educational background and experience?
Designer and client relationships are so intimate because you are allowing an expert to be a part of your dream home. You share your family lifestyle, your dilemmas, your visions, and you take professional advice to make better decisions. Oftentimes, designers are the mediators between spouses. As we all know, they are not always on the same page. I have been in the industry long enough, and sometimes I had to play a marriage counselor role to make both decision-makers happy!
Here are some of the things you should consider in hiring a designer:
A designer must be passionate about what they do. This should be on top of your list. Not only he or she must be talented, but your designer must be passionate. Some designers pursue design careers as their second profession because they "want to finally enjoy what they do." Designing is fun because it lets someone express his or her creativity while earning money, but it can also be stressful if things do not go as planned or if clients' needs and expectations are not met. A designer who has a heart for design will overcome any conflict no matter what. If and when they fail, they take it as a learning experience and move forward doing everything to make themselves better.
A designer observes and listens carefully to your needs as a client. It's easy to get overly enthusiastic for designers that they "spill their candies in the lobby" or talk endlessly, but a successful designer knows how to attentively take inventory of the clients' needs and consider them during design planning. They know when to interject their ideas during a discussion. An organized designer takes good notes of your needs, requirements, dislikes, and must-haves.
A designer is curious about you and your project and asks a lot of questions. A seasoned designer asks the right and pertinent questions relevant to the project to find solutions. These questions also become parameters in the design process. Most of the time, they repeat and summarize your statement to clarify what you said. These questions may be information needed to start the process that clients haven't shared during the initial meeting.
A designer knows how to communicate effectively. A good communicator talks clear as glass when they are explaining something. You should not be leaving a conversation with more questions and vagueness. In another aspect, there's nothing more frustrating than not being able to reach your designer in times of need. Designers can get very busy and occupied, but a simple acknowledgment that they received your text, email, or voicemail could ease the clients' stress. From my experience, answering clients' questions could take some time to find or figure. Designers work with different professionals and vendors in their network, and these people are not always available. It's always better to have a sound or confirmed answer especially about the schedule, pricing, product performance, and availability than an unsure answer that had to be taken back, so some designers wait to gather all information before getting back to clients. Designers have to make sure that they give their clients an estimated time to respond to ease the clients' anxiety. It's always a good habit to keep clients informed of the design and job progress to keep them in the loop.
A designer has the integrity to keep his or her word. Part of being a professional is being prepared before meeting with clients. Designers anticipate the questions that will be raised during the meeting, and they plan and do research beforehand. This way, when they give a word to a client, it will firmly be delivered. If for some reason it could not be executed, the designer offers a compromise or finds a different solution to appease the client.
A designer must be organized and time-efficient. There will be a lot of room for mistakes and frustrations if a designer is unorganized. In contrast, an organized designer not only can make the process smoother, but it can make the job 2x faster. You also save money in the long run by working with an organized designer.
A designer must be detailed oriented. Designing is a very tedious job. The design world is highly detailed. If a designer spent time upfront in meticulously planning all the details, the construction and installation can go a lot faster. It's always easy to correct things on paper than at the job site. He or she pays attention to the simplest things that can later be a big impact on the finished renovation.
A designer must be able to resolve conflict. Residential remodeling is much simpler than commercial work, but residential projects and clientele are more personal or intimate. A designer typically meets their clients in person several times before and after construction. Designers also deal directly with contractors, sub-contractors, and vendors. It's a people business! Being able to keep a good working relationship with all the players is key to more successful projects. Resolving conflict most especially in job site issues must be dealt with seamlessly, and it takes a seasoned designer to do that.
A designer must be respectful of your decisions as a homeowner. You hire a designer to help and guide you in the process. He or she presents you with the options, but in the end, you call all the shots because you are the homeowner, and you finance this project. You are the pilot, and the designer is your co-pilot. He or she should never impose anything on you. Not the style, not the product, not the decision. However, analyze the situation and be open-minded.
A designer must be able to make the process easier for you. The right designer simplifies things for you. We already know that there are hundreds of countertop options or there might be more shades of whites that you would ever want to choose from. The last thing he or she wants is for you to get overwhelmed and be paralyzed with confusion. The designer should be able to provide you ample selections to choose from for you to make the right decisions. He or she also does all the legwork for you in contacting vendors to deal with all the logistics. In the perfect world, all you need to say is, "I like that, I don't like that, and let's go with this option!"
A designer should keep your budget in mind. The budget should be laid on the table right off the bat during the first few meetings. The budget range gives the designer a parameter to work with when designing your space and specifying materials. If you transparently expressed that you could only spend a certain amount on this project, he or she should not insensitively give you an option beyond your budget that will eventually break your heart. Some designer pushes the envelope and present a better and more expensive option that provides more value, and sometimes clients consider it as an investment and increase their budget or compromise in some areas.
A designer is not afraid to make you go out of your comfort zone. You might have an idea that you stuck with for a long time, but a good designer lends you fresh eyes to look at things differently. Oftentimes, it changes your perspective, and it makes things more exciting!
A designer must be honest and seek what's best for you. When a designer sees that you are heading in the wrong direction, he or she brings this up to you and provide you with some options. For example, you absolutely love the "paperstone" material on your kitchen countertop, but he or she knows that this is not practical for kitchen use, the designer can give you an alternative option that is more durable with the same look.
A designer has the heart of a teacher. Designers love sharing information, ideas, and stories from previous projects. However, there is a better way to communicate these to you effectively. He or she should not be talking "at you" but "to you" in a way that you can retain the information. Designers may illustrate their point or show you the differences in product performance. He or she educates you in the process, so when the project is finished, you are not only a satisfied client, but you also become a veteran at remodeling! You would know more about products and finishes than when you first started the process. You would know which brands are better than others, and you will be able to make better decisions in the future.
A designer knows how to own his or her mistakes. Designers are humans, and they will make mistakes. A responsible designer admits honest mistakes and provides solutions. They do not pin their mistakes to you or to their colleagues. As humiliating as it is, a true professional designer faces their mistakes and own up to it.
A designer is not only creative but resourceful and innovative. When push comes to shove, and it might seem like you are running out of options, a seasoned designer rises and come up with a creative solution. It requires resourcefulness and innovativeness. Drawing from his or her experiences and a great network of people in the industry, he or she can fabricate a solution that is not only unique but will also fit your budget.
A designer can make you feel like you are his or her only client in the world. Professionals can get very busy and overloaded with projects and responsibilities, but the right designer knows how to manage their time wisely, click pause, and give you their undivided attention and focus during their precious time with you. They handle your project with much ease, preparation, detail, passion, hard work, and efficiency that you feel like it's been worth your time and investment in hiring an expert.
There will be no perfect designer for you, and even professionals no matter how long they've been working in the business can make mistakes. Life also happens. Do your research, email, contact them on the phone, and most especially, meet them in person. Usually, you can tell within a few minutes if you click with the right designer! You got to have the right chemistry to keep this project exciting and enjoyable!
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