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Being a Great Client: Successful Interior Design Relationships

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Published: 12Aug2006
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Spending Plan aka Budget

I know, no one likes to think in terms of money or limitations which is how budgets are perceived, but if you aren’t really ready to get down to brass tacks and talk with your design professional about what you are comfortable spending, there is no point in going further. This needs to be a realistic picture of what your project will require and what you can get for dollars invested. This is an investment in your comfort and lifestyle and should be considered such, rather than merely an expense. If done right this is also “moveable money” and “flexible dollars” because the pieces purchased can be rearranged at another time and will move with you to your next home if so desired.

There is a great example of this with clients whose home I completed in Marietta, GA just as he was transferred to Dallas. They flew me to Dallas for just two days to rework all of the pieces we had put together including hanging artwork and displaying collectibles. A year later, he was transferred again to the West Coast and we repeated the exercise, this time going out shopping for a couple of fill in pieces also. The beauty of this was that the design created worked for my clients regardless of the the location and the shape of the home. It was truly timeless and flexible.

Commit to the Plan

Once you have made a decision with your design professional on furnishings, fabric, draperies, paint colors etc., avoid checking with others for their opinions and waffling on the commitment made. Commit to the plan. Clients who cannot commit, waste a tremendous amount of time, design fees, and rarely get what they want, but instead a mishmash of their friends and loved ones opinions. Your interior is your own, not your neighbor’s, best friend’s, or mother-in-law’s, make it yours!

Spaceplanning

For any project there is an ideal order of events, and whether it is one room or an entire home, it is always best to start with spaceplanning. Allow your professional the time to put together floor plan options for your review. These create the road map to your design plan. Without these you will run the risk of random purchases that may or may not actually fit the space and the scheme.

Color Scheme and Style: Do Your Homework

It is often easiest if you take the time to peruse current design and decorating publications. Keep a folder or notebook of favorite rooms, looks, pieces of furniture, and colors. This is a great jumping off point for your design professional. While you may feel scattered and even slightly schizophrenic in the process, your designer can pull these disparate elements together to create a cohesive plan with continuity and welcome.

From the Ground Up or Top Down

Most design professionals will start a project either at the floor level with rugs, or at the top with artwork. Either of these are great launch pads for a design scheme, allowing selection of colors and patterns to coordinate. This is not an oreo cookie, you don’t start in the middle! Permit your design professional to select a palette of rugs or a combination of artwork if you are working on more than one room. This will provide the continuity and cohesiveness essential for every project.

The only homes that don’t share a common thread are Designer Showhomes with a different talent responsible for each space. These are wonderful sources for ideas, but not for flow.

Resourcing aka Shopping

A true design pro can find extraordinary elements in ordinary places. I often have clients comment that they went to the same place but never saw what I did! This is knowledge and experience. Allow your pro to use their resources, rather than telling them where to shop. If you plan to shop yourself, tell them upfront, and what you are looking for, don’t duplicate efforts. Also, if you are direct about what you plan to spend, you can avoid a pro bringing you items that aren’t a good fit with your budget (if they continue to do this, let them go!)

Trust is Essential

Don’t shop your professional. Shopping your pro is an indication that you don’t trust their judgment and are not using their skills to advantage. If you are uncomfortable and they cannot provide reasonable justification by quality, name brand, or style for the price of a particular piece, perhaps this isn’t the best fit. Don’t be intimidated, be direct and ask questions.

Work Hours

Work with them as you would any other professional, with regular hours. Expecting a designer to work nights and weekends because it is convenient for you, indicates that you do not take the design process seriously and are not a committed client. Be reasonable in your expectations, time beyond the regular framework can be charged at a higher rate.

Education is Part of the Process

Expect to be educated by your design professional in the best selections to make, most appropriate pieces to purchase, and how it will all come together. Make lists of your questions and ask when you meet, rather calling daily and late night with questions that can wait. (It is rare to have a design emergency!) If you are more comfortable, keep a list of these questions and the answers received to refer to them, so you can avoid asking the same thing repeatedly.

Success

With the guidelines here for hiring a design professional, and tips for being a great client, you have the best opportunity for a successful long term relationship with an interior designer/decorator and an inviting, comfortable home, or productive office environment.

Melissa Galt is a Lifestyle Designer and Speaker based in Atlanta, GA. She hosts a series of blogs on design tips and trends and produces a monthly ezine dedicated to helping subscribers design their signature life. For the latest teleclasses, seminars, and ebooks on designing your life check out http://www.melissagalt.com .

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