Do I need an interior decorator?

[Anonymous]

I have no interest in decorating, just none. DH has some but I don’t think his style—tweedy 1980s college professor like his parents—fits our ranch style home. We’ve lived in our house for ten years and haven’t put much on the walls and our living room layout needs help. I don’t like stopgap solutions so end up never buying anything. I feel embarrassed by how unfinished the space looks, however. Would an interior designer help in this situation?

[Anonymous]

What’s your budget? Start there, and then you can figure out how much if anything to budget for a designer.

[Anonymous]

Why do you think you might need a designer? What is your indended outcome?
1) does your current home bother you in some way?
2) do you have a vision you want to bring to life?
3) do you just feel it’s something you “should” do to have a “better” house?

If 1 or 2, maybe yes. But a service like Havenly or even The Expert might be better than a full service designer.

If 3- think about the value you actually would derive and if it’s worthwhile

[Anonymous]

Best thing I ever did.

With her discount and ability to find deals she saved me money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no interest in decorating, just none. DH has some but I don’t think his style—tweedy 1980s college professor like his parents—fits our ranch style home. We’ve lived in our house for ten years and haven’t put much on the walls and our living room layout needs help. I don’t like stopgap solutions so end up never buying anything. I feel embarrassed by how unfinished the space looks, however. Would an interior designer help in this situation?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it.

[Anonymous]

If you have the money go for it.

[Anonymous]

How does one find an interior decorator? NP here but i would love to find one. Like in NoVa working on a moderate, but decent budget (not high end).

[Anonymous]

I once used an interior decorator and I wasn’t happy with the outcome she wanted. It wasn’t her fault, it was totally in line with my inspiration pictures, but it was a waste of money.

OP what you could do aside from an interior decorator:

1. Purchase most things (or lookalikes) from a photo you like, either from a shelter magazine or an ad from a store like Ballard designs or ikea or whatever strikes your fancy. (Or if nothing strikes your fancy, just know that if a store puts a design in an ad, the design is going to be acceptable to most everybody).

2. Get help from a free design person, like from pottery barn or something.

3. Just go for an online designer. You will probably want some inspiration photos just to make things easier on them and be sure it isn’t wildly out of the realm of what you like (you might care more than you think). One good thing about many of them is that for an hourly fee they will buy everything for you with their trade discount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does one find an interior decorator? NP here but i would love to find one. Like in NoVa working on a moderate, but decent budget (not high end).

What’s the budget (“moderate” and “high end” are meaningless terms)? Do you want a full service designer, where they act as a retailer (including ordering from “to the trade” sources and marking up)? Have custom upholstery and drapes? Do you want someone who will coordinate carpenters, etc? Receive shipments at a warehouse and then install all at once?

Or are you planning on buying mostly from retail stores (room and board, etc) and need someone to help you with floorplanning and picking things out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once used an interior decorator and I wasn’t happy with the outcome she wanted. It wasn’t her fault, it was totally in line with my inspiration pictures, but it was a waste of money.

OP what you could do aside from an interior decorator:

1. Purchase most things (or lookalikes) from a photo you like, either from a shelter magazine or an ad from a store like Ballard designs or ikea or whatever strikes your fancy. (Or if nothing strikes your fancy, just know that if a store puts a design in an ad, the design is going to be acceptable to most everybody).

2. Get help from a free design person, like from pottery barn or something.

3. Just go for an online designer. You will probably want some inspiration photos just to make things easier on them and be sure it isn’t wildly out of the realm of what you like (you might care more than you think). One good thing about many of them is that for an hourly fee they will buy everything for you with their trade discount.

THIS. Everyone thinks they have great taste but many don’t. Interior designers are expensive in general so looking for large budget. $75K+. But many people are interior designer amateurs / friends and do a pretty good job. It’s really ok to copy a picture exactly. That what I did as a freelance interior designer.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely pay for a consultation at least. A good designer will help you use your space in a funcitional way that also looks good. Try to find somebody willing to work with things that you already have that you love or hold sentiment - this will make your home feel authentic to you and warm - some are better at this than others.

[Anonymous]

Also designers often go for what’s current that maybe you don’t like. For example lights in wooden cages. Or black kitchen cabinets. Trends.

[Anonymous]

Yes! DH convinced me to use one when we moved into our house and it was so much less expensive than I thought it'd be, and she understood our taste and took it to the next level really well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does one find an interior decorator? NP here but i would love to find one. Like in NoVa working on a moderate, but decent budget (not high end).

What’s the budget (“moderate” and “high end” are meaningless terms)? Do you want a full service designer, where they act as a retailer (including ordering from “to the trade” sources and marking up)? Have custom upholstery and drapes? Do you want someone who will coordinate carpenters, etc? Receive shipments at a warehouse and then install all at once?

Or are you planning on buying mostly from retail stores (room and board, etc) and need someone to help you with floorplanning and picking things out?

This. It depends on how much involvement you want and what you want to spend.

We are currently working with a decorator who is basically full service. We're doing custom window treatments, couch, rugs among other things. She's also coordinating with tradesmen on a few things we need done. I have absolutely no eye for or interest for design and we've recently moved into a new layout which I have no clue how to decorate it. It's a one level ranch with massive open space. We plan on being here for a while so the cost is worth it to us-we have not bought new furniture in close to 18 years. Full disclosure, we don't really have a set budget, but I'm guessing it will be $50-60K when we're done possibly more.