Using an Interior Designer for the first time

[Anonymous]

To get the home we wanted in the area that we wanted we had to buy one that it quite dated and needed updating. I didn't want to make mistakes so decided to use an interior designer for the first time.

We are new to the area and I got a couple of references and looked at the portfolio before selecting one.

She required a retainer for 40 hours. She said that would pretty much cover everything we discussed.

Last week she called and said she will need additional retainer as the initial 40 hour retainer is just about used up. She did give me pricing on most things, but didn't specify anything (paint colors, granite and tile names, etc,). She has provided no detail of the hours. She has provided a few drawings, but nothing detailed enough that I could give to a contractor.

Just wondering if what I am experiencing is normal.

I don't know what to do. I really don't want to keep throwing money down the drain with her, but I feel like for the amount I have spent so far I should have something that I could move forward with. Has anyone been in this situation, what did you do?

Is it normal for a designer to not wrap things up and try to string you along for more money?

This is all new to me so I don't know if I have the wrong expectations.

[Anonymous]

What was in the contract for the initial 40 hours?

[Anonymous]

You haven’t given us nearly enough information to assess the situation. It may be that 40 hours would have been reasonable but the scope of the project had expanded or you asked her for significantly more options/design choices than is typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To get the home we wanted in the area that we wanted we had to buy one that it quite dated and needed updating. I didn't want to make mistakes so decided to use an interior designer for the first time.

We are new to the area and I got a couple of references and looked at the portfolio before selecting one.

She required a retainer for 40 hours. She said that would pretty much cover everything we discussed.

Last week she called and said she will need additional retainer as the initial 40 hour retainer is just about used up. She did give me pricing on most things, but didn't specify anything (paint colors, granite and tile names, etc,). She has provided no detail of the hours. She has provided a few drawings, but nothing detailed enough that I could give to a contractor.

Just wondering if what I am experiencing is normal.

I don't know what to do. I really don't want to keep throwing money down the drain with her, but I feel like for the amount I have spent so far I should have something that I could move forward with. Has anyone been in this situation, what did you do?

Is it normal for a designer to not wrap things up and try to string you along for more money?

This is all new to me so I don't know if I have the wrong expectations.

OP these statements are a big red flag that the problem may be you. “Is it normal to *clearly bad thing*” is the kind of question a person who has been trained to be meek but is also controlling and manipulative asks. Saying “I don’t know if I have the wrong expectations” is another red herring. You have a contract, and the contract specifies the expectations. You’re not asking that question in good faith.

[Anonymous]

Op here.

The contract was for 40 hours of design service. In an email she told me that the 40 hours would accomplish 5 specific things. Of those 5 things, I have only received one drawing and that drawing was more conceptual than something I could move forward with a contractor.

I just don't know how something like this works as I have never used a designer, that is why I am asking these questions. Perhaps this is how the industry works and I went into it with the wrong expectations, I am hoping an experienced person can give me opinions if this is the norm.

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I would want explanations for why the other 4 things were not completed in the 40 hours as originally agreed upon. If you think her reasons are fair, and you choose to go with the extra 40 hours, I would have it explicitly stated that she WILL deliver the 4 things by the end or else the surplus hours are on her.

You didn't pay her in full for the first 40, did you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here.

The contract was for 40 hours of design service. In an email she told me that the 40 hours would accomplish 5 specific things. Of those 5 things, I have only received one drawing and that drawing was more conceptual than something I could move forward with a contractor.

I just don't know how something like this works as I have never used a designer, that is why I am asking these questions. Perhaps this is how the industry works and I went into it with the wrong expectations, I am hoping an experienced person can give me opinions if this is the norm.

No. You should ask her to complete the 5 things per the contract.

[Anonymous]

Is she a woman owned business? Then I would cut her some slack and forward her the deposit for the additional 40 hours. You have to support woman only businesses!

[Anonymous]

There should be some in between available between the 40 hours and being left with nearly nothing, vs adding and entire 40 more hours. That's twice what she told you to expect. Going a little over is one thing, but DOUBLE? Seems like a miscalculation regarding the scope of the project on her part (assuming it's not a money grab), she shouldn't foist the cost on you unless you drastically changed something that expanded the scope.

Tell her you need more f/u regarding the outstanding 4 items, specifically a timeline of where she is with them now, and her outline for finishing them. Then offer MAYBE 10-15 more hours to put a bow on things.

[Anonymous]

I have used a designer once and my contract was very specific. 2 hours for design layout, 6 hours for furnishing selection, 3 hours for installation, etc. And I was billed monthly on what had been spent.

[Anonymous]

I have only used a designer once, but we reviewed my needs and I paid for 1 hour.

She then gave me a detailed proposal of how many hours she would spend and what I would receive. It was very specific - select 2 couches, 2 fans, wall color, rug, powder room wall paper, powder room fixtures. It specified what she would order and what I was responsible for ordering based on her specifications.

As we went along, there were a few additional items. I asked her to be present for the delivery and hanging of artwork because I had a meeting to attend. I asked her assistant to stop by for the rug placement and final inspection on my built-ins. That was a different, lower hourly rate and due to my scope change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is she a woman owned business? Then I would cut her some slack and forward her the deposit for the additional 40 hours. You have to support woman only businesses!

Troll post? I gladly select minority/women-owned businesses when I find one that will meet my needs, but I don't lower my standards/expectations for them relative to any other business... it would be condescending and counterproductive to do so.