Can't afford a designer but really need some help....

[Anonymous]

I have the good fortune to be able to essentially start from scratch on our new home and fill it with furniture - but I don't think I can afford an actual interior decorator. So instead I'm looking at catalogues and considering just buying everything I see for a given room and personalizing it with accessories, art, etc.

Looking at Room & Board (expensive), West Elm, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Ballard...where else should I be looking? Our home is on the eastern shore of Maryland so I want to have a pretty comfortable, laid-back, coastal feel.

I have seen some of these companies have design consultants you can use. Has anyone used one before, and found it to be useful?

Thank you for any advice!

[Anonymous]

I used the Crate and Barrel one - if you're willing to get everything from that brand, that could work well for you. They even help with paint colors and ideas for window treatments. The designer gave a pretty detailed design.

I didn't find the Room and Board designer as helpful, but I heard that they're better in person.

[Anonymous]

Serena and Lily also has that coastal vibe. And some of the Lulu and Georgia stuff.

[Anonymous]

I like Four Hands but I think you need a designer to purchase since it's wholesale. It might be worth it to get someone to spend a few hours working with you to help you with dimensions, size, placement etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serena and Lily also has that coastal vibe. And some of the Lulu and Georgia stuff.

+1

[Anonymous]

Just remember that the most important thing is scale the floor plan. So you don’t want to copy a “room” from a catalogue because it will not be the same size and shape as your room, but if you get lucky with a good store designer that can be a good option.

[Anonymous]

Ethan Allen has some fabrics that fit a coastal feel and their in store designers will help figure out layouts.

[Anonymous]

Yo wish I could do it for you, I love to decorate and am good at it. Post the rooms and we can help you.

[Anonymous]

Not sure your design preference but Kellogg collection has in house designers that will come to your home and help… again, have to buy mainly from them. Also, look at Kathy Kou home. A variety of brands and can use their design services.

Another option is using the expert. Can do an an 30-60 min call with a designer. I did this and it was actually very helpful.

[Anonymous]

My friend had an Ethan Allen designer help her and I loved the result and all the furniture—we live in a coastal area and it worked. She was very happy with it. The furniture isn’t cheap but it lasts, and she reused it in a new house and it looks great there too. I have some pieces and have liked them for over 20 years and have been able to update around them. I also have used Pottery Barn for rugs and pillows and they are not as expensive so I don’t care if I have to replace. Target even has some nice furniture. Don’t count it out. I don’t think I’d buy everything from Target, but some things are decent, way better than Ikea, for instance. Measure your space, look at the furniture’s dimensions and pay attention to scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure your design preference but Kellogg collection has in house designers that will come to your home and help… again, have to buy mainly from them. Also, look at Kathy Kou home. A variety of brands and can use their design services.

Another option is using the expert. Can do an an 30-60 min call with a designer. I did this and it was actually very helpful.

My friend did this on a Zoom call/follow up call with a paint expert! She found it super helpful when deciding how to paint her interiors. I am not sure how she found him.

[Anonymous]

You can get some free amateur help on HOUZZ by posting photos of the rooms. That's what I did, and it was very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried Havenly? They have online and in person options for design advice and the price is low. I don’t know if they are any good though.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford to just pick entire rooms from the lookbooks of places like Ballard or Room & Board or Pottery Barn, you might be able to afford a decorator. If you would like one, look into it -- they don't all specialize in furnishing huge mansions with bespoke art.

[Anonymous]

My DD uses Havenly. Her most recent was option where they come to house. I really like the accessories they’ve suggested and light fixtures tho less impressed with layout choices