How to find helpful person to give interior decorating ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're asking for a decorator but you don't want to pay a decorator. Sorry. That's just not really fair. I'd take up the free consultants on their advice.

I think what OP means is that she can't afford a traditional decorator, the ones who take a commission on everything they provide. I can't afford those either.

But there are people who will work on an hourly basis, offering suggestions for paint colors, fabrics, arrangement of furniture, art, etc. I have one, but not in DC area.

I found mine by asking around. A friend has a beautifully decorated house, so she gave me the name of her by-the-hour decorator, who is great. My friend used this person to purchase furniture and fabrics as well as for hourly consultations. I met with this woman and she said I could use her as much or as little as I liked. She will decorate with Ikea or at whatever level above that I want.

There are people like this, OP. You must search for them. And read the magazines, look in the library for decorating books. I have a stack on my bedside table. I read through them and photocopy anything I like. I have a huge file filled with ideas. Once you find a decorator, you will have ideas and photos to show her.

I buy furniture at antique stores/thrift shops/yard sales/auctions, etc. I'm thrifty but I want a beautiful house. There are lots of decorating blogs that are full of photos. I don't like Houzz too much because it's mostly submitted by decorators/architects, but not a lot by real-world people. I love Country Living magazine because my style is low-key casual and I love repurposing antiques, mixing them with modern stuff.

Using a traditional decorator is NOT the only option, OP. Gather ideas, ask around and you will find someone to help you.

I also had one of those op. She was wonderful and we met 3x over the course of 18m. Plus one exchange via e-mail that I felt I should pay because it turned into a consultation, not just a follow up.

Her rate was about $125.00/hour last year and each time she came we spent about 3 hours together. However, I did my homework before and researched A LOT on HOUZZ and interest for ideas and looks that I liked. She helped me decide on wall colors, key pieces of furniture (like, this dining table v this other one/ end table lamp, etc). I bought directly so she wasn't getting any commission and I was getting that stuff mostly from main stream stores like West Elm, CB, PB, Ikea, etc.

I pinned what I liked and shared with her and she did the same… pinned some pillow covers options for me on Etsy and such.

So, yeah, because I prepared ahead, we could make most of our time together.

If you post your e-mail I will send her info for you. She was great and if I move (looking into buying a bigger place) I will definitely hire her again.

[Anonymous]

Psssh. Ask your most stylish gay friend to come over for dinner and drinks and then ask them what they'd do. Hell, someone who likes design might take on the project for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're asking for a decorator but you don't want to pay a decorator. Sorry. That's just not really fair. I'd take up the free consultants on their advice.

I think what OP means is that she can't afford a traditional decorator, the ones who take a commission on everything they provide. I can't afford those either.

But there are people who will work on an hourly basis, offering suggestions for paint colors, fabrics, arrangement of furniture, art, etc. I have one, but not in DC area.

I found mine by asking around. A friend has a beautifully decorated house, so she gave me the name of her by-the-hour decorator, who is great. My friend used this person to purchase furniture and fabrics as well as for hourly consultations. I met with this woman and she said I could use her as much or as little as I liked. She will decorate with Ikea or at whatever level above that I want.

There are people like this, OP. You must search for them. And read the magazines, look in the library for decorating books. I have a stack on my bedside table. I read through them and photocopy anything I like. I have a huge file filled with ideas. Once you find a decorator, you will have ideas and photos to show her.

I buy furniture at antique stores/thrift shops/yard sales/auctions, etc. I'm thrifty but I want a beautiful house. There are lots of decorating blogs that are full of photos. I don't like Houzz too much because it's mostly submitted by decorators/architects, but not a lot by real-world people. I love Country Living magazine because my style is low-key casual and I love repurposing antiques, mixing them with modern stuff.

Using a traditional decorator is NOT the only option, OP. Gather ideas, ask around and you will find someone to help you.

I also had one of those op. She was wonderful and we met 3x over the course of 18m. Plus one exchange via e-mail that I felt I should pay because it turned into a consultation, not just a follow up.

Her rate was about $125.00/hour last year and each time she came we spent about 3 hours together. However, I did my homework before and researched A LOT on HOUZZ and interest for ideas and looks that I liked. She helped me decide on wall colors, key pieces of furniture (like, this dining table v this other one/ end table lamp, etc). I bought directly so she wasn't getting any commission and I was getting that stuff mostly from main stream stores like West Elm, CB, PB, Ikea, etc.

I pinned what I liked and shared with her and she did the same… pinned some pillow covers options for me on Etsy and such.

So, yeah, because I prepared ahead, we could make most of our time together.

If you post your e-mail I will send her info for you. She was great and if I move (looking into buying a bigger place) I will definitely hire her again.

I'm not the PP, but I'd also be interested in her info.

hattisbaby [at] gmail [dot] com

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're asking for a decorator but you don't want to pay a decorator. Sorry. That's just not really fair. I'd take up the free consultants on their advice.

You don't see the hypocrisy here?

[Anonymous]

I guess I am confused- the by-the-hour decorator PP mentioned sounds awesome! But is that really different than a 'traditional' interior decorator? How do interior decorators work- don't they typically also charge by time, indirectly or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have used a Redfin agent.

wtf?!

sorry you overpaid for your realtor's commission to do the same thing a redfin realtor does, only slower.

[Anonymous]

1970DogwoodStreet.com does paint color consulting and other home consults without the decorator price tag.