Interior designer blues

[Anonymous]

I used to practice residential design and agree with a PP, it was pretty awful dealing with clients. I am licensed and educated so not a decorator.

I started off working weekends and evenings but once I got established shifted to professional hours. Just like your hair stylist or dentist or doctor. Never had a problem with that. If people didn't like it they didn't have to work with me.

Clients texting is unprofessional unless the designer asks them to, but it's also not in their best interest. It's hard to keep track or records if things are on text. It's sloppy. I would always tell clients to please not text me about business ("I'm five minutes late to the showroom" is a different matter.)

If you wanted to discuss business with her you should have emailed or called an office line.

Also, it is totally reasonable to not turn a proposal around in 48 hours. The designer has other clients. I am assuming you signed something with the $400 consult that listed turn-around times, right?

Sounds like the designer is responding to you based on history with previous clients who behaved similarly. I would have done the same, but maybe not as directly.

Also sounds like you are not compatible with work styles and communication styles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a massive rip off. Go on instagram. There are these fantastic European and Australian interior designers with proper architecture degrees. It’s a one time fee, they go over your floor plan and solve everything. Don’t let some botox primadonna sell you Visual Comfort made in PRC rubbish

Ahh it's you again. Hello! Welcome back! You are so lovely and we are glad you've made it to this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to give away my architect but they are brilliant and Australian and it will cost you less than 10 hrs of Ms. $400 interior decorator to redo the whole floor plan and pick stuff out.

Google it. Interior design is overpriced in the US. It’s also very formulaic. Just like the kitchens: Poggenpohl or Boffi are a fraction of what we pay here in Europe. On the mass market end of things, my bespoke room is one out of the UK but there are amazing young architects all over the world

How is an Australian architect stamping drawings in US jurisdictions?

[Anonymous]

I would move on because this will likely leave a bad taste for both of you and rather than get deeper into the project and wait for the conflict areas to emerge (and they will) I would take the loss and just start with someone new. And try to learn from it. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Surely you can find someone you like better right? I have left professionals (a gynecologist for example) over a comment that just captures who they are, when it really bothered me. This really bugged you. So trust that and move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to give away my architect but they are brilliant and Australian and it will cost you less than 10 hrs of Ms. $400 interior decorator to redo the whole floor plan and pick stuff out.

Google it. Interior design is overpriced in the US. It’s also very formulaic. Just like the kitchens: Poggenpohl or Boffi are a fraction of what we pay here in Europe. On the mass market end of things, my bespoke room is one out of the UK but there are amazing young architects all over the world

How is an Australian architect stamping drawings in US jurisdictions?

Stamping what drawings? What fing drawings are you stamping with your decorator stamp? Architects are way better at interior design than HGTV certificate holders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to give away my architect but they are brilliant and Australian and it will cost you less than 10 hrs of Ms. $400 interior decorator to redo the whole floor plan and pick stuff out.

Google it. Interior design is overpriced in the US. It’s also very formulaic. Just like the kitchens: Poggenpohl or Boffi are a fraction of what we pay here in Europe. On the mass market end of things, my bespoke room is one out of the UK but there are amazing young architects all over the world

How is an Australian architect stamping drawings in US jurisdictions?

By the way, you definitely can pay people who will stamp the architectural drawings too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would move on because this will likely leave a bad taste for both of you and rather than get deeper into the project and wait for the conflict areas to emerge (and they will) I would take the loss and just start with someone new. And try to learn from it. Good luck.

She’s learned not to get ripped off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her text was totally fine. It isn't appropriate to be texting people about business things on the weekend. She's setting healthy boundaries, not scolding.

No it wasn’t. It was passive aggressive. You do not want to work with someone like that. How would she be if you questioned her recommendations?

[Anonymous]

The only thing the interior designers working in DC are good for is maybe access to Holly Hunt.

If you want to spend money, get someone really good. That’s going to be the West Coast, Charleston and such, Boston and NY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a massive rip off. Go on instagram. There are these fantastic European and Australian interior designers with proper architecture degrees. It’s a one time fee, they go over your floor plan and solve everything. Don’t let some botox primadonna sell you Visual Comfort made in PRC rubbish

Ahh it's you again. Hello! Welcome back! You are so lovely and we are glad you've made it to this thread.

Convince me that you add value. I have had horrible experiences with the local ones. The recommendation were so pedestrian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to give away my architect but they are brilliant and Australian and it will cost you less than 10 hrs of Ms. $400 interior decorator to redo the whole floor plan and pick stuff out.

Google it. Interior design is overpriced in the US. It’s also very formulaic. Just like the kitchens: Poggenpohl or Boffi are a fraction of what we pay here in Europe. On the mass market end of things, my bespoke room is one out of the UK but there are amazing young architects all over the world

This poster is so full of shit.

[Anonymous]

The family time comment wasn’t very smart. Many white collar professionals don’t have time to send emails or deal with their interior designer during their work day. They will reach out during the evening or weekend.

Her response tells me she doesn’t have many wealthy clients.

You’re better off finding what you like on IG and copying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a massive rip off. Go on instagram. There are these fantastic European and Australian interior designers with proper architecture degrees. It’s a one time fee, they go over your floor plan and solve everything. Don’t let some botox primadonna sell you Visual Comfort made in PRC rubbish

Ahh it's you again. Hello! Welcome back! You are so lovely and we are glad you've made it to this thread.

Convince me that you add value. I have had horrible experiences with the local ones. The recommendation were so pedestrian.

+1. Not to mention you can easily find the Schumacher or Quadrille wallpaper you’d like on IG and order some “for the trade” highland house furniture from a company in NC

[Anonymous]

Yeah she sounds like a PITA. She could have told you next time you spoke, that she prefers email communication outside of business hours (or always). $400 is not much. I once spent $1000 with someone and then dropped them because they weren’t getting my aesthetic.