Interior Designers who will work by the hour?

[Anonymous]

Global reach opened up through remote work is incredible.
You could hire a European designer where market won’t bear ridiculous designer prices. Here’s an ad for a $16/hr which sounds like it delivers more than the designer story in this thread: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01759e90558e0eab4b

We hired a European architecture firm that was profiled in NYT - we loved the aesthetic of an award winning house they had done. It was fantastic and less than 10% of the cost in the US. No upcharge, shared trade discounts. Ended up with a top brand name kitchen, ditto for the lighting, hardware and marble mentioned in the real estate listings with pride for much less than the cost of basic cabinetry pushed by a VA designer who couldn’t do a basic drawing in CAD

There are people who’ll go for an NP over an MD and pay the same. It’s a controversial topic. But one is clearly way better objectively than the other. This is even more stark: it’s better AND way cheaper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are at it de Gournay and Ananbo will lay out your walls, send you photos of the colorways, let you see it in VR and it’s free. Why on gods green earth would you need an intermediary?

I can see maybe getting Holly Hunt but who wants to be a Kardashian? There’s much better stuff.

I’m sorry but it’s just stupid

I feel bad for this architect you’re always promoting if you’re not her because you really are the least persuasive person. If you like her, you should stop mentioning her.

I’m not her obviously. I’m also not for example this impressive Paris-based interior design firm charging EUR40 per hour and breaking down their pricing completely transparently and upfront.

https://www.createursdinterieur.com/en/prices/

It’s absurd to pay what no name interior designers in DMV think they should charge. The top names don’t upcharge on furnishings — they are practically paid for through trade discount offsets.

- the least persuasive person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are at it de Gournay and Ananbo will lay out your walls, send you photos of the colorways, let you see it in VR and it’s free. Why on gods green earth would you need an intermediary?

I can see maybe getting Holly Hunt but who wants to be a Kardashian? There’s much better stuff.

I’m sorry but it’s just stupid

I feel bad for this architect you’re always promoting if you’re not her because you really are the least persuasive person. If you like her, you should stop mentioning her.

I bet you still lay out the kitchen in a “triangle”. You know you do despite the whopping 10 hours of so-called education every 2 years you need to keep your license

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are at it de Gournay and Ananbo will lay out your walls, send you photos of the colorways, let you see it in VR and it’s free. Why on gods green earth would you need an intermediary?

I can see maybe getting Holly Hunt but who wants to be a Kardashian? There’s much better stuff.

I’m sorry but it’s just stupid

I feel bad for this architect you’re always promoting if you’re not her because you really are the least persuasive person. If you like her, you should stop mentioning her.

I bet you still lay out the kitchen in a “triangle”. You know you do despite the whopping 10 hours of so-called education every 2 years you need to keep your license

I’m really proud of you for trying to keep it together in the post before this one and putting the direct insults in a separate post.

[Anonymous]

Snarky interior designer. What a calling card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did hourly work with someone and also felt like I was way overcharged. We wanted a living room refresh and were charged for about 8 hours for a home visit and then links from West Elm/Pottery Barn for rugs, coffee tables and lamps. (She also initially billed us for two extra hours and blamed a math error. )

We did end up buying, and liking, three of her suggested items. But, at almost 2k I didn’t feel like it was worth it and I can’t help but feel “cheated” at how many hours I was billed for.

Eight hours for a room refresh is perfectly reasonable, and I’d argue very little time. Did she even charge you driving time? Do you know how hard it is to find exact dimensions of furniture for your space? If you start with one couch that’s 80” and don’t like it, but the next one is 86” that might throw off your side tables. Also, if you need a 75” couch that works with the design and has the right fabric, that might take looking for awhile. That’s why custom can be easier and often cheaper through a designer.

You can’t get under $1500 for a halfway decent design in a box and that means you need to measure.

I’m the PP- we already had a sofa, so the dimensions weren’t part of the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get that, yes. $2300 for up to 3500 sqft full CAD layout plan with someone who regularly visits top fairs such as the Milan expo and not someone who’ll take you to Chantilly VA and upcharge you

Don’t like architects? Talk to proven talent. Consultation with Nate Berkus is $900

Like it or not C19 has changed the world and AI has supersped the global connectivity and ability to get anything done better cheaper and virtually.

Professional designers don’t need anything more than a 2 year associate degree. Getting a CAD plan out of one is like wringing water out of a stone

LOL. Thats for 15 minutes! An AD 100 won’t do anything for under $150K, but good luck with all that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did hourly work with someone and also felt like I was way overcharged. We wanted a living room refresh and were charged for about 8 hours for a home visit and then links from West Elm/Pottery Barn for rugs, coffee tables and lamps. (She also initially billed us for two extra hours and blamed a math error. )

We did end up buying, and liking, three of her suggested items. But, at almost 2k I didn’t feel like it was worth it and I can’t help but feel “cheated” at how many hours I was billed for.

Eight hours for a room refresh is perfectly reasonable, and I’d argue very little time. Did she even charge you driving time? Do you know how hard it is to find exact dimensions of furniture for your space? If you start with one couch that’s 80” and don’t like it, but the next one is 86” that might throw off your side tables. Also, if you need a 75” couch that works with the design and has the right fabric, that might take looking for awhile. That’s why custom can be easier and often cheaper through a designer.

You can’t get under $1500 for a halfway decent design in a box and that means you need to measure.

I’m the PP- we already had a sofa, so the dimensions weren’t part of the job.

So you had ample room for coffee table and side tables and rug? Also, she’s got to match your sofa. Maybe your sofa was too small or large and she had to match scale. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But, if you want to feel ripped off, go ahead.

[Anonymous]

If you want someone to create a floor plan, a fabric scheme, source/order/receive custom furniture, drapes and other soft goods from workrooms they know or reupholster what you have, find a rug and art…then a designer is probably a good idea. What you’re buying is them acting as the store/retailer/project manager as much as their design sensibility.

If you’re wanting to put a room together with from things you can buy retail, I think the retail store design services and some of your own time is a better value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get that, yes. $2300 for up to 3500 sqft full CAD layout plan with someone who regularly visits top fairs such as the Milan expo and not someone who’ll take you to Chantilly VA and upcharge you

Don’t like architects? Talk to proven talent. Consultation with Nate Berkus is $900

Like it or not C19 has changed the world and AI has supersped the global connectivity and ability to get anything done better cheaper and virtually.

Professional designers don’t need anything more than a 2 year associate degree. Getting a CAD plan out of one is like wringing water out of a stone

LOL. Thats for 15 minutes! An AD 100 won’t do anything for under $150K, but good luck with all that!

You’re proving the point people are making — DMV interior designers are selling low to middling design for middle to high prices and laughing at their clients being forced into this situation. There are now alternatives in the market. Smart money can combine a virtual designer or even a showroom designer with consultation with a great designer they admire.

[Anonymous]

Booking directly is cheaper but this online platform offers many AD100 designers for consultations
https://www.theexpert.com/consultations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are at it de Gournay and Ananbo will lay out your walls, send you photos of the colorways, let you see it in VR and it’s free. Why on gods green earth would you need an intermediary?

I can see maybe getting Holly Hunt but who wants to be a Kardashian? There’s much better stuff.

I’m sorry but it’s just stupid

I feel bad for this architect you’re always promoting if you’re not her because you really are the least persuasive person. If you like her, you should stop mentioning her.

I’m not her obviously. I’m also not for example this impressive Paris-based interior design firm charging EUR40 per hour and breaking down their pricing completely transparently and upfront.

https://www.createursdinterieur.com/en/prices/

It’s absurd to pay what no name interior designers in DMV think they should charge. The top names don’t upcharge on furnishings — they are practically paid for through trade discount offsets.

- the least persuasive person

Please go away, you have ruined this thread and so many others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get that, yes. $2300 for up to 3500 sqft full CAD layout plan with someone who regularly visits top fairs such as the Milan expo and not someone who’ll take you to Chantilly VA and upcharge you

Don’t like architects? Talk to proven talent. Consultation with Nate Berkus is $900

Like it or not C19 has changed the world and AI has supersped the global connectivity and ability to get anything done better cheaper and virtually.

Professional designers don’t need anything more than a 2 year associate degree. Getting a CAD plan out of one is like wringing water out of a stone

LOL. Thats for 15 minutes! An AD 100 won’t do anything for under $150K, but good luck with all that!

You’re proving the point people are making — DMV interior designers are selling low to middling design for middle to high prices and laughing at their clients being forced into this situation. There are now alternatives in the market. Smart money can combine a virtual designer or even a showroom designer with consultation with a great designer they admire.

Very few DC designers are $3600/hr. And, of course the designs are middling because the vast majority of people in this city don’t want to pay a lot for furniture. OP said she doesn’t have $100k to spend. Some lady is furious about paying $2k for services and won’t even replace her couch.

[Anonymous]

I did it myself for a colonial by spending a lot of time on IG and copying what I liked. I spent a lot of time on highland house, Wesley Hall, sister parish, etc websites. I started by choosing paint colors for my house. For each room I typically started with a fabric or wallpaper I absolutely love.

Then I found a “designer” from furnitureland south who helped me pick out a lot of for the trade upholstery. Couches, armchairs, ottomans etc. They also sell sisal rugs and can help you pick out the correct color for rooms.

For lighting I did buy a few items from visual comfort and used their virtual appointment for help. Then I tried to purchase most of the lighting from a local company.

But I enjoy decorating my own home and didn’t want to spend 100-200k in design fees. I also didn’t want to do everything at once and wanted to take my time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While we are at it de Gournay and Ananbo will lay out your walls, send you photos of the colorways, let you see it in VR and it’s free. Why on gods green earth would you need an intermediary?

I can see maybe getting Holly Hunt but who wants to be a Kardashian? There’s much better stuff.

I’m sorry but it’s just stupid

I feel bad for this architect you’re always promoting if you’re not her because you really are the least persuasive person. If you like her, you should stop mentioning her.

I’m not her obviously. I’m also not for example this impressive Paris-based interior design firm charging EUR40 per hour and breaking down their pricing completely transparently and upfront.

https://www.createursdinterieur.com/en/prices/

It’s absurd to pay what no name interior designers in DMV think they should charge. The top names don’t upcharge on furnishings — they are practically paid for through trade discount offsets.

- the least persuasive person

Please go away, you have ruined this thread and so many others.

I think you have enough to worry about since the rip you off to sell you what I learnt on my cheapo design course business model ain’t cutting it any longer.