Cost of Interior Designers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Interior Designers I have a question.

I am a GC who usually doesn’t have issues with division of services with Architects but often have issues with Interior Designers. They often want to source counters, millwork, plumbing fixtures, tile, etc. When I explain that they need to be responsible for their installation they balk. Don’t show up for countertop templating and install, don’t provide protection to existing surfaces, etc. They want me to do their take offs. They want me to do their receiving of materials on the job. I explain they do not have General Liability insurance, etc and are not licensed for construction services and they just balk.

I am not trying to be too snarky but why can’t you stay in your lane ?

And what’s with attitude - it’s not all but I more often than not have these problems.

Either that or get your GC license and do your own work.

I would appreciate insights from any design professionals following this thread.

That is their lane. They are paid to select finished and you are paid to install them. Why would a client pay a contractor to pick out finishes? You don't have a design background and will pick the cheapest (and usually ugliest) option. Why would a designer be in charge of install? That's what a contractor is for. Sounds like you need to stay in your lane.

I have a serious issue with contractors who want to choose finishes.

It may have been that my post was not clear.

I have no issues with designers selecting finishes. The issue I have with the designers is how they want to manage their procurement and installation.

So, if the Interior Designer wants to select products that’s great. If they want to provide them then they need to manage their delivery, need to unpack them to ensure they are not damaged, and properly store -ideally offsite. They also need to manage take offs and quantities.

They should not tell the clients that if they are providing the materials the GC should not mark up the materials. Again, if they want to provide then the Interior Designers needs to ensure they are properly ordered and placed usually in the garage.

Instead they ask me how many tiles to order, tell me the tiles are coming next Tuesday, that I have to be there to receive, inspect and verify delivery or even worse deliveries show up on the job unannounced. Or the five digit DR fixture is arriving on Tuesday - you need to be there to check it in and confirm it’s not damaged or the ID says they are going to provide the millwork but I need to install it for them.

This is not about them selecting finishes - it is their insistence that if they specify they have to provide. Again I do not have this problem with Architects - they specify and my firm is then responsible for materials and methods which is the industry standard.

Also it should be possible to have this conversation without denigrating my or other GCs skills and or tastes.

That said I do not want to be in the selection business. Selfishly I want a selections book, usually organized by space, that can be used as a reference for material ordering and layout.

So succinctly, if the ID selects the slabs -why is it with the proviso that she sources them ? If you want to source them and mark them up - including the price of the fabrication and install - then you need to own that process. Not have a GC own that process for materials he is not supplying.

I’m not in your particular business, but this just sounds like a billing issue. It makes perfect sense that projects above a certain $$ are going to have an interior designer selecting countertop slabs and tile. If you want to take on such a project, sit down with the designer and figure out how to bill it and divvy up the work so that everyone gets paid appropriately.

To say what I’m really thinking, use your words like a big boy. If a designer is trying to stick you with unpaid work, talk about it. I’m sure there will be some you don’t want to work with again and some with whom you can form good and profitable long term relationships.

There is no way I would ever do a project where the GC selects the slab for the kitchen counters. It might be me, or a designer, but it’s not going to be the GC unless I consider them to be also the designer some how. So there’s got to be a way to work it out.

OP here.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I agree with your feedback.

My question really was geared toward the culture of it - meaning I have had this problem with a significant portion of the designers I have worked with so trying to understand the mindset.

There are cultural aspects of other trades - for example over the years I have had several plumbers tell me they are too expensive to clean up and have the laborer do it. It cultural and I believe it’s taught to the apprentices. I had one crew they didn’t have vacuums on their trucks - it’s cultural. So you learn to watch the plumbers like a hawk and not pay them if they don’t clean and organize the job.

Trying to receive feedback from designers about the billing issue. It’s obviously a money grab and it’s also obvious they don’t have the staff nor infrastructure to build out construction. So why do they insist on doing do so instead of working in a collaborate fashion ?

I had one that reached out to me - wanted to take me to lunch and then proposed she provide all the materials and she would pay me a co-ordination fee ? So, trying to understand their reasoning because again it feels like a money grab and they don’t even want to do any of the heavy lifting.

And they are making money on these jobs - on one of the jobs they charged the client over 40k for a sectional. It looked like it came from Bob’s discount furniture. I still work for the client and they are still pissed.

Not trying to hijack the thread and I realize they come with the territory but I would like to work through some rules of engagement.

I don’t know but omg, you are so whiny!

Just for the record, I'm OP and that post is not mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pp and let me guess that the contractor likes the architects because they're men and it's okay for them to make $$ and demands, but designers are women with a different set of rules...right?

Sounds pretty likely to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Interior Designers I have a question.

I am a GC who usually doesn’t have issues with division of services with Architects but often have issues with Interior Designers. They often want to source counters, millwork, plumbing fixtures, tile, etc. When I explain that they need to be responsible for their installation they balk. Don’t show up for countertop templating and install, don’t provide protection to existing surfaces, etc. They want me to do their take offs. They want me to do their receiving of materials on the job. I explain they do not have General Liability insurance, etc and are not licensed for construction services and they just balk.

I am not trying to be too snarky but why can’t you stay in your lane ?

And what’s with attitude - it’s not all but I more often than not have these problems.

Either that or get your GC license and do your own work.

I would appreciate insights from any design professionals following this thread.

That is their lane. They are paid to select finished and you are paid to install them. Why would a client pay a contractor to pick out finishes? You don't have a design background and will pick the cheapest (and usually ugliest) option. Why would a designer be in charge of install? That's what a contractor is for. Sounds like you need to stay in your lane.

I have a serious issue with contractors who want to choose finishes.

It may have been that my post was not clear.

I have no issues with designers selecting finishes. The issue I have with the designers is how they want to manage their procurement and installation.

So, if the Interior Designer wants to select products that’s great. If they want to provide them then they need to manage their delivery, need to unpack them to ensure they are not damaged, and properly store -ideally offsite. They also need to manage take offs and quantities.

They should not tell the clients that if they are providing the materials the GC should not mark up the materials. Again, if they want to provide then the Interior Designers needs to ensure they are properly ordered and placed usually in the garage.

Instead they ask me how many tiles to order, tell me the tiles are coming next Tuesday, that I have to be there to receive, inspect and verify delivery or even worse deliveries show up on the job unannounced. Or the five digit DR fixture is arriving on Tuesday - you need to be there to check it in and confirm it’s not damaged or the ID says they are going to provide the millwork but I need to install it for them.

This is not about them selecting finishes - it is their insistence that if they specify they have to provide. Again I do not have this problem with Architects - they specify and my firm is then responsible for materials and methods which is the industry standard.

Also it should be possible to have this conversation without denigrating my or other GCs skills and or tastes.

That said I do not want to be in the selection business. Selfishly I want a selections book, usually organized by space, that can be used as a reference for material ordering and layout.

So succinctly, if the ID selects the slabs -why is it with the proviso that she sources them ? If you want to source them and mark them up - including the price of the fabrication and install - then you need to own that process. Not have a GC own that process for materials he is not supplying.

I’m not in your particular business, but this just sounds like a billing issue. It makes perfect sense that projects above a certain $$ are going to have an interior designer selecting countertop slabs and tile. If you want to take on such a project, sit down with the designer and figure out how to bill it and divvy up the work so that everyone gets paid appropriately.

To say what I’m really thinking, use your words like a big boy. If a designer is trying to stick you with unpaid work, talk about it. I’m sure there will be some you don’t want to work with again and some with whom you can form good and profitable long term relationships.

There is no way I would ever do a project where the GC selects the slab for the kitchen counters. It might be me, or a designer, but it’s not going to be the GC unless I consider them to be also the designer some how. So there’s got to be a way to work it out.

OP here.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

I agree with your feedback.

My question really was geared toward the culture of it - meaning I have had this problem with a significant portion of the designers I have worked with so trying to understand the mindset.

There are cultural aspects of other trades - for example over the years I have had several plumbers tell me they are too expensive to clean up and have the laborer do it. It cultural and I believe it’s taught to the apprentices. I had one crew they didn’t have vacuums on their trucks - it’s cultural. So you learn to watch the plumbers like a hawk and not pay them if they don’t clean and organize the job.

Trying to receive feedback from designers about the billing issue. It’s obviously a money grab and it’s also obvious they don’t have the staff nor infrastructure to build out construction. So why do they insist on doing do so instead of working in a collaborate fashion ?

I had one that reached out to me - wanted to take me to lunch and then proposed she provide all the materials and she would pay me a co-ordination fee ? So, trying to understand their reasoning because again it feels like a money grab and they don’t even want to do any of the heavy lifting.

And they are making money on these jobs - on one of the jobs they charged the client over 40k for a sectional. It looked like it came from Bob’s discount furniture. I still work for the client and they are still pissed.

Not trying to hijack the thread and I realize they come with the territory but I would like to work through some rules of engagement.

I don’t know but omg, you are so whiny!

Just for the record, I'm OP and that post is not mine.

We can all tell, he just mis-used “OP,” no biggie. I don’t think he was trying to impersonate you he just meant he was the PP.

[Anonymous]

For the “former designer” — I think most residential clients would be fine with a mid level design firm or an individual working on their own shop. I am the 25k a room ballpark poster and based on the OP’s post she’s not looking to have her home be featured in Architectural Digest.

Comments like yours are what discourage people from seeking out designers because it makes it seem unattainable unless you have an unlimited budget. I wasn’t saying the OP could do an entire house for their proposed 100k but they could make a major dent and have a great plan to execute going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the “former designer” — I think most residential clients would be fine with a mid level design firm or an individual working on their own shop. I am the 25k a room ballpark poster and based on the OP’s post she’s not looking to have her home be featured in Architectural Digest.

Comments like yours are what discourage people from seeking out designers because it makes it seem unattainable unless you have an unlimited budget. I wasn’t saying the OP could do an entire house for their proposed 100k but they could make a major dent and have a great plan to execute going forward.

Uh, what I mean is she doesn’t have to use a very basic “designer” who doesn’t do custom. That’s a mid level designer, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. I’m telling her who to call and that she has more $$ than she thinks she does. If you’re insulted, that’s on you.

Why do I bother trying to be helpful on DCUM? I get attacked for it one way or another. Answered another one on grief and someone attacked me for that one too. GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pp and let me guess that the contractor likes the architects because they're men and it's okay for them to make $$ and demands, but designers are women with a different set of rules...right?

NP (new poster?)

Architects and interior designers can be equally frustrating/burdensome to deal with. I'd absolutely both, but all too frequently neither seem to have a good grasp on where their expertise ends and both seem oblivious as to how much havoc that can create, not to the client's benefit.

There probably shouldn't be a gender bias inferred, as there are plenty of women architects and male designers. The ones (both fields) I like working with the most are those that give clear goals and communicate details/inspiration in a timely manner before giving others space to wield their expertise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pp and let me guess that the contractor likes the architects because they're men and it's okay for them to make $$ and demands, but designers are women with a different set of rules...right?

You are something else, but you are not right.

Gotta love people pissing away 25k per room on some uppity interior designer and then ripping on a general contractor who has a legit gripe.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone used Decorilla? https://www.decorilla.com/

[Anonymous]

How does it cost 25k per room? I bought a 5k bed and it already seemed really expensive. What else do you need? A dresser, some end tables, rugs and curtains?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does it cost 25k per room? I bought a 5k bed and it already seemed really expensive. What else do you need? A dresser, some end tables, rugs and curtains?

I think the idea is to spend as much money as possible per room.

[Anonymous]

OP I used havenly and agree, it was pretty useless. Would recommend visiting Ballard designs or Ethan Allen. Layout and dimension are key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does it cost 25k per room? I bought a 5k bed and it already seemed really expensive. What else do you need? A dresser, some end tables, rugs and curtains?

I think a bedroom tends to cost less than a living room but yeah obviously you can furnish a bedroom for a wide range of budgets.