Interior designer blues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine for you to send a text at 7:45pm on a Friday evening and also think it's fine for her to wait to respond until working hours Monday morning. She's not even doing that to you - she's saying she'll send you the revised contract Saturday morning. Get over yourself. 40 hours of work is very small beans.

I agree with everything you said above but I found the “I ask that you please respect my family time over the weekend” unnecessarily chastising- like in what way is she expecting me to invade her space this weekend?

This. She didn't need to say that unless OP demanded a response that weekend. That said, if I email or text a professional on a Friday evening or weekend, I make it clear I don't expect them to see it or respond until the work week. Sometimes the only time I have to respond is when they aren't working.

Also, for that much money an hour I do expect stellar service and good communication. I don't expect to hear from them on weekends, but if I am signing a contract, I want to know you are on the ball and not flaky. OP< I would move on.

OP told her the project was going too slow, by text, on a Friday night after cutting the scope of the project in half. She expected her to respond with a new contract in 48 hours.

—team designer all the way.

[Anonymous]

Based on our experience, I concur. They were pedestrian in their tastes and nickel and dimed us. When we questioned their inaccurate measurements they claimed getting stressed out because presumably I’m such a horrible b for wanting accurate floor plans not drawn in crayon

Risking to incite more wrath of the designer/decorator on this thread who seem to think anyone disagreeing isn’t a good fit and move on and such condescending statements, we ended up working with a studio out of town. Amazing. Also passed on the designer discount. Totally worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine for you to send a text at 7:45pm on a Friday evening and also think it's fine for her to wait to respond until working hours Monday morning. She's not even doing that to you - she's saying she'll send you the revised contract Saturday morning. Get over yourself. 40 hours of work is very small beans.

I agree with everything you said above but I found the “I ask that you please respect my family time over the weekend” unnecessarily chastising- like in what way is she expecting me to invade her space this weekend?

This. She didn't need to say that unless OP demanded a response that weekend. That said, if I email or text a professional on a Friday evening or weekend, I make it clear I don't expect them to see it or respond until the work week. Sometimes the only time I have to respond is when they aren't working.

Also, for that much money an hour I do expect stellar service and good communication. I don't expect to hear from them on weekends, but if I am signing a contract, I want to know you are on the ball and not flaky. OP< I would move on.

OP told her the project was going too slow, by text, on a Friday night after cutting the scope of the project in half. She expected her to respond with a new contract in 48 hours.

—team designer all the way.

No she did not at all. This is how you read it.

If you’re going to be mediocre and not work when your clients are available, don’t get snippy as well

Finally, it would be like if real estate agents only worked 9-5 Mon-Fri; what on Earth?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on this thread, I looked up the top 20-125 designers. Color me shocked, not one in DMV.

x1000000

DMV = bored SAHM = "designer". I decided very early, no matter how big my house or budget, I would be facilitating my own designs and tastes, which are no doubt better.

No doubt. But you are a “nightmare client”

[Anonymous]

Nightmare client = not a willing victim to a taste murder and a highway robbery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can an interior designer not work on the weekend? Are they expecting all their clients to be SAHMs or retired, or independently wealthy and not gainfully engaged in any work day pursuits?

I worked at a firm where we basically only took $100k+ clients. $50k if it was slow. Never once worked past 6 or on a weekend with clients. We were allowed to decline giving a cell to a client. They called the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine for you to send a text at 7:45pm on a Friday evening and also think it's fine for her to wait to respond until working hours Monday morning. She's not even doing that to you - she's saying she'll send you the revised contract Saturday morning. Get over yourself. 40 hours of work is very small beans.

I agree with everything you said above but I found the “I ask that you please respect my family time over the weekend” unnecessarily chastising- like in what way is she expecting me to invade her space this weekend?

This. She didn't need to say that unless OP demanded a response that weekend. That said, if I email or text a professional on a Friday evening or weekend, I make it clear I don't expect them to see it or respond until the work week. Sometimes the only time I have to respond is when they aren't working.

Also, for that much money an hour I do expect stellar service and good communication. I don't expect to hear from them on weekends, but if I am signing a contract, I want to know you are on the ball and not flaky. OP< I would move on.

OP told her the project was going too slow, by text, on a Friday night after cutting the scope of the project in half. She expected her to respond with a new contract in 48 hours.

—team designer all the way.

No she did not at all. This is how you read it.

If you’re going to be mediocre and not work when your clients are available, don’t get snippy as well

Finally, it would be like if real estate agents only worked 9-5 Mon-Fri; what on Earth?!

Uh, no. She said she told the designer she was “concerned things were too slow rolling.”

[Anonymous]

[list]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can an interior designer not work on the weekend? Are they expecting all their clients to be SAHMs or retired, or independently wealthy and not gainfully engaged in any work day pursuits?

I worked at a firm where we basically only took $100k+ clients. $50k if it was slow. Never once worked past 6 or on a weekend with clients. We were allowed to decline giving a cell to a client. They called the office.

The keyword here being a “firm”. That’s a whole different ballgame.
In your firm, did you upcharge clients or did you work on % of total budget and pass on the trade discount which made the client whole? Be honest. That’s the model of the top studios

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine for you to send a text at 7:45pm on a Friday evening and also think it's fine for her to wait to respond until working hours Monday morning. She's not even doing that to you - she's saying she'll send you the revised contract Saturday morning. Get over yourself. 40 hours of work is very small beans.

I agree with everything you said above but I found the “I ask that you please respect my family time over the weekend” unnecessarily chastising- like in what way is she expecting me to invade her space this weekend?

This. She didn't need to say that unless OP demanded a response that weekend. That said, if I email or text a professional on a Friday evening or weekend, I make it clear I don't expect them to see it or respond until the work week. Sometimes the only time I have to respond is when they aren't working.

Also, for that much money an hour I do expect stellar service and good communication. I don't expect to hear from them on weekends, but if I am signing a contract, I want to know you are on the ball and not flaky. OP< I would move on.

OP told her the project was going too slow, by text, on a Friday night after cutting the scope of the project in half. She expected her to respond with a new contract in 48 hours.

—team designer all the way.

No she did not at all. This is how you read it.

If you’re going to be mediocre and not work when your clients are available, don’t get snippy as well

Finally, it would be like if real estate agents only worked 9-5 Mon-Fri; what on Earth?!

Uh, no. She said she told the designer she was “concerned things were too slow rolling.”

Things WERE too slow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Oh, you are a designer and not a decorator?

Clients DGAF.

It’s like I’m a PA and not an NP. I don’t care gimme an MD.

I mean an actual architect

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem isn’t about the designer’s taste, training or anything else. It’s that she sent a proposal that was way over budget. That means either she didn’t listen or didn’t push the OP to answer the crucial budget questions before she put pen to paper, which is a huge red flag. Way bigger than the texting thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Oh, you are a designer and not a decorator?

Clients DGAF.

It’s like I’m a PA and not an NP. I don’t care gimme an MD.

I mean an actual architect

Architects and Interior Designers have very different roles, jobs, certifications, and training. They are not analogous to PAs and NPs. It's not like Interior Designers get half the training Architects do then step: their education is not the same. At all, really, if you know what you're talking about.

But I do agree some clients don't care if decorators are licensed, etc...

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. It’s very similar since a licensed architect with a studio that also offers interior design has a superior education and understanding of the space and solutions for it.
They have an advanced degree and can do math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to mindful not to text work related things after hours. You could have emailed her. Text feels pushy. She is sending it to you tomorrow. You are just a prospective client. There are probably dozens of you, most of whom won't move forward because they can't afford it. If you are squabbling about $400, sounds like you can't afford it.

Actually I assume the opposite. If someone spends $400 without caring about it I assume they have spent most of their income and have a low net worth. Wealthy people are smart with their money.

[Anonymous]

From another thread but seems relevant apropos the debate here:

If you want some upscale stuff, look up Luxe Interiors, Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Wallpaper, Archdaily. They all have feeds. You then see who the architects and designers and manufacturers are that you like. Then you look their IG up. Most of them will work with you remotely, and if they are abroad, will be cheaper