Barbara English is a residential and commercial interior designer who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia and has traveled all over the United States on projects ranging from beach homes, to ski chalets, high rise condos to historic Victorians. She is a full service interior designer, but welcomes consultations for the client who wants to do it themselves and only need some advice.
Hiring an interior designer or decorator can be outside the box thinking for many people who wish they had professional advice, but think that it is too expensive or too intimidating.
As an interior designer with 22 years experience, I have worked with all types of people on residential projects ranging from the single mother with little money to the professional athelete who has an endless budget. Visit my website at www.barbaraenglishdesigns.com
Most designers offer an initial consultation which may be all you need to get you started. The average cost for this is $100 an hour and a good consultation should last about two hours. From this meeting in your home, you should come away with furniture and color ideas, artwork and style suggestions and a vision of how you can take your project from concept to reality. You should also be able to come away with a realistic budget.
A good designer will get to know you, your lifestyle and your tastes and will work with you in painting a picture of you represented by your home..not a picture of themselves imposed on you.
Start by researching interior designers on the internet or by asking friends if they have ever worked with someone they really liked. Call the designer and discuss your project on the telephone. This conversation should give you enough information and feedback to know whether you want to go the next step and schedule an appointment.
If you feel comfortable with the conversation and the person on the other end of the phone, be sure to include some basic questions to start the potential relationship off on the right foot.
Always ask what the designer charges and is there a minimum of hours or financial commitment for them to take your project seriously. Designers range from only taking clients with a minimum of a $50,000 budget to designers who love the challenge of working with all types of budgets. Someone who only works with high end clients may not give you the time of day when you call. Someone who is just starting out may not know enough to be of any assistance, no matter what the price of their advice. Fit the designer to your needs for a successful experience.
Offer information about who you are, where you live and what your goals are. A good initial conversation or consultation always includes personal information to help the designer tailor advice for you. Every living space has different needs and the function of your home for your lifestyle is the first consideration to make. Do you have young children? If so, you don't want an interior designer to suggest that you put a raw silk sofa in your family room. Do you have pets that live inside the house? Knowledge about durable materials will be essential. Do you entertain a lot or are you looking to create a nurturning space primarily for you and your family? All of these types of questions will help both the designer and you get on the same wave length. Do not feel that when the conversation veers off into the personal aspects of your life that you are wasting the hourly fee.
It's part of the process.
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