how can i find a good designer for my room!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?...
Answers:
Well, you just did on-line.
But, if you are talking a designer who will meet you face to face, design a functional design that meets your taste and will shop with you or hand hold you through the process, that is a little different process. First, ask around. Whenever you see someone who lives like you do, has similar style and tastes as you do, ask who designed the room. Nearly 80% of our business came from referrals.
Second, check out your local high end furniture stores. Many offer free interior design once you purchase a piece or grouping from them. Now you are not going to get a detailed plan, particularly if electrical or plumbing work is required. But, what you will get is a color scheme, theme, scale, suitable upholstery fabric, window, floor and wall treatment choices, etc.
Third, if you want to hire someone, decide how you want the contract to be structured. You can pay by the hour which can be as inclusive as you desire (i.e. the boards displaying the furniture types, fabric samples, wall, window & floor treatments, etc.), down to actually seeking, shopping and purchasing what you've agreed upon for the space. You can sometimes get the designer to contract by the project, depending on what you want done, and they will refer you to the carpet, tile, stone, flooring, painting, wallpapering, window treatment sources and contractors who will help you make the choices and refer you on to installers or contractors. All of this depends on your budget. Sometimes, if you are not in a big hurry to complete the project, the designer can work with you on the plan and both of you can do the shopping with the designer receiving an additional percentage on furniture or other purchases as you go.
No matter which method you decide upon, check references or at least take a look at photos of other spaces that the designer worked on and ask a lot of questions before you sign the contract. The ASID and other organizations to the trade will also give referrals, but often it really comes down to who you can work with, what you want done and how you want the work to be organized.
Any designer who meets with you should be asking you a lot of questions, too. Like, how do you want the room to function, what are your needs with this space (i.e. storage, entertaining, comfort), what part of you do you want reflected in this space, how do you want to feel in this space (calm, revitalized, motivated), how do you want this space to integrate with the rest of the spaces in your home, do you have pets or children or elderly people who will need accomodation in the space. I could go ON & ON!
Perhaps you may be the best designer for your own room and really only need direction and guidance both of which an on-line or distance designer can help you accomplish. You have to know yourself pretty well though and the working relationship is much different than face to face. I, in fact, have never done it myself, but know a lot of other designers who have.
If you do decide to hire a designer, no matter the method, SIGN A CONTRACT. I cannot tell you how many clients we've had who did not have a contract with their designer and the job was never completed to their satisfaction. Specify, for example, as in my contracts, 1/3 of a furniture purchase whether stock or custom is due up front, 1/3 upon confirmation of order and 1/3 upon delivery. Note that with custom anything usually you cannot return it and stock usually has a restocking fee. Custom items can be modified, but manufacturer's won't get too involved in changes once delivery is taken.
Hope that at least gives you a starting place. Good luck and design a room that will best reflect the people who live in it that will be a lasting legacy to who they were!
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