3 Signs you NEED an interior designer

1.        YOU HAVE NO TIME

It’s interesting how many super busy homeowners decide to renovate their home, assuming the GC will handle all the logistics, planning, and design decisions. Nope. It’s actually a full time job managing a remodel. The contractor will manage to some extent, but they ultimately will have a ton of questions over the course of the project, and if the homeowner is not around to answer those questions, the project gets delayed.

Someone needs to be regularly available to handle purchasing, troubleshooting, and generally keeping things moving as efficiently as possible. Not to mention many contractors will say they can get started on X date, not mentioning that products take time to order until after they have demolished your space. Enter the year long kitchen or bath remodel. If you work full time, especially if you commute, you need a designer who specializes in project management. Not all designers do, but if they do, they will list this on their service offerings page.

If you want to renovate, work 40+ hours a week, and reside in the East Bay Area, check out our “Get It Done” service.

2.        YOU DON’T ENJOY SHOPPING OR DESIGN RELATED DISCUSSIONS

Social media is filled with an endless stream of young ambitious folks tackling endless DIY projects with apparent ease and enthusiasm. Many viewers are inspired. Some are less inspired and more overwhelmed. Some think, “The end result is cool, but there’s no way I would have the time or energy to do that myself. I have a job. I have kids that I care for full time. It just isn’t MY thing.”

I’m here to tell you that if it isn’t YOUR thing, that is totally okay. Because it’s MY thing. If you ultimately decide that you want the finished product, but not all the tasks, decisions, and headaches that get you from A to B, send me an inquiry.

I specialize in helping you identify your style, and then handing it to you in the form of a finished space—whether it be a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, or all of the above. It’s OKAY if you're not Joanna Gaines, Shea McGee, or Martha Stewart. There is no shame in hiring someone to help make your house a home, because you are keeping your focus where it needs to be. Breathe, and say YES to help when you need it.

3.        THE STUFF YOU BUY JUST NEVER LOOKS RIGHT

If you find that for one reason or another your selections/ideas just never seem to make sense in practice, it may be time to find a good designer. They will talk with you, create a plan and design concept, and some will handle all the logistics and sourcing from start to finish.  But the transition from doing all your own shopping and selections to delegating those tasks to a designer can be a challenging one. For instance, if you bring in a professional designer, and then you only listen to half their advice, or purchase half of what they are prescribing for your space, you will get no more than a half baked result. If it doesn’t look complete, it’s because it isn’t.

Hiring a designer, I’ve discovered, is something a lot of people do wrong. They use a designer more as a consultant, which for some applications works well, like prior to starting a remodel (not after the fact), but for more extensive furnishing projects that require floor to ceiling attention, the best path is really to just give them a budget, communicate your wishes, and let them do their thing. Budget is an entirely different discussion too, and will vary by location, square footage, and expectations/job scope. Frankly, homeowners generally have no idea what finished designer quality rooms cost. When qualifying designers, check with each designer in advance on what the different types of rooms tend to cost, factoring in materials, furnishings, and fees (yes, you will need to pay fees for most designers, especially in California). If the number terrifies you, you can move on to the next designer without wasting their time or yours. Just be aware that the lower the number, the less experienced they probably are, and the lower the quality of the product is likely to be.

Do what you can afford, and if all you can afford is a one time consultation to get some general guidance and recommendations, that is 100% OKAY. 

My One & Done Service is geared towards clients with tighter budgets who want unbiased unfiltered advice. If you reside in the East Bay Area, definitely don’t hesitate to reach out.  Follow me on Instagram @getitdonedesigner