I was thinking
of writing this article since many days...Inspiration was an old friend of mine…!!
A group of old friends were meeting after a very long time. We started talking
about our good old college days stories, our personal lives and slowly the
discussion moved onto our professional lives. I told them that I am an Interior
Designer and I have started my own little firm in interior designing. They were
listening quite interestingly... maybe because they did not meet people from a creative
field like mine quite often in their everyday lives. And then one of them said…”Oh
you designers are very expensive. We cannot afford you. Interior designers are meant
only for the wealthy ones…You must be earning a lot and that too quite easily
without doing much…!!...” It’s not easy when you hear such things regarding
your profession. Being an Interior Designer I know how much hard work goes into
each and every project we undertake. There’s an equal amount of mental as well
as physical stress…!!
But I also do
know that these kinds of reactions from people are completely normal and
understandable based on the amount of information that exists in the market
place about how the client/designer process works.
There are many
misconceptions concerning this profession. Here’s what I would like you all to
know:
1. “Many
think that they can save a lot of money if they do all the design work
themselves by looking at several interior design magazines to take inspiration
& idea and then source the materials and engage labor to do the project by themselves.”
Well that’s how
one of my friends started and ended up spending more and wasting lots of
space. There are people who think they can do everything; there is no harm in
thinking that way, but then when you think of quality you should rely on the
professionals.
2. “Interior
designers have no regard for a client’s budget.”
Designers want to
keep a client within budget rather than over. Budgeting is a priority when
designers consult in the beginning of the project. Decisions are based on what
the client can afford and getting the most out of their style mileage.
3. “Designers
have homes like the ones they create for their clients.”
Most designers
call their homes a “work in progress.” Since most of their time is focused on
clients, many times their own homes are indefinitely put on the back burner.
Designers feel more at ease experimenting in their own home because it does not
demand the level of perfection they strive to achieve when creating a home for
their clients.
4. “Designers
are showy, unapproachable & consider themselves as superiors.”
Interior
Designers are professionals who work with the homeowner, architect and
contractors as an integral part of a team. Generally, they are affectionate,
passionate and caring individuals who want their clients’ interiors to function
as well as look good.
5. “Hiring
an interior designer will cost a lot and is an unnecessary luxury meant
only for the wealthy.”
That’s not true…!!
The value that they bring is far less than what they charge or could cost you
otherwise. And the best part is Interior designers work as per the space and
budget you provide them. They can save you money, time and effort. The designing
process, running around for the materials, getting the latest collection of
materials at your door step, follow-up with the vendors, site visits,
supervising the carpenters, meeting the deadlines are all done by the Interior
Designer and making the process as low-stress as possible for their client.
Interior
Designers are professional people who have learned all about interior
design and trained to design and decorate a home or office to save space, make
it look good within a budget. Interior designers gain knowledge & experience
by working on several designing projects, so they are the best people to rely
on when you want your room to look good and see best utilization of available
space.
Clients have
ideas of what they want their home to look like, while interior designers have
the skills to create and implement those ideas. Although the creative process
is what individuals may think of when hiring an interior designer, creativity
only makes up 10 to 20 percent of the process, with 80 to 90 percent being
implementation. To produce a flawless design from conception to
execution, there are hundreds of steps that happen behind the scenes that
the homeowner is never aware of. After evaluating the client’s needs and
budget, the designer will often create three to four floor plans, elevation
& sectional drawings, fabric selections and furniture style options before
ever presenting a cohesive theme to the client. After the design concept is
chosen, the implementation work begins: Figuring out dimensions, reconstructing
electrical wiring if needed, researching countless sources, checking inventory,
directing contractors, checking lead time on products, preparing for
installation, budgeting a client’s finances and micromanaging the details of
product transportation.
Think of your designer as just a helping hand
whose advice may save you from some expensive and time-consuming design
set-backs. I know as an interior
designer, I take the responsibility of helping my clients achieve a great
living space that they'll love..!!
Hope
I've tried to clear up some of the main reasons I've seen why so many people
don't take advantage of professional design help when designing a home or even
just a room in a home…!!
