Archive for October 2011
Choosing an Interior Designer
Interior design can make your home look amazing. It is something that needs to be done carefully, though. If you do not choose a good interior designer then you could end up with results that are not anything like you wanted. In order to get interior design that suits your personal style and taste, you need to choose an interior designer carefully.
Where To Start
Finding a good interior designer should be something that you spend some time considering. You should not just hire the first designer that you come across. You need to shop around and to compare different designers. You need to do your research and figure out what designer would make the best match for you and your home.
To get started, you first should know what it is that you want in your finished interior design. Define your style and try to figure out the look that you want to accomplish. Take measurements so you have the description of the space size. Once you have in mind what you want you can then go about trying to find an interior designer to do the job.
Get Referrals
One of the best ways to find an interior designer is to ask people you know. If you have visited a friend’s home and loved their interior design, then do not be afraid to ask them who did the work. You can even find out if the design experience was a good experience. Ask them how it was working with the designer and if they feel they got a good deal for their money.
Stand Your Ground
When you are talking with an interior designer, make sure that you do not get bullied into something you do not like. The designer is working for you and should respect your opinions. If you feel like you cannot work with a designer then you should not hire them.
Make sure to conduct interviews and ask a lot of questions about what they have done in the past. Try to get a look at past work they did. Make sure that it is well done and that they really do have the skills they claim to have. You can even ask for references. A good designer should have no problem giving you references to contact.
Make Your Final Choice
When you have narrowed down your choices to a few different interior designers, you should really start looking at every detail. Who can give you the best price? Who is most willing to follow your vision? Who has the best skills? Figure out which designer will give you the final interior design that you really want at a price you can afford. This will be the right interior designer to choose.
Make sure you take your time when choosing an interior designer. Choosing the right designer will help you to ensure that you will get the interior design that you want. It will also ensure that the process is enjoyable for you and that it will be an experience that benefits you in the end.
Home Stager – Interior Decorator – Interior Designer – What is the Difference Between Them?
In Toronto and Suburbia (where I live and work) we are fortunate to have a wealth of service industries that cater to home owners. We have home stagers, interior decorators, interior designers, colour consultants, re-designers, home staging-to-live consultants and on and on. With so many closely related service industries it can leave consumers feeling very confused and uncertain about which service best suits their needs. I will try my best to briefly explain the primary differences between several of these services to make your job little easier.
HOME STAGING:
Home Stagers are part of the Real-Estate industry (not the decorating industry as many assume). Their primary focus is to make your home as appealing and desirable to potential buyers as possible. A fast sale for top dollar is the motivator and inspiration behind their decorating choices. Homes are striped of their personality. Belongings are carefully edited and minimized. Colour schemes are neutralized and decors are up-dated to appeal to today’s buyers (more specifically targeted markets). They may recommend home up-grades or renovations that will bring a good return on the dollar and be in harmony with current buyer demands, but their role here is usually one of a consultant, as most lack the education and skills required to design and manage a renovation project).
If you are looking to sell your home these are the people to call even before you call your Real-Estate agent. A word of caution though; Home Staging is an unregulated industry. So do your home work first. Make sure the Home Stager you hire has been properly trained and is part of a trade affiliation that holds them accountable for their work and business conduct. Examples of Home Staging Trade Affiliations are: Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), Certified Staging ProfessionalsTM (CSP), Accredited Staging ProfessionalsTM (ASP).
HOME STAGING-TO-LIVE CONSULTANTS: (also known as Re-Design)
You will see this service offered by some Home Stagers. It is similar to Home Staging To Sell except for home owners personality will be encouraged in the decor not stripped away. This service is also similar to Interior Decorating except there is greater emphasis placed on the editing of the space. Decors tend to be more minimalistic and colour schemes more neutral (although the current decorating trend amongst interior decorators and designers right now is also quite neutral palettes). Most Home Staging-to Live Consultants (or Re-Design Consultants) are not formally schooled in the disciplines of Interior Decoration so take great care when choosing one. Some home owners will hire the stager they used to sell their home to decorate their new one. This is a good bet as they are already familiar with their work and their style.
INTERIOR DECORATORS:
Interior Decorators usually have an in-depth expertise in window treatments, textiles, colour, paint, wall-coverings, furnishings and antiques. Unlike Home Stagers, their role is to fill homes with personality (the owners personality). Many Interior decorators liken them-self to an artist. Their canvas is your empty room; their artistic medium is paint, fabric, furnishings, carpeting, wall papers, accessories and art. Again an unregulated industry (for the most part but that is changing) so do your homework and choose decorators who belong to a trade affiliation like Canadian Decorators’ Association (CDECA) or Certified Interior Decorators International (CID). Educational requirements for trade affiliations varies but typically a 2 to 4 year college diploma (degree) is required.
If you are redecorating your space for your own enjoyment and plan on sticking primarily to surface design (rather than architecture modifications) then they are the ones to call.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS:
The criteria to call oneself an “Interior Designer”, varies from province to province (State to State). Generally speaking though, an Interior Designer is a person who specializes in designing architectural interiors and their furnishings. Although it evolved from interior decoration it is a much more involved discipline requiring a sound knowledge of architecture, product design, drafting, CAD, commercial (contract) design, building codes and other regulatory requirements. Most Interior Designers, in the residential industry, are also Interior Decorators and as such offer all of the services an Interior Decorator offers. To find a qualified Interior Designer check out trade affiliations like The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO), ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The educational requirements for membership in these and other trade affiliations can be quite comprehensive requiring a 3-4 year degree from a recognized design school, followed by a 3 year apprenticeship and finally the writing and passing of a qualifying exam (much like law students who are required to write the bar exam).
If you want to do a complete decorating make-over including architectural modifications or custom design work, then they are the ones to call.