apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Did you check for references? See if you can talk to some of his past clients as well. I'm not sure of the process myself, but any designer not willing to really go out of their way to make sure that I am comfortable trusting them with my home isn't someone I would want to hire.

There are many ways for an interior designer to bill you.

One way that I think works best for the customer is to pay an initial consulting fee and then per phase. Some more experienced designers may wave this but don't discredit someone if they charge for this service. This interview is really the most important step and gives the designer the information they need to create something that is right for you.

Don't automatically think that the designer is trying to gouge you though. All those interviews with you and phone calls to companies, scheduling etc.. are part of the work that goes into the final design.

Some designers charge by the hour. This may save you money if you are working with an experienced designer that really understands your needs however this can add up quickly. If you are a picky customer or have a difficult time expressing your needs and style, then this can result in several go arounds with a designer before they get it right. A good way to prevent getting overcharged is to agree on a set number of hours ahead of time. So for example: $25/ hour not to exceed 40 hours or something like that.

The best way is to agree ahead of time on a price either for the whole thing or per phase.

1. consulting fee
2. concept boards, shopping trips etc..
3. plans (if you pay outright for the plans, you should be able to take the plans with you for future use or to another designer).
3. purchasing
4. installation

http://www.asid.org/designservices/costs/

Personally, I would think that conversations they have had to-date should be part of the designer's marketing/business development costs...and not something that you should have to pay for directly.

Since they have an uneasy feeling and nothing has been signed and no money has changed hands...I'd walk away.

I want to say it was this month's Domino's magazine that had a whole article about choosing interior decorators (including typical payment plans, etc). I tried to find it online but couldn't. But the article was pretty in depth. I would try to find it.

I have hired decorators twice and both times they were rather ineffectual and expensive. The first one didn't have the same taste as I did. The second one looked down at my house and my furniture. Neither one listened very well to what assets of the house and the view I wanted to focus on.
I wanted a decorator who was willing to work with much of what I already owned, or give me a REALLY good reason to change what I had. Neither did that very well. It is easy to start form a blank slate and build upon it. It is MUCH harder to incorporate the pieces that already exist into a good design.
The second decorator shared my taste, but he wanted a blank slate and he was VERY expensive. So far no luck.

As a designer:

1. I think that the initial client/designer meeting should always be complimentary. This is a time to meet/greet see if you are a good fit.

2. Part of the design process is building trust, if you don't trust your designer then you should not work with them.

3. I would never start working with a client, billing them or working on billable time before they signed a contract and gave me a retainer as good faith. The trust has to go both ways.

4. The contract you get from your designer should spell everything out, what you get, what you pay, etc.

5. If you want to continue working with this designer I would sit down with them and share your concerns. Again, this needs to be a relationship built on trust.

6. I think MariannaV's comments do a real disservice to the interior design trade.

7. I would definitely ask for references. You may need to take a step back and do some additional homework before deciding to continue with this designer.

8. A lot of what a designer does in the beginning of a project involves interviewing the client, asking questions, exploring options. All this takes time and just like other professionals, lawyers for instance, time is money and they deserve to be paid for their time.

9. If asked, we estimate what our time billing will be for a project and even break it down in to different phases of the project. You may want to talk with your designer about this.

-Good Luck

6. Why do MariannaV's comments "do a real disservice to the interior design trade"? She was sharing her experience.

Designers who don't pay attention to what a client wants or can't see beyond their own personal taste do a disservice to the design trade. Clients who talk about that experience, do a (justifiable) disservice to those designers.

It can be quite a complicated issue, as result of designers needing to protect themselves & their businesses from people who expect too much from a free consultation, thinking they will then take the ideas & advice and do it or buy it themselves. I'm not saying that is the case in this particular incident, but if there is not a good 'vibe' and you don't feel right, look for someone else. You can always 'interview' a few people but there is no reason you can't then select your original choice.

Whenever you're working with a design professional, it is your right as a client to have a clear understanding of how the project will be billed (at what intervals and at what rates), and more generally to know something about what the design process will be like. Since it sounds like you were surprised to receive a bill, I would assume those topics may not have been discussed very openly with your designer. Don't be afraid to ask, and to pursue the conversation until everything is clear to you--and if the designer you're working with is reluctant to discuss billing or other aspects of the project, that should be a red flag.

I am surprised that they did not initiate that conversation, and also that they billed you prior to contracting for the project. However, if you were my client, I would definitely want you to tell me about any concerns you have--being open about problems you have in a business relationship of this type is always best, and it will give your designer an opportunity to address your worries.

MariannaV--

Why would you hire a designer who does not share-- or at least appreciate-- your taste?

Designers who are mark-up based have very little incentive to use what you have, so next time go with a fee-based or hourly based designer.

As to the original question, if you've not agreed to any fees, or actually hired the designer in question, I'd say you are under no obligation to pay for anything yet. But review he designer's initial correspondance... there may be a rference to an initial consultation fee (often applied to the job cost if you agree to move forward).

I think it's worth mentioning that this blog entry interchanges "designer" with "decorator" while they are two separate professions. As a designer myself, I tend to find it frustrating - it can also be very confusing for clients. I think AT should be careful about this.

A quick Google search led me to this site http://www.interiordesignschoolreview.com/news/interior-designer-or-decorator.html

"Interior designers are responsible for a wide variety of tasks including: organizing a space to suit its function, making sure that designs match are in compliance with building and safety codes, managing the construction and installation of a design, and even designing for appropriate acoustics and sound transmission.
...
Interior decorators, on the other hand, are primarily concerned with surface decoration -- paint, fabric, furnishings, lighting and other materials. Decoration is often characterized as the furnishing or adorning of a space with appropriate (often fashionable or attractive) things."

Thank you, Manny. I'm also a designer, and am constantly having to answer the question, "What's the difference?". I agree - a site as smart as AT really should keep their thumb on things like that.

If you have bad feelings before you start with your designer, remember it will never get better unless you clearly communicate expectations from the onset. Talk to your designer about your reservations before it gets adversarial.
I know so many that have had bad experiences with designers who are unwilling to be flexible with their clients.

Manny, you're absolutely right: my friends hired a interior designer not a decorator. They had a lot of ideas and plans (ie moving a staircase, remodeling the kichen, etc), and have had some bad luck with hiring a designer. Does anyone know of a good interior designer in SF? Here's some more info:

At this point we are getting uneasy about the whole thing, the slow communication, lack of full dedication, demand for payment, missteps (bringing in a contractor to our last discussion, who turned to be working on a completely different scale of projects), considering that they are very inexperienced yet still charging us full industry standard fees. Do you think we should consider alternatives? And if so, do you have any suggestions? We've already wasted time with a designer who just vanished on us 4 months ago.

This has definitely become a heated discussion, in a great way. hiring a designer should be no different than finding a good doctor or lawyer. Referrals and interviewing. I think that the ASID web site is a great way to start along with asking friends who have hired a designer. Also, make sure you have questions for them when you begin the interviewing process. And, make sure you talk to a few designers, not just one.

Unfortunately designers/decorators are not licensed like architects. You can ask if a designer is certified which means they have taken the NCIDQ and CCIDC test that prove they are competent with how the trade works and standard building codes as they relate to design, and have registered as certified interior designers. Hopefully this will change in the future and in order to call yourself a designer you will have to be licensed by you state.

As a certified interior designer we always get questions like: how do you work, and how much will it cost. If we are just decorating, meaning no major remodeling it is pretty easing to estimate costs and we always discuss budget. If the work involves some remodeling like a bathroom or kitchen it gets a little tricky. Most contractors can give a vague ballpark figure, but until they see drawings and specifications it is really hard for them to give an accurate quote.

The most difficult thing we find is that most clients either don't want to tell us what their "real" budget is or they just don't know what they should spend. I am proud to say that we have never gone over budget. Many times when developing an initial budget we find that we cannot accomplish everything the client wants with their budget and either have to scale back, work in phases, or the client has to come up with more money in order to achieve their goals.

Even if we work in phases we always create a master plan so everyone involved knows the final outcome and the final budgeted price. This helps to keep all parties on track.

Although it's not a rant I think that we are so misguided by HGTV and how inexpensive retail good cost from places like Pottery Barn and the like that most people are blown-away at the prices that designers and contractors quote.

As a designer I cannot compete with what most retail stores provide but the value a good designer provides cannot be compared to what one may get at a store.

The truth is, just like any other profession, there are flaky designers out there that misrepresent themselves and what they can do. Finding a good interior designer can be difficult but if you do your homework you can eliminate some of the frustration.

Certification doesn't guarantee reliability, ethics, taste or talent.

Very true Patrick!

grace, if you email me I'd be happy to refer you to some wonderful interior designers in the SF area.
addg1 at verizon dot net

I own a window covering retail store where I go out and give free estimates. I was asked out to a restaurant to provide a quote for not only the windows but misc things like mirrors, trimwork, and upholstery work. After several meetings a 50K budget was agreed upon and we started fine tuning details. Well, 10 months later and over 75 hours of research, shopping, designing and meetings with upper management, etc. I was just informed that the restaurant is being sold mid July and the project is cancelled because the current owners don't want to spend any money. I have numerous emails printed that prove I was hired and want to be compensated for all my work, which they have; fabrics, drawings, measurements, custom wood work, and my ideas. I regret not getting a retainment fee but it's a corporation and would have been dificult to obtain. Should I send a certified letter with an invoice for my fees? Problem being; we agreed on a 50,000 budget and never discussed what I was making out of it. I feel if I were paid anywhere between $6500 and $8000 it would be fair. Any input would be appreciated.

i'm a designer and agree with some of the prior comments that the initial meeting with a potential client is simply an opportunity for both parties to get acquainted with each other as well allow for the designer to learn the scope of the project. this really isn't a time for measuring, taking photos and offering ideas or sources. in my opinion, it isn't compensated either. it is what is necessary before a designer can submit a proposal and there is no obligation to proceed. however, if you are not interested in the client's proposal, it is a good idea to let the designer know what your concerns are about the proposal in case they can address them. perhaps the scope is missing something or includes something that is not important to you. this is an opportunity for both parties to reach an agreement rather than just giving up and moving on. even if you absolutely aren't interested in working with the designer, please drop them a quick email to let them know.

there are also some great resources noted above to help you find the right designer and contract.

i'm surprised at the comment about the 2 designers who were not in favor of keeping some existing pieces. there are usually so many great ways to incorporate existing pieces including refinishing and reupholstering. it's a great way to be eco-friendly and avoid spending unecessary money.

another thing to consider is that a designer's personal style preference shouldn't even be part of the discussion. their job is to design a space that will fit the client's needs and preferences, but done in the best and most beautiful way. for example, i may prefer a modern look that is organic and warm but my client may want a modern look that is slick, hip and cool with black, white and chrome. i may offer options of achieving that look in ways that the client didn't think of before but ultimately it will still be a cool, mod place. my job is to create a balanced, innovative, tastefully appointed and functional space in the aesthetic the client likes.

with that said, it's possible that a designer may feel they can't do a good job with a tuscan theme, for example, since they are more of a modernist. in that case, the designer should kindly explain that and perhaps recommend another designer. there is no need for a designer to look down on someone's taste and/or belongings. it is part of our job to help enhance someone's space and introduce them to new ways of looking at design.

i wish you all the best with your project.