Homes are often the largest investments clients will ever commit to in their lifetime.  A design project, no matter if it’s a tiny Powder Room or a 5,000 square foot home, consists of thousands of details that must be presented to you, communicated to team members, considered with engineering, budgeted, managed and – most importantly – DELIVERED.  While it is vital (and less expensive) to bring in an experienced interior designer on day one with the architect and builder, it is equally important to carefully vet candidates.  I have taken over projects many times in my career where the client had lost faith and trust in their interior designer.  It’s heartbreaking and doesn’t reflect positively on the interior design industry.  There are always two sides to a story, and I can bet that nearly all cases point to the fact that neither party thoughtfully communicated and considered what it would actually be like to work with one another before the contract was signed.

To chart a better course for success in your design project, I’ve outlined some insightful steps to take and questions to ask interior designers prior to signing a contract.  You just may be doing business together for the next five years!

Questions to ask an interior designer:

1. How are you going to be advocating for my budget?  Interior design is a luxury investment and you should be advised on where to splurge, value engineer and save.

2. Do you have systems for organizing communication and tasks for our project.

3. Review their portfolio and pay attention to the diversity.  Are you wanting your project to be uniquely yours? 

4. Can you put together a mood board for our project based on what we’ve shared with you?  This will help you understand how quickly they work and if they understand your aesthetic from a broad perspective.

5. What is your pricing structure?  Will your rates increase during the course of a project?  What is the duration of your contract?

6. Do you have a minimum spend for projects you accept?  If you are not sure how much your project will cost, be honest about that, but also be honest if you have a spending limit.  That valuable piece of information can quickly tell a designer if they can execute their best work in that budget.

7. This last thought is a mental note for you to make.  Assess your personality compatibility.  Is this someone I can relax and laugh with over a meal?  Choose someone you feel comfortable with and who listens to your ideas. You will be with your designer likely for more than a year, so the personality should be a natural fit.