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- A guide on hiring an Interior Designer
A guide on hiring an Interior Designer
How and when to approach a designer to get the most from their help...
Hi Interior’s Enthusiast!,

Happy Friday! I hope all your weeks have gone well and are looking forward to a weekend of relaxing or renovating or whatever you might be doing! It’s my wedding anniversary next week so I’m looking forward to a weekend away to celebrate.
This week I want to discuss when and how to instruct an interior designer…
When?
The first and most important factor is timing.
There is no such thing as too early to start speaking to a designer. If you’ve found a house you like and you're some way into the purchasing process get in touch. You don’t need to part with any money or sign their paperwork until the house is yours but if you want to get on with he work once you have the keys, you’ll need to get in touch with your chosen designer super early as inevitably they will have a pipeline of projects to complete ahead of yours.
That way we can factor your project into our diary and ensure we can start when you need us to. One word to the wise though, don’t expect a designer to turn down alternative work until you’ve signed their contract. It doesn't mean they don’t want to work with you but house sales fall through all the time and we sadly can’t keep our diaries reserved forever.
Other than making sure your favourite designer is available, why else should you get in touch early? In short, it will save you so, so much stress along the way. Think of it this way, if you have a professional onboard from day dot, they can stop you from falling into the typical pitfalls that cost you money and add stress to what is already a tough process.
Even better is if you can instruct a team of professionals from the start. That way your interior designer, architect and garden designer can create a fully cohesive design (and build process) that maximises your budget and helps steer you away from costly mistakes.
How?
To get the most out of any interaction with a design studio (or independent designer), make sure you’ve done your research into them, looked at their portfolio and tried to get under the skin of the personalities within each practice.
Working with a designer is a very intimate job, and as a result the relationship you build is vital. Make sure you’ve researched them in detail before you get in touch but also ensure you go prepared with information of what you want to do and any questions you have and a vague idea of budget.
Some designers have a minimum budget requirement for taking on new jobs but many don’t so don’t feel that only the billionaires get to have help with their renovations.
If I can help with your project I’d love to hear from you!

This week has been busy… but aren’t they all! In between client meetings, site visits, socials and home life I really feel like a 25th hour in the day would be a wonderful help… but we can all dream can’t we! I had a lovely trip to Focus24 at the Design Centre yesterday where I met some new exciting brands and saw some friends in the industry. It’s on for another week if you want to check it out. Keep an eye out on my socials for a highlight of what I saw.
I have some exciting things in the pipeline for all my subscribers to help you with planning your new spaces that everyone can use. Keep your eyes peeled for this one, it is going to be fab!

You might have missed my announcement on Instagram that I’m now doing a series answering your design dilemmas, see the caption for more information on how to submit yours. This is the first episode in the series, stay tuned for the rest.
