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Engaging an interior designer can save you time and money
Donna White shares some advice on how to select an interior designer that could help save you time and money on your next home renovation project.
Over the years I have received a lot of advice. One piece I have heard in many different connotations is: ‘Stick to your knitting’ ‘know your strengths and weaknesses’, ‘focus on what you are good at’. I am sure you understand the message.
Regardless, our Kiwi “can do” attitude does not stop many of us from giving anything a go - even those things we know are not our forte. Many of us attempt to “Do It Yourself”, regardless of whether we are renovating a whole house or updating a single room.
We visit DIY and interior design shops armed with a shopping list. All is fine, until reality bites. There are so many products to choose from in a variety of colours, shapes, patterns and textures. We end up feeling daunted and disorientated. Suddenly, the ocean of furniture, fixtures and accessories all look exactly the same.
A friend recently told me how apprehensive they had been about using an interior designer. However, they quickly realised that the benefits far outweighed the cost.
“The designer quickly pin-pointed the exact colours that we were looking for. She also presented us with new options that saved us time and money,” she told me.
“We have a busy household, children and dogs. A tough carpet was essential, but we wanted it to be luxurious. For months we searched through magazines and samples. We spoke with countless retail assistants. Disillusioned, we faced either a compromise or possibly an expensive mistake. We turned to our interior designer, who sourced a beautifully soft, subtle coloured, hard-wearing carpet. It is perfect for our home and, best of all, the savings we made by sourcing the carpet through Donna's account, more than covered her fees.”
Orewa home renovation - an international finalist in the Dulux Colour Awards 2010
There is, of course, a cost to engaging an interior designer, but the savings may well be greater. Consider the following:
- Interior design requires a great deal of time. Do you have that time and what is its value?
- Have you purchased beautiful furniture, then wondered where to put it?
- Is it easy for you to decide between hundreds of colours or fabrics in a shop? Do you understand how different fabrics behave, wear and interact?
- Can you picture the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom you desire, but don’t know how to fit it into your space?
Interior designers know how to plan a space and present a design scheme so that you can visualise the final result. They are knowledgeable about:
- Current materials and products on the market.
- How to design a space so it is visually appealing, liveable and comfortable for your family.
- How texture, colour and lighting combine and interact to create a mood in each space.
- Where to access an array of resources, many of which are only available through their connections.
Ultimately, the right interior designer will save you time and money.
He or she will:
- Conduct all the design research, and present it to you.
- Help you avoid expensive mistakes.
- Sometimes come up with unexpected solutions to make the most of your home.
And the interior designer’s fees can be offset by the savings you receive through their trade discounts.
Interior design demands that the designer has strong artistic and creative flair, combined with practical “know-how”. You will be engaging trades people to implement your renovation or new-build who are generally practical rather than artistic. An interior designer who understands practical limitations will better communicate with your trades people and the results will reflect this.
Interior design project by Donna White
How to find the right interior designer for you?
Good interior designers are like gold dust. It is essential that you enjoy a comfortable rapport with your designer as he or she will be working closely with you.
Access the Designers’ Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) website. There is a code of conduct and ethics for all professional members. To become a professional member of DINZ, an Interior Designer must undergo peer review before they are entitled to add the professional appellation to their name PDINZ. Refresh also has contact details of DINZ professional interior designers.
Most designers have photographs of recent work completed. Study these carefully and ask for references from their clients. Ask friends if they have worked with a designer they really liked, as nothing beats a personal recommendation. Study local home design magazines and note which designers’ work you like.
Don’t feel intimated by engaging an interior designer. I have worked with home owners with limited funds, as well as one of the wealthiest people in Europe with an unlimited budget. Ultimately the goal is the same: to create the best possible response to each client’s brief with the budget that is available.
Donna White PDINZ is an interior designer with international experience in Avante garde and classical design, effective space planning, inspirational design guidance and professional project co-ordination for home, office and hotel project. If you could like to get in touch with Donna, click here to make an enquiry or visit www.donnawhite.co.nz