How To Choose A Designer
Successful renovations require a reputable renovation company. But getting the right designer is an essential part of achieving successful results.
When it comes to planning a renovation, most industry experts would agree, the design is the most important element to a project and takes precedence over material choice. If you plan to stay in your home for years and years, you want to really really love the final result.
Here are some key questions to ask to get a sense of whether or not you’re in the right hands.
Personality
1. Do you like them?
You’ll be working with this person and getting advice from them for a while. Your connection with them is important.
2. Do they listen to you?
Some designers excel at a specific signature style, while others excel at integrating their clients’ tastes into a good design. At Copperstone, we feel helping to achieve our clients’ vision is the priority, but that’s not the case everywhere.
Everyone has different needs or desires for their space which may be different from what a designer might personally choose. We believe that if your designer isn’t designing the space for you and your family, then they aren’t a good fit.
3. Are they open to feedback and brainstorming together?
An initial design should be a work in progress. If there is an aspect of it that you aren’t crazy about, it should feel easy to communicate this to them.
Remember: While you aren’t their only client, you should feel like an important client.
Knowledgeable
4. Do they know what they are talking about?
They might not have 20+ years of design experience under their belt, and that’s OK. Even very experienced designers don’t know everything.
A newer designer will most likely have a mentor that they are working with behind the scenes. So if you have some questions that your designer needs to get back to you on, it means they are going to do their homework for you.
5. Are they interested in talking about the whole scope?
Your designer might be only involved in a portion of your project, or you may have a multi-year (one step at a time) plan for renovating your house. It’s always a good idea to communicate the whole scope so that a design can be approached from a holistic point of view.
6. Are they detail oriented?
A lot of details are involved in planning a renovation. If your designer is the primary person documenting these, then you’ll probably find that they are bringing up all kinds of details or choices that you hadn’t thought of.
Teamwork
7. Do you feel that the designer has a team behind them that is a well-oiled machine?
A designer should have really good communication with you, but they should also have that with their implementation team. They will be communicating the vision that you have to everyone who will be working in your home.
8. What involvement will the designer have once the project is signed?
Depending on the scope of your project you may be working closely with a project manager or renovation expert as you get into the implementation phase of your project. But, is the designer still available to you for questions? Will they stop by your home to see progress or the finished space?
A good designer is going to be able to help you create a vision for your space, work through the details and materials selection in the planning phase, and communicate this vision to everyone who will work in your home physically creating your new space. It’s a key role, and a good designer is worth top dollar.
It Should Feel Right
A designer/client relationship is based on trust, communication, respect and a sense of teamwork.
You can get to know our very own designers by checking out Our People. You can also get to know us by booking a free consultation. We’ll sit down with you and go over your project, our process, and what we’ll do to make your design and renovation a success.
