In Australia at least, there seems a bit of a stigma around hiring an interior designer. It is assumed that they’re only for rich and famous or those with more money than they know what to do with, but this mindset couldn't be further from the truth.
Hiring an interior designer is something anyone building or thinking of renovating must consider. Perth in particular has such an abundance of construction and renovation going on at any one time, that I wanted to put this column together to outline how valuable professionals in my field are and to highlight why you should hire a professional to help you.
saving money
A renovation is an expensive exercise, and it may seem like a strange concept that by hiring someone to design your home would save you money, but it is definitely true. There are many ways a designer can stop you wasting funds, simply through their expertise, and helping you to avoid costly mistakes that a first-time renovator would make. For example, knowing what to invest in, and what not to throw money at is an invaluable resource, particularly if this renovation isn’t your forever home. A designer will increase the value of your home, and the chance of selling it against tough competition.
designer discounts
The famous Designer Discount is one of the most beneficial reasons to hire a designer. Working with a designer that passes this discount along allow you to stretch your budget further and often upgrade to more options with what you’ve saved. All design firms have a different approach to this, for example our firm passes our discount along whereas others may take a percentage or use the discount as a way to charge their fee.
saving time
Anyone who has renovated or built a home will tell you it is an enormous task. There are hundreds, if not thousands of decisions that need to be made in advance and in context with other decisions. Not to mention constant research, countless meetings, endless paperwork on top of keeping the entire project going. A designer takes the pressure off, allowing a professional to handle the entire project for you with the peace of mind knowing that their preferred tradespeople and suppliers are reliable and of a high standard, and what your spending your money on is suitable and high quality.
inside access
We are constantly contacted after someone has seen a piece or a finish in one of our projects as to where they can purchase it, and much of the best interior furniture, fixtures and finishes that we source aren’t available to the general public. Designers have a broad network of trade-exclusive suppliers, and by culminating these resources will deliver a more collected, unique and polished finished product.
design liason
An interior designer will be able to integrate with your architect and builder to create a more symbiotic partnership by designing the entire home together, ensuring a far superior finished result. Architects think of the design as a whole, but as interior designers we are trained to think of things that they may overlook that need to be addressed before construction.
expert eye
For every sofa you’ve seen, or every furniture layout you’ve encountered, a designer has seen a thousand. We spend all day fully immersed in the possibilities that can be created in homes, and will have ideas that you never thought possible. In our first meeting with clients we ask questions that seem a little innocuous like “what do you like to cook?” and “what is your process when you’re getting ready to go out?” - they reveal to us the way our clients live their lives, and how we can tailor the home to suit their lifestyle.
wow factor
Hiring an interior designer will give you a wow factor, and a home you can be proud of. We are trained to think differently, spatially and to see the overall picture. Thinking outside the box is what we do all day, everyday. Interior Designer is a skill and an art that will only enhance the space and quality of your life at home. Hiring a professional raises that experience and makes a house a home.
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