anyone ever use an INTERIOR designer?

[Noah930]

Congrats!

A whole house is different than a 2 BR apt to decorate. And are you just decorating with furniture? Or are you looking to change surfaces (flooring, wall colors, countertops, lighting fixtures)? But still, even if you wind up asking the advice of a decorator, I think it's worthwhile to figure out what you like before you call him/her. What's your style? Even if you buy the same amount of furniture (sofa, bed, coffee table, etc) and arrange it in the same layout, where you go shopping will differ depending on what style you're aiming for. Country/farm? Mission? Cottage? Contemporary? Modern? Mid-century modern?

FWIW, in my limited furniture-buying experience, I have gotten what I have paid for.

[rusnak]

How are you going to fight millions of years of evolution, and NOT throw furniture in there with no rhyme or reason?

I tell myself that's not what I'm going to do, and then you just get tired and say screw it.

[stealthn]

for your boxster?

[Brian 162]

I used to live with an interior designer. She would tell me what she would source for clients with to much money.
One time she had to source a leather hide for a couch. The cost was $10,000. That was just for the hide. Get this, when it arrived the client didn't like that the hide wasn't the correct shade of cow.
You can't make this stuff up.

[nota]

i hate new furniture
no real wood or craftsmanship
verniers over particle boards ply if lucky
glue and staples holding it together

vs old style solid wood
love real antiques
or just old 20-30-40's stuff that ain't quite antiques yet

[PorscheGAL]

Most Furniture stores have designers on staff. If there is a particular store you like see if they have one that can come out to your home with samples to create a plan.

[javadog]

I've used two. The first one was an obnoxious ***** and got fired. The second one I used for years and I consult with her anytime I do anything substantial to the house. Her involvement went far beyond furniture selection and layout. Floor and wall finishes, trim and hardware selections, custom furniture, ironwork... the list is endless. I had access to products that we never would have known about had I simply gone to furniture and lighting stores. She also had a bunch of great ideas that I would never have thought of on my own.

Your project may not be as involved as mine, but I would recommend using one if you want your house to be well thought out.

JR

[strath44]

has anyone used pintrest https://uk.pinterest.com/ its amazing for seeing what other people have done and helps to visualise better potential colour and styles.

Interior designers are much better than they used to be and I work in that industry but far to often I find that they are over dramatic and trying to leave a mark or just plain dull and boring (safe).

[craigster59]

I work with interior designers all day long (have for 27 years). In the movie biz we call them production designers and set decorators. many of them decorate on the side and are not cheap. Do you want to pay someone $5k to help you pick out $2k worth of Ikea furniture?

It's something you can do yourself. We put together 'concept boards" to show the director. Nothing more than pictures, paint swatches, fabric samples mounted on foam core boards to do a presentation. An easier way would be to use Houzz, similar to Pintrest but interior dec oriented. Houzz - Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration, Kitchen and Bathroom Design

The best way to approach it is to find the furniture style you like, something timeless, nothing too current that is going to look outdated in 10 years (think that turquoise/ desert rose southwest look that was so popular in the 90's). Get your sofa, chairs, tables, etc in subtle tones (Beige, sage, gray, etc) and make your colors "pop" with the accessories (throw pillows, lamps, window treatments, etc). This way down the line you can keep current with "in" colors that change every year or two.

When we decorated the beach house on "Something's Gotta Give" it was actually featured in Architectural Digest. EVERYONE in the Hamptons wanted their house to look just like it. I'll see if I can find a photo.

But whatever you do, don't ever use the words "fun" or "whimsical" to describe furniture/ accessories. Just makes you look like a gay douche.

[craigster59]

Here's a collage of the house.....



If you want other ideas here's a link to the set decorators society with set photos (some from period films but you get the idea)...

film decor - Set Decorators Society of America

And here's pictures with the sources for furniture/ props....
http://www.setdecorators.org/?art=hotofftheset

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Most Furniture stores have designers on staff. If there is a particular store you like see if they have one that can come out to your home with samples to create a plan.

This.
I'm a custom furniture maker, and I can assure you there are good designers and bad. Many more bad - simply amateurs with sample books in their trunk.

First choose what overall style appeals to you (modern, classic, etc). Then establish a budget. Tell the designer the budget. Then divide up the budget by levels of importance ( do you REALLY need that wide screen tv, or do you want a really comfortable bed?).

Then, buy as high of quality as you can afford. The furniture I build is at the very top of the food chain, and prices reflect that.... but it will outlive my customers, and probably their children and then be handed down to their grandchildren.

Feel free to look at my website Charles Freeborn | Fine Furniture

[Noah930]

Another thought: some furniture manufacturers will give industry professionals a discount that is not available to the public, so conceivably that discount (if you buy enough stuff) could pay for the designer's services. Herman Miller IIRC gives architects and interior designers a 10% discount. Don't know if other manufacturers do something similar.