Anybody use an interior designer?

[spidey07]

We need new furniture and totally redo the main living room. Everything. Curtains, furniture, window treatments, pictures, carpet if needed - a complete overhaul. There are some very nice architectural features of this house and windows of the main living room that could really be used with a trained eye.

So what do you look for in an interior designer and how do you find them? I want a professional.

I always remember from college the interior design chics were stupid hot, but also ridiculously stupid but now I need them.

 

[Lifted]

Contact the high end real estate brokers in your area and ask them for some recommendations. They usually go with the best in the area, and they can get good deals from the best stores and galleries.

 

[spidey07]

Contact the high end real estate brokers in your area and ask them for some recommendations. They usually go with the best in the area, and they can get good deals from the best stores and galleries.

Thanks. That helps a lot because I never thought of that. I have a good relationship with my agent. I've given him tons of business via referrals. Time to give back.

This isn't something we can do ourselves and want a professional.

 

[grohl]

we have done it two ways. First was a high end designer, she planned the whole room and we bought what we could a bit at a time. Very pricey. Second guy worked with us, charged by the hour and 25% above wholesale on gallery furniture etc. Second option was a lot less pricey and easier to work with.

 

[spidey07]

we have done it two ways. First was a high end designer, she planned the whole room and we bought what we could a bit at a time. Very pricey. Second guy worked with us, charged by the hour and 25% above wholesale on gallery furniture etc. Second option was a lot less pricey and easier to work with.

How do you find the second option? I think I need a combination of both.

I've got a good buddy in the furniture business, he assures me the markup is 400%.

 

[TridenT]

OP, can't you just watch HGTV with that ridiculously buff gay guy (Colorsplash or something is his show?) and figure it out from there?

Come on!

 

[spidey07]

OP, can't you just watch HGTV with that ridiculously buff gay guy (Colorsplash or something is his show?) and figure it out from there?

Come on!

I don't do cheap shit. I want quality and prefer a prifessional to design it for me.

 

[herm0016]

SO's mother is a real interior designer. She helped architechets design building interiors and then does the decorating and finishes part.

what you are thinking may be interior decorator?

anyway.. that's who we run all our stuff by. I second the realtor recomendation route.

 

[MrSquished]

Contact the high end real estate brokers in your area and ask them for some recommendations. They usually go with the best in the area, and they can get good deals from the best stores and galleries.

excellent advice. i shoot RE photography freelance. only say the topp 5% of realtors, maybe 10 % use services like pro photographers and designers to stage units they are selling. staging basically means hiring an interior designer to do the place up very nice, which involves renting furniture and other items and buying some as well. especially needed for new construction or gut renos. but stagers can also be used in lived in homes just to a lesser extent - like they may work around existing furniture and decor. not do it from the ground up.

so ask them who they use to design and stage their units. simply have them show you photos of some of their favorites, and go with the one whose style you like best.

if you go to this gallery http://www.simplyathos.com/Real-Estate/Real-Estate/i-5C6Bmhd images 13-32 were shot by a great designer/stager. the photos before were lived in units. images 33 to 44 were also staged although some items were previously there but not much.

this is located in Northern NJ and NYC