So you have decided to build your Sarasota custom home, and now it is time to make all kinds of important decisions. From the location of the perfect lot to the style of the home, you have the opportunity to make this home uniquely yours.
Whether the home is already constructed or you are in the planning stages, you may wonder if hiring an interior designer is right for you.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring an Interior Designer
- What Does the budget Look like? It may surprise you to find out that if you are looking to design your home, that hiring an interior designer may save you money. (see below) But if your plan was to pay for your design pieces a little at a time, instead of in one comprehensive invoice, you may be better off on your own. Most interior design professionals will work within your shopping budget, and charge you in full when the project is complete.
- Do you have a clear vision of your style? If you have a definitive idea of what you are looking for, and can provide photos and samples to your designer to give them proper guidance, you should be pleased with the results of hiring a professional to shop for you and design your space. But if you are unsure as to what you want, it may be difficult for a designer to provide an aesthetic that is distinctly “you.”
- Do you have the time and patience to do it yourself? Some people love putting a room together piece by piece, browsing aisles looking for just the perfect item. Others simply want to walk into a beautiful, finished space, and don’t have the patience to search for months for what they want. Your personality type is likely to determine if hiring an interior designer is right for you.
Can an Interior Designer Save Time & Money?
Interior design professionals are like anyone with a specialized career – this is what they do for a living. Therefore, they probably have skills which are more honed than your normal homeowner.
- They Have a Practiced Eye: From understanding spatial requirements to matching the perfect pillows, interior designers have a knack for assessing the space and understanding what will work- and what will not. Therefore they will likely not have to return “too-big” furniture or “don’t quite match” area rugs.
- They Know Where to Look: Designers know all the best places to get unique items. They also see home décor items on a regular basis, meaning that they may identify “the perfect piece” from memory, even if it is something you never thought of. Rather than searching endless online catalogs and browsing all of the aisles, they have a keen sense of where to get what you need – and what you don’t even know you want just yet.
- They Know Where the Bargains Are: Professional designers will often have access to wholesale items and insider deals that you are not privy to. They also may have deals with artists, manufacturers, or retailers because of their level of purchasing power; or understand what day of the month the clearances or sales take place. From flea markets to estate sales, the value of their contacts will very often mean more money in your pocket.
It really comes down to your own confidence in your design sensibility, as well as the time and money you have available for the project. If you do decide to hire an interior designer and can bring them into the building process, they can better understand the space – and your ideas – right from the beginning.
The experts at Lindahl Construction have been building custom Longboat Key homes for decades, and we are happy to work with you (and your designer) to create the space which you have always dreamed of. Whether constructing a new home or renovating your current one, give us a call. We would love to help.