Pleasure to meet you - what do you do?

“Oh that’s cool! My mom-neighbor-aunt is an Interior Designer too!”

Designer or Decorator?
Hiring someone to help you design or decorate your home is a daunting task. Even if you have a great referral from a friend, it doesn’t necessarily mean that that person is right for you or your project.

The laws vary greatly around the country in regards to the use of the title “Interior Designer” so I’ll begin by summarizing the most commonly used definitions of Certified Interior Designers, Designers and Decorators.

An “Interior Decorator” is someone who primarily deals with colors, finishes, and furniture and typically stays within the residential boundary of interiors. Typically they might charge a fee for their creative services such as laying out the furniture in a room, or putting together different colors and finishes in order to create several palettes from which the client can choose.

An “Interior Designer” is someone who can complete an interior design project and remodel from start to finish, including preparing construction documents for bidding and permitting, as well as supervising the construction and installation of the work.

Interior designers cover all types of projects from commercial (offices, medical facilities, retail shops, restaurants, hotels, retirement and nursing facilities, to name a few) to residential. Typically an interior designer has a lot of education and experience, as well as possibly having sat for one or more examinations in order to test their competency and to attain state recognition of their profession.

Since most states do not regulate the use of the title “Interior Designer” you cannot count on that title to determine experience or expertise. In the state of California for example, ANYONE can legally call themselves either an “Interior Designer” or “Interior Decorator” with no education or experience whatsoever.

The only guarantee that the person you are hiring is qualified in some way or another is to hire someone who has passed your state’s (voluntary or mandatory depending on the state) certification exam. The NCIDQ is written and administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Designers must prove that they have a combination of at least 6 years of education and experience in order to sit for the test. The exam covers every area of design from design development to contractual language to business practices. Most importantly the exam presents a design challenge, it is solved by the test-taker and then it is graded by a panel of judges for competency. If a designer has a “NCIDQ number listed on their business card or website – that means that the state has decided that they are qualified as an interior designer. For more information go to www.ncidq.org

Some states go a few steps further. California for example has established the title of “Certified Interior Designer”, a title that is written in to the California Business and Professions Code and protected by law to prevent anyone using the title that has not complied with the law. Certified Interior Designers (CID) must pass an additional test above and beyond the NCIDQ called the CCRE. Once they have passed the exam they can use the title CID (starting in 2009 the two tests will be combined.) The state of California also recognizes the CID in city planning departments. They can draw and submit non-structural plans to the city for approval and building permits. For more information, or to find a CID go to http://www.ccidc.org/

Great! Now how does all of that apply to your project?
Start by determining the scope of your project by detailing everything you need accomplished, whether it’s purchasing a few accessories and window treatments or a full “gut” remodel. This will help you determine the professional for the task.

Start your search for the right designer with the recommendations made by friends and family or other industry professionals. You may also access the database listings of the professional associations (http://www.iida.org/, and http://www.asid.org/) internet search websites or the yellow pages to find someone. Wherever you may find them, talk to a few and ask them about their years of experience, education, and the types of projects they prefer. Ask to see photos of completed projects and ask them for both professional (industry-related) references (a fantastic one would be from a general contractor) and client’s references. Designer’s should also have liability insurance so ask them about their coverage.

Be as clear as you possibly can about your expectations of the project. Let them know how much or how little you expect to be involved in the process, show them magazine pictures of rooms you like, and let them know what you expect to spend. An experienced designer will be able to tell you right off whether you’re correct or way off base!

The single most important step – Talk to their references, and look at their work in person! Cannot illustrate this enough! Ask how long the project was estimated to take – how long it actually took, and whether or not there were any surprises in the budget.

Be real about budget! Whether the budget is fifty dollars or fifty million dollars – there is a budget! Do not start a project without one established. Make sure the budget includes all of the products, design fees, taxes, delivery charges, and other costs.

Make sure your designer is getting multiple bids from contractors – and review them with your designer. Do not pay any money to the designer for construction costs unless they have a valid contractor’s license, and pay the contractors and subcontractors directly.

Be prepared for the unexpected! Establish a contingency fund of about 10-15% of the project total for emergencies such as problems uncovered during construction, items out of stock, and construction delays.

I advise both my homeowners and designers to selects as much as possible before the first demolition hammer enters the premises. On kitchen remodels, we purchase everything in advance and have it waiting before we start construction in order to reduce delays – consider doing the same.

Seriously consider moving out temporarily! Depending on the scope of the project, your home will be dusty dirty and noisy.

Once you feel comfortable with the professional you would like to hire, ask them to draw up a letter of agreement or contract – and run it by a lawyer if you have one available – there’s a lot of money at stake! Make sure the agreement spells out the scope of the work, the fees to be paid to the designer, how and when they are to be paid, and a dispute resolution clause. Have them also address an “out” clause if things go wrong and either one of you decide to end the relationship.