Several "designers" lurk here, so be careful! I have had problems with designers that push their products, but don't really listen to your comfort zone.

If all you got was the above, I would look elsewhere. You should not put out a cent until you "like what they present."

Designers come in all sizes! I'm not a designer, but I've experienced many! Some listen and work with you, and some have one way, and it's THEIR WAY AND THEIR PRODUCTS!!

Sometimes it's easier to spend the bucks on some decorator magazines, and learn what you like from that, and incorporate the feel yourself.

Do get bids for free! Pay nothing until you agree with the feel the designer gives. The "feel" in a living space is what is really important! Try to explain the "feel" you want. Cold- Distant? Warm-Cozy? Warm-Stylish? Country-Cozy? Contemporary-eclectic? It helps if you do that with a designer.

Good luck!

Suzi

Looks like your designer has some decent software but not much creativity. Or commitment to your project, for that matter.

Is this a "designer" affiliated with a furniture store, or an independent person?

With all due respect to the designers here, I have not had much luck with the two I attempted to hire in the past, so am leery of trying this approach again, as much as I could use and would love professional help! I almost think it might work to try to replicate a picture from a magazine or houzz, etc.

We 're desperately in need of professional help - we know what we like but we're not good at putting it together. We're hiring someone who charges by the by the hour - she consults, she shops with you, she suggests, and she stages. She doesn't sell anything. We've seen her work. Three other friends have done the same and the results have been great. I guess what I'm saying is - get personal recommendations!

Problem is design services, you're subject to the taste of the designer. GF went to Ethan Allen ( without me) because of their free design service. She wasn't happy with some things once they were delivered, and now we're spending lots of time trying to fix it. There's another designer there who seems much more talented than the one she got...but now she's kind of stuck.

I wouldn't go with a service without seeing the work they've done, and even at that, you have to find out how much is the designer and how much is the home owner. If they have decorator show houses, it's a great way of seeing their work in person.

The designer I used recently is a very nice person and has decent design ability, but her billing & accounting methods ended up driving us crazy. No details in the hours worked or products bought. How can you cross reference and reconcile hours if the designer doesn't break them down?

The house does not reflect her taste, but mine. Actually if she had done the drapes "her way" they would be too short and hung too low. A couple of the things that I was talked into making a decision quickly are the things that I'm not that happy with.

My local designers will meet with you for 1-2 hours for free to get to know you and the project. Anything after that you would get billed the hourly rate for any research they do.

Funny thing, I have seen the designer's own home and I didn't like her choices there!

Thanks for all the good suggestions. Sueb, this designer is affiliated with a furniture store (our first mistake, imo). I've told him what feeling I want in the room (comfortable, warm, but pet and kid friendly), pointed out pieces that I like, but have yet to see a design. I think a month is long enough. Time to find someone else.

Try out this forum! Post a really good layout, pictures of key elements, and give some background as to what you like and are trying to accomplish.

If you do a search on HOUZZ for designers and decorators in your local area, you can get an idea of what their aesthetic is like. Many can help on an hourly basis and are not pushing or selling a thing. That might be your best bet If you'd like help with some furniture selection, layout and paint colors.

Nothing is better than a personal recommendation from a friend or acquaintance, though. If you start asking around, perhaps someone will "know someone".

A good designer, (whether independent or affiliated with a store) should be able to help you hone in on what your style is--what will make you love your room. Many people don't know what they like or what their "style" is--that's why they're seeking help. Help the designer help you. Bring lots of photos of rooms you like. Create an ideabook on houzz and show her. (This is cheaper than magazines!)

And no, I'm not affiliated with houzz--I just think it has become a really useful tool for illustrating decor styles.

This post was edited by shanghaimom on Sun, Oct 6, 13 at 12:26

shanghaimom had some great suggestions of how to prepare to meet with a designer. Collect pictures to help explain what you're trying to accomplish. Hiring a designer usually involves a retainer and written agreement. Designers do their best when presented with a design problem & a set of criteria like budget, time frame, colors, style & existing conditions. Tell a designer what you 'think', not what you 'feel'. Save that for your shrink. Designers are not hired to be your personal 'design cheerleader'. Don't forget that agreeing to work together on a project goes both ways. The designer has the right to say NO if your list of goals is ill defined or unrealistic.

Many designers/decorators in furniture stores have no schooling or experience designing, but they are excellent salespeople. That is not to say that everyone who attended a school that specialized in interior design is good. The same can be said of doctors and lawyers. It's very likely the store designer's sole compensation is a draw against commission. No furniture sale, no compensation, none. They're only making money when you're buying furniture. Not all design solutions involve furniture.

Finally, not all designers can work in all styles. Design is an artistic business. For example, I don't possess a good knowledge of Williamsburg, Colonial or Art Deco styles & could not make informed recommendations to a client, so I don't work in those styles. No designer can be good at everything, You wouldn't go to a restaurant known for excellent Italian meals and ask them to cook Chinese. So find a designer whose general styles you like, not the reverse.

Madison, the designer I was working with was affiliated with a furniture store also. She came to our home and measured, asked me questions, and I showed her through our home to get an idea what my decorating style is. The following week I met with her in the design center to look over the fabrics, colors, and items she wanted to use. She was so far off track that I felt as though she never even saw my style or acknowledged my vision. She proposed a design that was her taste not mine. I left feeling deflated and decided to only use one item and that was a window treatment.

I have total faith in my fellow GW members and would rather use suggestions from here.

I agree with holly-kay and others, I think the GW members who post regularly here are a wonderful resource. In our case, (not living in a large city) I really think many frequent posters here are more talented and knowledgeable than local designers.

We hired a landscape designer in another state, with excellent results. He listened, charged a reasonable fee, and came up with solutions we had never even considered. Wonderful experience!

Fresh from that experience, we moved here, and we hired a designer to help review ideas for our kitchen update. It was a bad experience, and I know now we chose the wrong person. He ignored the character of our house, ignored our budget, had no creative ideas, and left us with hastily done drawings that were of almost no help. I felt duped. He wasn't cheap, and we committed to an upfront price, which in retrospect was another poor decision. I was so disappointed!

We met him at a home show, and made the mistake of judging his work from a booth full of impressive drawings, without asking for referrals. If we ever try hiring another designer, I'll ask for references and do more careful checking before committing to the expense. I now know you really do have to get to know the designer, before you invest a lot of money. Wish I had been able to read this helpful thread, back then!

More likely, I'll just try to keep learning here.

You should have a much better experience if you go with someone who's been recommended by people you know and whose homes you admire.
I recently paid for a design consult as a gift to my mom who couldn't decide on paint color. I used the designer that everyone in my knitting group loves and recommended. She charges by the hour, and before she made the appt w my mom I gave her info on what was fixed - cabinet and counter top materials, flooring, white shutters etc.
She was fabulous! Once she got there my mom asked for more in the consult, ....they ended up with a major rearrangement of their existing furniture, rearrangement of artwork, changing out of accessories and some major editing. They didn't buy a thing, although they may end up buying a new rug, and funnily enough, they aren't changing paint colors! It looks like a different house. Very inviting where before it felt overwhelmingly cluttered.

Whether the designer is affiliated with a store or independent, has ASID after their name or not, it's all a crap shoot, unless you've got personal recommendation. A bit like finding someone good to cut your hair.

I remember going to a designer show house and falling in love with a room...I made note of who the designer was.

The next year, I was in another show house, another town, and walked into a room and immediately felt drawn to it...when I checked who the designer was, yup, same gal. She would be one I would consider hiring as I'm sure we'd be sympatico.

Wow! What wonderful advice and suggestions. Thank you, all. I'll start at Houzz to refine exactly what style I'm looking for (then probably back here for more advice).

I found someone at a local (high end) furniture store (their lines are not limited to one brand, like EA). She's amazing -- she has a degree in the field -- and "got" me immediately. We had a great time and my LR really feels like "me," though I could never have done it alone.

I went in another time (my person had moved to a new position) and was approached by another designer and, while she was very nice and tried to be helpful, she and I definitely did not share a vision for the DR. (Luckily I was able to find the original designer and she's done amazing things for me!)

ITA with a PP in that it's like finding a hair stylist. We need different things and we need to be able to articulate what we want. Sometimes you just connect.

I actually have gotten good advice from Room & Board before, too, in the past -- I don't know that you have to go super high end, just have someone who has some natural talent and an interest in design. I mean, you may not make the pages of House Beautiful, but that's true for many of us. ;)