Don't know whether to say thank you or.........

I just built a 4000 sqft home in Kauai but always am challenged on the color and style portion of the project. We hired Tapia+Design and they produced beautiful results. The builder was Pacbuild. We broke ground and completed the project in less than a year with spectacular results and only 2% over budget.

"LOLOLOLOLOL! “All I need” 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Write a 10K check for a retainer. Then get ready to learn what you don’t know that you don’t know. Starting with why this is absolutely hysterical. If you can’t draw it out with an architect’s scale, you’re not qualified to begin to tackle anything about the job."

@User, I fail to see what's hysterical about the OP's post. They're looking for an interior designer. Their post lacks information about location and scope of work. Why even mention a retainer at this point?! What exactly is OP supposed to be able to draw out with an architect's scale?!

Brett1126, there are lot of interior designers on this forum. Some have great taste and professionalism. If you share your location and budget, perhaps one of them will chime in on this thread with ideas on how to connect locally or remotely. Another way to find an ID is to use the "Find Professionals" search feature in the menu above. Take your time to read the reviews. Once you find a few IDs whose projects you like, pay for their consults and see if you actually connect with any of them before embarking on a project with them.

Best of luck in your search and congrats on that build. Two percent over budget is impressive. May you continue to achieve your design dreams in 2021.

Thank you. I have builder, tile guy, painter here. Sure Tapia would work on our project but it's not the easiest to work 3000 miles apart.

@brett1126 I don't know too many designers who will do new builds or remodeling projects remotely. Lots of designers on the West Coast do projects in Hawaii, but you'd be paying not just for their design time, but also travel and accommodations to visit the site, take measurements, etc.

I have an e-decorating option available to anyone, anywhere. However, it is limited to decorating, only and you would supply the measurements of the rooms in question. Remodeling is not included in these packages because I don't trust clients to do the correct take-off measurements for construction.

Figure out your scope, then determine what type of designer is the right fit. Any designer worth their salt these days will be able to give you 3D renderings of their concepts. It's pretty much a given.

Is it possible that your contact at Tapia+Design has a reference for you in the area that you live now? I've found that professionals often know each other all over the world because they go to trainings, business meetings, conventions, and trade shows. Professionals meet each other. If you had a good experience with your Tapia+Design pros, you can probably trust a referral the give you.

What's the issue? " All you need are the visuals" ..........................................

How is that a "remote" issue?

I have a fifth project in Florida right now, live in the north. A GUT. Like all before. I have not set a foot in any of them. Not one.

Same with lake side in the mid west below. Be prepared to pay for A LOT OF DESIGN TIME AND THE COMMUNICATION THAT GOES WITH IT.

Never have been inside...............any. It does require a team and a lot of synergy. Or it is FAIL.

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Sorry but you are a million miles away from GCing any project. What you want is a good architect, and good builder and then you can hire an interior designer to help with the finishing touches. You did not GC that 4000sq ft house and you are not ready to do so now.

"Sorry but you are a million miles away from GCing any project. What you want is a good architect, and good builder and then you can hire an interior designer to help with the finishing touches. You did not GC that 4000sq ft house and you are not ready to do so now."

Huh? What am I missing in the OP's posts that prompt you to say this, Patricia? I even looked at the OP's profile to see if a previous post revealed this house wasn't built yet. Really befuddled by the confrontational and dismissive tone in some of the answers on this thread.

Where is your new home located?

"I have an e-decorating option available to anyone, anywhere"

Sabrina, isn't this Spam?

Feel free to report it, if you object. I was pointing out that if he doesn't want to pay for full service interior design, lots of designers, including me, do e-decorating.

WOW.....The angst. I could not have done the home in Kauai without the Architect or the builder or the designer, but I tell you what...I'll take credit for paying 4M for the beautiful work they all did, hows that! All I was trying to achieve in this project was a color/material palette result. Thank you all for your positive comments. The negative comments??? c'mon you're supposed to be guides in this business..to help...to nurture...to create.

God bless

"Need interior designer with 'Chief architect' or 'Sketch up' capabilities."

I am confused.

Does this mean you want someone that wears both hats?

Does that really exist?

I think there may be firms that have both architects and interior designers in house, you could certainly look them up.

But don't architects working on their own projects in their own geographic area prefer to work with a particular general contractor with whom they have experience to ensure everything gets done according to their specifications?

Ditto for interior designers?

Don't bite my head off please, I'm only throwing out these questions to brett1126 and everyone else here, I'm neither architect nor interior designer.

Nothing ever really replaces local and a team that's Arch/ GC\/builder/Kitchen and bathDesign......and an interior designer. Can you pull it off at a distance? Yes.

With one caveat.....You "don't get to drive the bus"......all communicate, and this means at the very least conference calling twice a week with whatever tool you prefer. MANDATORY For everyoner on the team, with all necessary PDF and what topics will be covered.

Add money. .... and if you threw 4 million at the last place? Plan to do it again : )

""Need interior designer with 'Chief architect' or 'Sketch up' capabilities."

I am confused.

Does this mean you want someone that wears both hats?"

@loobab, from what I understand, "Chief Architect" and "Sketch up" are 3-D illustration software used by architects and interior designers (among others). The OP is asking for an ID that can provide renderings in either of these software. They aren't looking for an architect.

Oh, Goodness Gracious!

Well, I do like learning new things every day, thank you!

Pacbuild! great company! Tyler is awesome :)

"Add money. .... and if you threw 4 million at the last place? Plan to do it again : )"

At the last place? Why are you assuming OP is asking for a NEW place, @JAN MOYER?

Why are so many people answering this post based on assumptions? Truly baffled by the reach. OP's question was straightforward and they even added

"All I was trying to achieve in this project was a color/material palette result."

Without knowing the scope of the project, how can anyone throw numbers at him?

@brett1126, I found 2 pages of Hawaii-based Interior Designers on Houzz (as you probably did as well).

I like AJCN's suggestion of asking for a referral from the design firm you already know. I caution you about working remotely with Pros when it comes to a colour palette because monitors and screens can rarely be trusted to render colours accurately. Also, light is everything when it comes to colours and Hawaiian light is not the same as Maine light, etc.

I don't know if you considered that your local paint store might have designers on staff who could advise you on colour palettes. I know my local Benjamin Moore stores have designers and they can be commissioned for small or large projects. It's really a matter of finding someone with whom you connect. Best wishes.

I@ tratanmeup

I am not ASSUMING. I read the words of the op as below, quoted. Try it : ) The entire thread. Screen name is Brett.................

"I just built a 4000 sqft home in Kauai but always am challenged on the color and style portion of the project. We hired Tapia+Design and they produced beautiful results. The builder was Pacbuild. We broke ground and completed the project in less than a year with spectacular results and only 2% over budget."

"................ and then...........

"Thank you. I have builder, tile guy, painter here. Sure Tapia would work on our project but it's not the easiest to work 3000 miles apart."

"I@ tratanmeup

I am not ASSUMING. I read the words of the op as below, quoted. Try it : )"

In the interest of clarity, I'll play, Jan. : )

Brett1126' words: "I just built a 4000 sqft home in Kauai but always am challenged on the color and style portion of the project."

To which project is he referring? The 4000 sq ft home or a new build?

You wrote (bolding mine) "and if you threw 4 million at the last place? Plan to do it again : )"

The following words from Brett do not confirm or deny if his project is part of the 4000 sq ft Kauai home:

"Thank you. I have builder, tile guy, painter here. Sure Tapia would work on our project but it's not the easiest to work 3000 miles apart."

What is the builder building? A house? An outhouse? Built-in cabinets for a library? Bathroom cabinets? Brett posted in Remodeling, Design Dilemma and Bathrooms.

I read the whole thread more than once and wouldn't wager as to his project scope. Regardless of his project scope, I think it's a shame his simple question was met with derision from Pros.