Many people are under the mistaken impression that what an interior designer or decorator does is largely superficial. Some believe that we spend our days surfing our favourite websites or wandering through nice shops looking for pretty things to put into our clients’ homes. If only it were that simple!
The reality of what an interior designer does is more in-depth than most people realize.
It involves a deep dive into our clients’ lives, getting to know you intimately, so that we can curate the right products and services that you didn’t even know you needed.
It means keeping ourselves knowledgeable and up-to-date on new products, innovations and style trends in a variety of fields from furnishings and accessories to appliances, home electronics and construction materials. It means relying on systems, well-honed project management and people skills to pull off a project with so many moving parts.
In this, our first blog post, we are giving you a behind-the-scenes look at all it takes to successfully transform your house into the home of your dreams. Here are the 7 key reasons why hiring professional help is well worth your investment.
7. An interior designer has deep industry knowledge and expertise
As designers we are expected to have an incredible range of knowledge, from what constitutes a quality piece of furniture, to the best colour to paint the walls, to where to place the pot lights, to what appliances will best suit a clients’ needs. The list goes on.
There is no number of HGTV episodes watched or even courses that you can take to gain this kind of experience and expertise.
Rather, it is years in the business, working alongside other experts and unfortunately sometimes making (and paying for) mistakes yourself, that really solidifies your knowledge as an interior designer. After 20 years, I am still learning on every project and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
6. Project management for your design or renovation
Effectively completing your renovation or design project requires hundreds of detailed systems and well-honed project management skills… not to mention commanding an army of skilled trades people!
Our role as project managers is multi-faceted:
- First, we are responsible for providing explicit specifications and drawings to the trades so that everyone knows exactly what to do.
- Second, we communicate constantly with the contractor and trades to keep your project moving forward.
- Third, we visit your site and inspect the work regularly in order to catch expensive mistakes before they happen.
- Fourth, we closely monitor your budget.
- Fifth, we keep you informed of any important developments until project completion.
All this while shielding you from as much undo stress as possible.
5. A team of passionate, qualified professionals
It literally takes a village… We can’t possibly be experts in everything related to the home industry. However, we pride ourselves on working with people who are as passionate and knowledgeable about what they do as we are.
Whether it is our meticulous carpenter, home automation expert or a gifted visual artist, we are always expanding our community of resources and building relationships with talented people in every field.
We do this by attending networking events, exhibitions and trade shows both locally and internationally.
4. A home uniquely designed for your lifestyle
Every home and every family is different, and your home should reflect that. We’ve honed a creative process that starts with listening. We hear what you want, understand what you need and use what we discover to craft a perfect backdrop for your life.
Maybe that means incorporating your grandmother’s treasured chaise lounge into your living room. Or maybe it’s finding the best way to display your collection of one-of-a-kind Donald Duck figurines. Whatever you want and love, we will work with you to make it happen.
We want you to walk in your front door and feel like you are home.
3. An interior designer saves your time
How often have you taken time off work to wait for no-show trades people or a delivery that didn’t arrive as promised? How many fruitless trips have you made to pick up one more paint chip in hopes that it will be “the one”? Have you spent weekends dragging your children out furniture shopping, only to end up with nothing, or worse yet, a regrettable purchase made in desperation?
Our streamlined process gives you your life back while we look after everything for you.
2. Full support and peace of mind
Having completed 11 personal home renovation projects in the past 20 years, I am no stranger to the stress that renovations can cause. I think that makes me a better, more sensitive interior designer.
We keep our clients well informed about all important developments in their project while shielding them from unnecessary stress. We are solution-oriented always troubleshooting and solving problems without involving the client where possible.
Many of our clients leave town during some or all of their project because they know that we are handling everything on their behalf and always have their best interest in mind.
1. A new experience to call home
We believe in the magic of great design, the beauty and ease that comes with every detail being carefully considered, and we strive to bring that to every project.
Whether it’s enjoying precious family time in your reimagined great room, hosting family and friends in your well-appointed dining room, or relishing a peaceful night’s sleep in your luxurious new master retreat, we will transform your experience of home.
I do gratifying work that I truly love, and I often feel like I have the best job in the world. I experience the pleasure of working with wonderful people who value quality and appreciate good design, all the while transforming people’s lives through their homes. What could be better than that?
If you think your next project could benefit from our care, expertise and support, let’s get in touch!
Until next time,
Lori
