Achieving A Designer Look In Your Home
I have a deep appreciation for what professionals in the design industry bring to the table. They are a hybrid of creative and engineer - crafting spaces that are balanced and cohesive, but often filled with elements of surprise. Design is funny if you think of it from that perspective, it's meant to heighten our mental state - to calm us, energize us or evoke whatever emotion the puppet master has in store for us. The more projects I have completed, the more steadfast I have become in my commitment to utilizing professionals. While I consider myself a design junkie of sorts, there is more to a well designed home than meets the amateur eye. Over time, using a professional designer has ultimately saved me money. Mistakes in construction are expensive and investing on a controlled budget upfront helps keep unaccounted for expenses at bay down the road.
What does a designer home look like?
When enlisting the services of an interior designer, my expectation is that the home will have a cohesive feel to it. The wall colors, finishes, fabrics and window treatments will play off one another, working together like a well choreographed dance. Selections in the house feel deliberate, like each one was meant to be there and each one makes up a piece of the bigger puzzle. When you preview a professionally designed home, you will notice layers of design - the way the fabrics work with the wall covering or how the lighting is layered with overhead, task and ambient intentions. So much thought is put into each piece - from its scale and shape to the way it will perform for the homeowner.
What is it like to work with an interior designer?
Working with an interior designer comes in all shapes and sizes. Not every client is working on their entire home at a particular time. Some clients need help with a level of their home, an individual room or are looking to add finishing touches to tie an area together. A designer will typically start by meeting with you for a consultation. At this time, you'll walk the designer through your project and give them a better understanding of the scope of work. This meeting is not unlike an interview - it's important that you feel comfortable with the designer and that the conversation you share feels easy and comfortable. Design is personal and a big part of achieving the look you want is being able to articulate the vision and dreams you have for your space.
In this dialogue will be a conversation about how the designer charges for their time. Some designers may bid a project - a set fee for a particular job, while others may gather a scope of work and charge an hourly rate to execute. The budget you have to spend on your project will also be discussed. It's a good idea to have an idea of what you have to spend before starting this conversation - this budget should include funds for a design fee.
How do I find a designer?
One of my favorite ways to find design inspiration is on Instagram. Many design professionals post their work - eye candy for those of us seeking gorgeous spaces of our own. Instagram is a great tool to preview a designers work and judge whether their aesthetic is similar to your own. Follow sources like @msphomeanddesign or @paradeofhomestc to see a variety of local designers featured. Follow local designers, builders and architects you see mentioned in print ads or whose signs you see in adjacent yards. Get to know who's out there and whose work is capturing your attention.
In the world of interior design, I like to consider myself well-connected. Through the expanded network of designers at Fox Homes and the team I've been relying on for more than a decade, I have established relationships with designers that work on projects all across the spectrum. Feel free to reach out to me with the specifics of your own project - I'd love to help point you in the right direction. And if you're a designer, I'd love to sit down and chat! Continuing to build the network of designers I know and admire is a passion I fuel daily.
What other ways can I achieve a designer look in my home?
Not all of us have the budget to enlist the services of a professional designer. Often when we are in the market for a designer - it means we are funding a bigger project - a remodel or redesign of an area of our home. These projects come with surprises of their own that eat up contingencies we had set aside for design fees. So how else can you achieve a designer look for less?
Have you heard of Havenly? Havenly is an online design service that offers different design packages depending on your needs and budget. The great news? Packages start at just $79! To scratch my design loving itch, I gave it a try in my own home. You can read more about my experience in this post here.
If you are looking for something a little more tailored, feel free to reach out to me for a Design Consultation. In this 1 1/2 hour meeting, we'll walk through your home or project to get a better understanding of your space, the way it functions and the changes you'd like to see happen. We'll discuss options, take photos and I'll follow up with a detailed outline of suggested solutions for your space. This guide can include anything from furniture placement to product sourcing to vendor recommendations and more. A mood board, like this one I completed for a recent client, will add an additional look/feel element. Contact me for more details and pricing information.
Our homes are a reflection of our personal style, a visual representation of who we are. Sometimes enlisting a professional helps us more accurately depict the picture we want to portray. If you've been looking for support in creating a haven of your own, reach out to me for tips, tricks, resources & designer matchmaking by phone at (612) 723-7636 or by email at sarah@foxhomes.com. I'd love to hear from you!
This post contains affiliate links