how designers help | preparing for your meeting | choosing a designer | more tips
 

How do you choose an interior designer for your project? A relaxed and open relationship with your interior designer is essential. You should feel completely comfortable asking questions, making suggestions about your needs, and communicating the end result you're looking for. Your interior designer should be responsive to your requirements and understanding of any constraints; and just as importantly, they should be able to educate you in the possibilities available to you beyond your knowledge of the field.
Beginning your search Talk to friends; investigate personal referrals. Go online. For example, check out our designer directory. Don't forget, interior designers shop too. Inquire at retailers in your area. Contact your local design center. Ask building contractors about designers whose work they admire. According to nearly one-half of the designers surveyed by the American Society of Interior Designers, referrals tend to work out best. Go to the ASID Web site to learn more about the organization's nationwide referral.	"I strive to understand the needs, dreams, and desires of the client, and to infuse their ideas into the beauty of a room that resonates with fresh and understated style." - Sue Adams, of Sue Adams Interiors
Meeting with your designer Schedule a meeting with the designer to review a portfolio of past work. Ask about the designer's education, training and experience, professional affiliations, and other credentials. Ask about other services and what they can do to help optimize your budget. Ask for a list of three or four previous clients. Call them and ask about their satisfaction with the designer's work and working style. Discuss timetable, availability, and realistic expectations. Establish parameters for updates and ongoing communication between you and the designer throughout your project.
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