WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?

Having a great sense of your likes and dislikes is an excellent starting point, but there's so much more to a well-designed room than simply filling it with your favorite things. But why? Why bother "creating" a room? The easy answer to that is 'comfort'. Believe it or not, a professional designer can help in ways you might not expect. 

I CAN'T AFFORD IT
A home is an investment, whether it's an apartment, condo or mansion. Hiring a designer is definitely a budgetary consideration - a top designer can earn about $150-$250 an hour (plus up to a 30% commission on furniture) - yet the input of a trained, creative, professional person has numerous advantages. A top designer has his or her place, but there are many young designers who charge half that hourly rate and come with the same resources and discounts. 

I'M TOO BUSY
If you simply don't have the time, hiring an interior designer is a great idea. The furniture/lighting/accessory/art/remodeling/renovating/space planning/painting/rug shopping/plumbing fixtures can be overwhelming and certainly time consuming. A designer can narrow everything down and steer clear of regrettable expensive purchases or awkward construction surprises. 
Yes, contractors are not designers, nor do they want to be. 
A designer's value for the money is exponential. A good designer can spot a poorly designed kitchen in 10 seconds.

WHAT DOES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER DO? 
I personally do not like to refer to myself as a decorator. I do not only help chose lamps and drapes. From a home office layout to a home renovation from the ground up, I can advise, I can design, I can purchase, I can draw floorplans, I can provide the best options - all based on your individual needs and desires. 


To be continued

One of my own favorite before and afters...