Why Work With A Designer?
Why do I need an Interior Designer?
You may have a busy life with little to no spare time to design your home to your liking, or you’re overwhelmed with the number of home décor choices available. Perhaps you’ve even scoured magazines (Veranda, Traditional Home, Southern Living, etc.) and maybe even torn out pages of rooms you like, but are still unsure how to pull it all together to get the “complete look” you’re trying to achieve. We can develop a design plan to help you pull together one room or your entire home that has balance, function, and harmony. A comprehensive design plan will help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure a cohesive look for your space that meets your family’s needs.
Is working with an Interior Designer affordable?
Absolutely! In fact, working with an Interior Designer can actually save you money in the long run, not to mention time and aggravation. When you hire Susan Sutter Interiors as your interior designer, you’re not only hiring creative talent, you are also hiring years of knowledge and expertise. We can help prevent costly design and purchasing mistakes while advising you on where to splurge and where to save so that you can get the most bang for your buck and the style you desire.
Are there certain things I should do to prepare for our Interior Design Consultation?
We advise all clients to start a design file. We suggest perusing through magazines (Veranda, Traditional Home, Southern Living, etc.) and tearing out pages that catch your attention or creating a Pinterest Page with inspiration images. When we meet for our Interior Design Consultation we will review your design file to help determine the style direction you desire. We also suggest you start thinking about your desired timeframe (start and complete date), as well as have a budget in mind and be honest about it with your designer. Having a ball park figure is a good start. The best client/designer relationships start with open & honest communication.
Hiring an Interior Designer: How does it work?
All designers work differently. First, a phone conversation will help us evaluate your project, and if we may be of help. We then offer a paid initial design consultation. In this meeting Susan will walk through your home or business with you, and speak with you about the specific needs of your interior design or construction project. No actual design is done in this meeting, just an evaluation of the project scope, your particular needs and timing, and a presentation of our services.
What will our project cost?
It depends on the level you wish to take your project. We recommend you have a specific design fee budget in mind, so that we can prepare a proposal, stating what we can offer keeping within your budget.
How do we get started, and what is next?
Before beginning work, we ask you to complete a detailed questionnaire that helps us get to know you better. Then we meet to discuss your preferred design styles, requirements for each room, how you live and work in your home etc. Next, we photograph the space, and take formal measurements. From there we prepare a schematic design presentation, showing you our initial drawings, proposed material selections, palette options, and concepts. After design approval of that stage, we will work with you on narrowing down the final selections, pricing, and implementing the design.
Where do you get your furniture?
We purchase product from a variety of sources. We also use local stores, to the trade showrooms, and retail locations, as well as online and catalogue retailers. If our clients have sources that they prefer to work with, we are more than happy to do so. We also work with custom upholstery and drapery workrooms.
Do I have to make purchases through you?
No. Most clients do purchase through us, because of the discount we pass along and purchasing through us ensures a cohesive look throughout the space.
Do we need to use your contractor or architect?
No. We will work with your builder, or tradespeople. We are more than happy to refer you to those who can help as well. You will not pay us for construction related labor, that is between you and your contractor.
We are thinking of remodeling our house. When should we call an Interior Designer?
If you are thinking of remodeling your home or building a new one you should call us as soon as possible. An interior designer can bring knowledge & experience to the decisions made regarding electrical, plumbing, fabrics and furniture. In most cases, a designer can actually help avoid unnecessary expenditure by making sure that needs are met and no errors are made along the way. We can help you save time and money with our knowledge.
Do you work with subcontractors or do I need to find my own?
Yes, we have many different types of subcontractors that we work with on a regular basis and can highly recommend. If you are looking for re-upholstering, custom window treatments, carpet installation, wallpaper installation, custom built-ins we have the right person for you. We are happy to work with your builder, general contractor or any other contractor you would like to work with.