Andi Dyer

Let me help you find your future home

  • About
  • Contact Page
  • Refer a Friend
  • News
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Your Guide to Online Design

Your Guide to Online Design

February 26, 2019 By Andi Leave a Comment

With online services, a designer will typically never set foot in your home and you’ll have to do the legwork (think: measuring, shopping, and installing). But in exchange, they offer an expert’s take on using what you have, solving problem layouts, and suggesting resources you might not have heard of. These are the big four:

Homepolish. One of the few virtual design services that pairs you with a local designer (usually a young designer who is just getting started), so he or she can visit your space. After that, the design plan and decision-making is all done via Homepolish’s custom dashboard. Bonuses: You’re assigned a dedicated account manager to answer all your questions, they’ll order product for you, and they have a vetted list of contractors and building professionals if you need them. Rates start at $130/hour.

Decorist. With Decorist, you gain access to different tiers of designers for different flat fees. What sets them apart is their “Celebrity” category, which allows you to work with big names such as Jessica Helgerson, Justina Blakeney, and India Hicks. (The Celebrity design fee is $1,299/room.) Like most services, you’ll receive a comprehensive design plan and shopping list. Decorist will place and manage your orders as well. Rates start at $299/room.

Laurel & Wolf. If you’re looking for options plus economy, Laurel & Wolf likely has a design package and price point for you. Their services start at just $79/room (for an accessory refresh and plan to restyle what you already own) and top out at $249/room for two complete design plans for you to choose from. Each package comes with a set amount of “Design Time,” (10 days for the highest package), so if you’re not a fast decision maker, this might not be for you. But if it is, check in frequently: They often run sales on their already-reasonable fees. Rates start at $79/room.

Havenly. Like most services, you start by filling out a style quiz and choosing from more than 100+ designers (they each have an abbreviated portfolio on the site so it’s easy to find one whose work you like). Unlike any other service, Havenly offers an initial call with a designer, plus product recommendations and a buying service for free. Yes, that’s $0. Sure, you’ll get upsold, but their room designs start at $79 with their highest package (including a 3-D room visualization) topping out at $199, with $50 of that going toward your furniture purchase. Rates start at $0.

 

 

Choosing an interior designer can feel like dating—a potentially awkward initial meeting, the hope he or she will “get” you, and the possibility for a long-term relationship. We asked Santa Fe interior designer Cara Scarola for the essential questions to ask (and answers to look for) to make sure you’re a good match

1. What kind of degrees did you earn?

In the pool of practicing designers, there are interior designers and interior decorators. Interior designers earn a degree that includes coursework in architecture and are licensed. An interior decorator may not have those qualifications, has likely interned or gained experience another way—but is unlicensed. “You’d vet your doctor, you’d vet your lawyer, you should vet your interior designer,” says Scarola. “It depends on the scope of your project, but if you’re gutting your kitchen, you’re better off with someone with architectural experience and formal education.”

2. What is your signature style?  

“When I first entered the field, I felt very strongly that if you’re a good designer you can capture anyone’s style exactly,” Scarola says. “Now I disagree.” Designers tend to work on projects that appeal to them—Scarola says her clean, modern eye wouldn’t necessarily be right for a traditional home. If you have the option, ask to see the designer’s own home, she says. “Their budget may be more or less than yours, but it’s a good indication of their aesthetic.”

3. How do you help me discover and communicate my style to you?

A good designer should be able to get it out of you by guiding you through photos, asking questions about what’s already in your home, what’s in your closet, or what type of artwork you like. “You don’t have to understand why you like something, just that you have a positive reaction,” Scarola says. “We’ll figure the rest out.” And make sure the designer asks you about how you live day to day to make sure the design will function for your lifestyle.

4. Do you have examples of work that are similar in style, scope, and budget to my project?

If they do, it’s a good indication they can handle your project. If they don’t have a similar project to yours, ask if they can pull images of a project they feel is similar, Scarola says. It’s a good conversation-starter to find out if “a mix of high and low” (or any other request) means the same thing to both of you.

5. How do you document and share your work?

Listen for the designer to mention detailed drawings, including a floorplan and interior elevations, a schedule for when decisions about materials need to be made, and often a presentation board with samples. In addition, Scarola’s firm documents every item specified in a master spreadsheet and shares that with the client. To keep track of all this information, it’s reasonable to have regular meetings in addition to phone calls and emails, Scarola says. Also ask if the architect and interior designer will meet regularly during the project (they should).

6. How do you charge for your services and when will my payment be due?

Scarola says charging hourly is the most straightforward, but others may charge a percentage of the overall budget, especially if it’s a large project. Either way, ask for an estimate and a clear, consistent schedule for payment. “If something takes longer than we told them, before we begin that billable time, we ask for permission to proceed,” Scarola says. If the designer doesn’t mention a policy like that, ask if they will. Then be aware that some of the time spent rests on you: if you are slow to make decisions or ask for five rounds of toilet options, the hunt for more is billable time.

7. How do you manage the project budget?

The designer should have a system in place—for Scarola’s office, it’s a line item spreadsheet that the client has access to. “If you cannot spend a cent over your budget, say that,” she says. “It’s important to know from the get-go so when I’m selecting materials and finishes I’m not picking out $35 dollar and up/square foot tile.” Another particular question to ask is when most of the actual purchasing takes place. “We don’t like to do a lot of the buying until we have all the pieces,” Scarola says. “Then we know where to push and pull.”

8. How much time do you think my project will require and when will you be able to complete it?

“You just want to know if your designer is booked up for the next six months, if they have other projects they’ve committed to, and make sure your timeline fits in their timeline,” Scarola says. Use the answer they give you to determine if they have time to communicate on a weekly basis as well.

9. Where do you find inspiration?  How do you stay up to date with current trends, technology, and codes?

Building code is a non-negotiable—your designer should take continuing education classes and attend appropriate trade events and seminars for that purpose. But Scarola thinks inspiration is just as vital. “Magazines, Pinterest, blogs…it’s important they have their head in that stuff and are following other designers, too,” she says. “Not necessarily in a trendy way but to be current, to let you know what the current offerings are.”

10. What does a successful project mean to you?

“You’re not looking for someone who says, ‘It’s a beautiful house where you love having your friends over,’” Scarola says. “They should say, ‘When you’re happy in your space, it reflects your personality, and it functions with your lifestyle.”

 

Source

Sunset

JOANNA LINBERG

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Andi

World-wide traveler. Excellent shot. Lover of Cairn Terriers (specifically Shaymus). Vegetarian. Enthusiastic, yet amateur beer brewer. Licensed, independent Real Estate Broker and Designated Broker for Sterling Real Estate. I have the inside knowledge of the 'diamonds in the rough' hiding throughout Whatcom County. Want to learn more? Contact me at AndiDyer@gmail.com

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • The 7 Worst Habits Homeowners Need to Break Now
  • What You Need to Know About Researching Home Prices
  • Home Upkeep Tips for People With Better Things to Do Than Chores
  • Filing Taxes After Divorce: Tips for Homeowners
  • 7 Cleaning Tips for Keeping Your Home Spotless When Selling It

Testimonials from Happy Homeowners

Andi is a very motivated and talented professional who considers all aspects of any project before quickly moving forward with precise action.
~ Teresa

Andi quickly discovered our parameters and made sure we didn't waste time looking at properties we wouldn't be interested in and stay within our budget.
~ Trulia Reviewer

Andi has a keen instinct for smart marketing and is very responsible to her clients. She is a committed Real Estate broker and has a very sunny disposition. No matter what your needs are, be it finding a home or selling your current real property, her years of experience in the field are a huge asset!
~ T.W.

It has been a pleasure working with Andi. She always has a smile and a positive attitude. She put a lot of time and effort into selling my house and I couldn't have happier with anyone else.
~J.M.

Selling a house is STRESSFUL. There are so many things to do and so many cracks to slip into. Thanks to Andi, there were no cracks with her timely checklists; she showed me that selling doesn’t have to be so stressful. A good selling experience is possible! She is the broker to keep in your back pocket.
~ Rose W.

Andi was always on our side working to make our house purchase as simple and successful as possible. The best part about working with her was that she was always more focused on answering our questions, giving us good advice, and finding homes that met our needs than she was on closing a deal. All throughout the negotiations and closing she was there quickly handling any issues that may have risen. We would recommend her to anyone. If the time ever comes when I will be looking for a new home, there isn't any question on who my Realtor will be!
~Zillow Reviewer

About Andi

World-wide traveler. Excellent shot. Lover of Cairn Terriers (specifically Shaymus). Vegetarian. Enthusiastic, yet amateur beer brewer. Licensed, independent Real Estate Broker and Designated Broker for Sterling Real Estate. I have the inside knowledge of the 'diamonds in the rough' hiding throughout Whatcom County. Want to learn more? Contact me at AndiDyer@gmail.com Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

I can help you find your dream home.

I am located in two offices to support my Whatcom clients. Come visit me soon.

Office Locations

Downtown Bellingham Office
2011 Young Street, Suite 101
Bellingham, WA 98225

See Location

Ferndale Office
1820 Main Street
Ferndale, WA 98248

See Location

Sterling Logo   Realtor logo   Sterling Logo       Sterling Logo

Copyright © 2021 · Log in