What to Expect From an Interior Designer

More and more homeowners are using professional interior design services these days. We all know that spring in Montana means construction season, and it’s not just roads but residential and commercial properties that are being built all over. Those that aren’t building, are remodeling.

So whether you’ve used a designer before, or it’s your first time getting professional help for your home project, I’m here to help you know what to expect. While all interior designers do things slightly differently, there are some common practices.

The value an interior designer brings

Personally, I’ve found that a lot of my clients know what they like, but they don’t know how to articulate it, put it all together and achieve a cohesive look. Interior designers are trained in concept-based design, which means that before we select specific items – whether it’s a sofa or a soaking tub – we start with a design concept for the entire project that is based on the client’s functional needs and style preferences.

Most DIY homeowners approach design in a piecemeal fashion, and especially for new builds or remodels, that means you’ll be dependent on your contractor to let you know well in advance when they need certain things. For example, you should have all your lighting and plumbing fixtures picked out before the electrical and plumbing rough-ins, so they can be accurately placed. Sadly, I’ve seen many situations where the homeowner is told they need these with very little notice – leading to rushed selections, misplaced locations and inappropriately sized fixtures.

A designer not only knows what you’ll need for your project, but they plan well in advance and make selections according to a consistent design concept.

How interior designers charge

There are a few different billing models used by designers, but in our area the most common seems to be the time-based retainer model. This is essentially hourly billing, with a total number of hours estimated at the beginning of the project against a set scope of work. A percentage of that estimate is taken as a retainer deposit, and when the retainer is exhausted, regular billing starts. Depending on the project, there may also be different hourly rates applied to design work vs supervising construction vs procurement. 

The benefit of this billing model is that the homeowner has an estimated budget figure to work with, but keep in mind that projects almost always have unexpected developments that may increase the total you spend – so add a contingency to your budget. And if you’re comparing estimates from different designers, make sure the scope is the same and they’re providing the same deliverables (plans, design boards, renderings).

Other ways of billing include flat fees or by the square foot. Designers may be more likely to offer a flat fee for design only, but for the construction phase it’s unlikely you’ll find many designers offering this since there are so many factors that are outside of our control. For those that do offer a flat fee, they will usually include a set number of revisions, site visits, meetings etc within that fee.

Partnerships with other professionals

Most homeowners know they’ll need a general contractor to manage their construction project, but it can be confusing whether you need an architect, a designer, a draftsperson, a project manager and how these fit in. Some of the larger home building companies offer design/build services, which typically means they’ll have a draftsperson, a project manager and possibly an interior designer as part of their team.

Ask your builder who you’ll be dealing with and what their specific roles are. Often, smaller contractors won’t have a dedicated project manager but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a great job – sometimes you’ll get more attention from an experienced smaller contractor. It all depends on the scope of your particular project and how you like to work.

I am often asked “do I need an architect”? A lot of Montana homes are built without an architect, but if you have challenging site conditions, want an innovative design, or are building in a development with an HOA, working with an architect is a good idea and may even be mandatory. Draftspeople are skilled in producing technical drawings and altering “off the shelf” floor plans, but don’t expect a draftsperson to come up with big picture creative solutions in the same way that an architect will. They are best used for smaller projects such as additions and remodels, or as part of a larger team on a new build.

While interior designers are trained to produce functional and creative floor plans, any structural aspects should be done by a licensed architect. Often, the designer and architect will work closely together at the planning stage, with the designer focusing more on the floor plan (especially the kitchens and bathrooms) and the architect looking at the whole picture including the site conditions and overall structure design. The architect may not be involved after the planning stage, while an interior designer takes the project through to its completion with materials selections, lighting, plumbing, furnishing and decorating.

Be aware that while interior designers are not required to have any professional licensing in Montana, most states do require certification to be an interior designer vs an interior decorator. So it’s even more important to ensure that your designer is professionally educated and qualified to undertake space planning for construction.

Full-service design and furnishing

Many design projects include furnishing and decorating. Again, an interior designer’s trained eye will help you make the most of your space - even if there is no construction involved.

There are two ways designers approach furnishing projects – full-service design or design-only. If you’re on a tight budget then design-only may be a good approach, where the designer provides a furniture plan, design board and shopping list for you to purchase and install the furniture yourself. You can also do this virtually through e-design. Know that with current labor shortages, our industry is seeing up to 50% of goods arriving damaged and needing to be replaced. So if you are going to order and install your own furniture, have proper insurance and be prepared to spend a lot of time dealing with freight companies and retailers. If you take this approach, you’ll also be limited to retail furnishings (such as Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn) and your designer won’t be able to specify trade-only furniture.

Full-service design means your designer takes care of every detail, from starting with a blank slate to the day when you walk into your fully furnished, professionally styled home. This is a great option for busy homeowners who want to hand over the reins completely, or for those who are furnishing a second home or vacation rental and don’t live in the area.

With full-service design, your designer will select and purchase all the furnishings for you, usually from trade-only sources that will not sell to the general public. Being open to trade sources gives you an endless selection of furniture that is often higher quality and more design-forward. Your designer also manages the entire procurement process, handling all the purchasing and shipping, receiving to a warehouse, inspecting deliveries, replacing damaged goods, installing and styling your home. If you have the budget, then full-service design is the way to go.