Frequently Asked Questions

It helps owners/renters to avoid making unwise decisions and chaos when it comes to purchasing materials, furniture, lights, etc.

You can be confident and proud to show off your property or home! Particularly if yours is a shop or restaurant where first impressions matter.

A professional interior designer sees and conceptualizes the BIG picture, whereas owners/renters more often than not, merely focus on individual issues / materials / colors, etc.

A professional interior designer can help to advise on an appropriate scheme to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Property owners doing their own interior design will usually end up with a "miss-match" or somewhat "chaotic" interior; especially by neglecting consideration of color, lighting, furniture and soft furnishings and other crucial details that "completes" the whole interior. A professional interior designer will help to ensure and co-ordinate all the above for you!

Owners may feel the pinch when incurring cost on the professional fee. However, just imagine for a moment how much more you will have lost (in terms of money and time) when you make the wrong commitments due to inexperience of choosing fixtures and inaccurate measurements.

For a fraction of the cost of your property, is it not wise to leverage the knowledge and experience of those who know best and to free yourself to do the things that you do best?

Design Matters! A good design truly improves the way you live as seen from the many examples around us (e.g., electricity, computers, escalators, airplanes, etc.

When you are contemplating buying or building a new house…

When you plan a major addition to your home…

When you consider restoring an old manor…

When you want to renovate or remodel your living space…

Whenever you need to relate interior design considerations to an existing or as yet to be formulated architectural plan.

When your lifestyle is about to change, such as working from your home…

When your residence will be used for occasional social functions…

When your expanding family needs to “reorganize” space allocations…

Whenever you need full project coordination.

When you like a variety of styles but are not sure how to group them together…

When your current furniture arrangement requires an infusion of inspiration…

When you feel the collectibles you own and love require more attention…

When your rooms needs new drapes, floor coverings, furniture and accessories…

Whenever you feel that you need professional guidance.

Collect clippings from magazines and photos of items and decors that appeal to you.

Think about colors, styles and effects you like.

Know what you want to accomplish, what the room or house should do for you when finished.

Should it be formal or casual, traditional or contemporary?

Know your objective and lifestyle needs.

Establish a time frame in which you would like to work

Letting the designer know what you can afford will help achieve what you want to meet your budget.  Barb will try to get a beautiful look for you for as little as possible.

For a new (empty) house or condominium you should calculate about 25% of its total purchase price.

For existing space, consult an interior designer for a fair budget estimate.

Ask to see the interior designer's portfolio, but remember that the illustrations reflect other people's tastes NOT the designer's, and probably not your own.

Ask what size projects the interior designer has worked on, where, and what the budget range was.

Ask how the established budget will be handled, and the kind of payment schedules the designer requires.

Ask about the types of service the designer can provide.

Ask for a list of references.

Because their knowledge, expertise, and guidance can help prevent costly mistakes.

Because they know how to work with architects and contractors…
they have established contact with skilled trades people, and…
they supervise your project to completion, smoothly and on time.

Because a professional will save you countless hours of shopping, after all…  they have access to a wide range of domestic and foreign resources.

Because they can help you define and enhance your own distinctive style.

Because interior designers can make the most of what you have and do the required research to find what you need.

Because they are trained to make the most of available spaces and to create the traffic patterns and furniture arrangements that make daily living functional, safe, comfortable and easy.

Our initial consultation brings you a highly qualified interior designer to your home or office for an in-depth interview to identify your design objectives and outline the steps needed to accomplish them. This first meeting usually lasts one to two hours.

At the first meeting we will:

• Measure and photograph areas to be designed.
• Create a room by room list of necessary construction, furniture, colors and accessory needs.
• Compile client's existing materials that will not change.

Consulting with an Interior Designer is not about imposing ideas or personal taste onto a client, but rather how a client and designer come together to create a unique interior just for you. It's about helping the client develop their vision while analyzing their design requirements, and in the end, creating a space that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Together with Barb's Interior Design, Inc. you can create the dream you have always wanted.

Our fees are charged by the hour to assure that only the time required by your project results in charges to you. The hourly fee covers such actions as:

Space planning, rendering, concepts and working drawings

Design of custom window treatments, shades or blinds

Preparation of estimates and purchasing

Coordination with contractors

Subsequent consultations with the client and suppliers

Researching sources for materials or products

Think about what your likes and dislikes are. Look through magazines or books and ear mark them. Have them ready to show the designer at the first consultation. This will give the designer YOUR personal taste so they can help you achieve exactly what YOU want.

Consider the following:

• FOCUS: Within each room, pick one or two of your favorite pieces or room "elements." These pieces may be furniture, lamps, artwork, rugs, or maybe it's the wall color. Once you know what your focus will be for each room, you can begin adding complimentary pieces.

  It's important to keep your rooms free from clutter. Keep the pieces that really mean something to you, and discard the rest.

  Go beyond your comfort level when putting pieces together. The idea is to create an environment where pieces complement each other, not necessarily match one another.

• FUNCTION: When planning each room, determine how the room is used. This will help determine furniture placement and where lighting would be best for individual activities and help determine just what is needed for the update.

Once you have made the decision to hire an interior designer, the following steps usually take place:

Letter of agreement: A contract is signed between the interior designer and the client stating what is to be completed and the fee schedule.

In-depth interview by interior designer with the client to determine lifestyle needs.

Meeting with architect, if using one for this project

Room by room list of items to be completed both for furniture and construction. Approval of list.

Measure and photograph the room (or rooms).

Design and drawing of floor plans showing new furniture with sizes; design custom pieces. Approval of plans

Design and drawing of new cabinets for kitchen, bathroom, entertainment, closet, construction plans. Approval of plans.

Lighting plan showing new lighting with specifications for contractor.

If construction is a part of the plan, selection of all items that will be needed - floors, counters, faucets, fixtures, lights, doors, etc.

Give construction plans to contractors for bids, if needed. (May be done by the architect).

Review bids and assist in choosing a contractor. (May be done by the architect).

Begin construction.

Observation of construction.

Interior designer shops for non-construction items - furniture, fabrics, rugs, wall coverings, and any other items that need to be purchased for the project.

Presentation of furniture ideas, fabrics, and accessories to client.

Shopping trip to see the furniture.

Paint selection to go with the flooring and fabrics that have been selected.

Approval of furniture, fabric, wallpaper, draperies, blinds, and prices, etc.

Purchase items agreed upon

Completion of work by contractors

Carpet, furniture delivery, drapery installations, etc.

Accessories added with approvals.

The Final Selections are color, furniture, lighting, flooring, wall coverings, window treatments, accessories, brings all of these elements together, with your finalized plan, with an extensive supply of resources from around the world, we select the materials and finishes that best represent you.

The work does not end when the last piece of furniture has been placed. The final walk through with you to check for any deviations in the plans, and a follow-up after the project is over. Have specified products held up well? Does the lighting fit your needs? Are you happy with the completion of the project?

As soon as we have your approval, we prepare purchase orders for required items and services. We select the best price from a variety of reputable sources. Although your interior was designed for construction efficiency, it's no secret that building projects can be time-consuming and stressful. As your concept comes to life, count on us to assist you in managing contractors, architects and building officials. On your behalf, we'll work with all parties to ensure that your design is executed with the least amount of stress and hassles.

The phrase "To the Trade" means that Design Centers or Show Rooms distribute their products exclusively through the services of interior design professionals, rather then selling directly to the public.