When hiring an interior designer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure that you find the best fit for your project. Asking these key questions can help you find the right interior designer for your project. Make sure to carefully consider their design style, experience, and process, as well as their approach to budgets, sustainability, contracts, and communication. By asking the right questions, you can avoid starting the process on the wrong foot and find the best fit for your project and create a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Here are ten key questions to ask when hiring an interior designer:
1. What is your interior design style? Can you design to fit my style?
Every interior designer has their own unique style and aesthetic. It’s important to ask about their design style to make sure it aligns with your own preferences and the vision for your space.
At Bridan we consider many factors when designing a space; with an emphasis on textiles, colour, function & ambience. We have developed a reputation for capturing our clients’ needs and aspirations.
2. What Kenyan interior design services do you offer?
Not all Kenyan interior designers offer the same service package. Know what you’ll be getting. Here are a few of the services that an interior designer might offer:
- Design consultation
- Site measurement and assessment
- Space planning
- Design concepts
- 3D visualizations
- Purchasing or procurement
- Project management Skilled labour supply
3. Can you provide references or examples of your interior design work?
Asking for references or examples of the designer’s past work can give you a sense of their experience and capabilities. This can help you determine if their style and approach align with your project.
There is a difference between hiring an Interior Designer to that of an Interior Decorator – Interior Designers are technically skilled, experienced and formally trained in executing bespoke structural visions. All good Interior Design practices will be able to demonstrate skill, knowledge and experience through a portfolio of work.
If you are presented anything that you don’t understand, technical drawings for example, ask the designer to explain these to you. This will provide you with an even better understanding of both the designers technical knowledge and experience. It’s best to view their portfolio to get a clearer understanding of design styles and completed projects they’ve done in the past.
4. What is your interior designing process for working with clients?
It’s important to understand the designer’s process for working with clients, including how they gather information about your project, how they present design concepts, and how they handle revisions and changes. Every interior design studio will have their own processes and structure and will be able to explain this in advance, clearly and concisely. Interior design is a process and takes time, anyone promising short timescales for deliveries should be approached with caution. It’s likely that the work produced will not be thorough.
Good designers will be working with multiple clients in tandem and producing works catered to each individual client, managed effectively with specific studio time allocated to each client.
Our full interior design experience incorporates four stages; concept, development, implementation & styling – a carefully created structure which allows for client feedback between each stage. Fabric clippings, paint swatches, and fixture samples are all requested from our vendors so that we physically see what is being made or ordered for you before it is processed.
We also use systems like Archicad, Sketchup and Vray. This allows us to draft your space in 3D so we can make sure everything fits proportionally in your space and visually see it all together before we start any kind of ordering or installation. All of these layers help us to eliminate any mistakes and save our clients time and money.
5. How do you handle budgets/how much do you charge for design fees?
Discussing budgets upfront can help ensure that both you and the designer are on the same page. Ask about their approach to managing budgets. The question of charges relates directly to your budget. You should know whether the designer charges a flat rate, works on an hourly rate, or charge a percentage of the project cost.
If you’re happy with fewer consultations and contact the hourly rate can work great. Designers who work on a percentage of the project usually work on big projects that require a lot of back and forth and overseeing of the installation and procurement processes. The budget will also give an insight into the quality of materials the designer will use and the kind of services they might render.
It will give you a clue on the number of workers and professionals the designer might employ to get the work done. This question should lie within your conversation about budget. With Bridan we work with a percentage of the total cost of the project. We also give free consultation.
6. What is your project management style?
Project management is vital in any major home build or renovation project, especially when it’s your office or home. Learn about an interior designer’s communication style and their general timeline to avoid potential confusion and anxiety. Additionally, ask if the project management style is flexible to meet your expectations.
With Bridan we carry the clients along in their plans. The client is aware of the progress made at every stage, starting from the procurement of the decorative materials to the finishing touches made on the design. The client may be allowed to make changes along the line and make corrections if need be.
We have also handled clients who prefer to be left out of the whole process. After the design concept is presented, the buying of materials, selection of paint colors, choice of furniture, and hiring of workers are left to the designer. We manage the process from the design phase, through the procurement phase in which we place and manage orders, schedule and warehouse deliveries, and manage contractors.
7. Can you provide a detailed sample contract or agreement?
It’s important to have a detailed contract or agreement in place to clearly outline the expectations, responsibilities, and terms of the project. Make sure to review the contract carefully and ask any questions you may have. Every designer should have a blank agreement to share, showing their process, the business model, and the particulars of working together.
8. How do you handle project changes and revisions?
Changes and revisions are common in any design project. Ask the designer about their process for handling changes and revisions, and how they communicate with clients throughout the process. This question for your interior designer will help you get a fair idea of the problem-solving approach he or she has. Let’s face it, getting a home designed to perfection comes with its own set of unprecedented challenges. You need to be sure your designer has prior experience of handling them, no matter how they arise.
9. Do you have a team or do you work independently?
Some interior designers work independently but at Bridan we have a team of designers, architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and contractors. It’s important to understand the structure of the designer’s business and how they will be working on your project.
If you’ll be working with a team, ask to know more about the backgrounds of everyone involved. Again, it’s imperative that everyone understands your design style AND your communication style. At Bridan, we utilize design teams which consist of a Senior Interior Designer and Senior Contractor who touch every project. They meet with every client. As the project moves forward, they review all design concepts and attend walkthroughs. They’ll be there to oversee all aspects of your design.
10. How long will the project take to complete?
Project timelines are extremely important. Make you know how long they expect each phase to take. You should also ask how much time the designer can commit to the project and how regularly they would like to meet. If you want to receive daily updates, find out if the designer has the bandwidth to deliver them.
How involved do we need to be to see the vision through? How long does the process take from concept to competition? Each project will vary based on the individual scope of work. Many folks assume that planning for a project only takes one to two weeks but the reality is that designing, even for a small room, can take over six weeks depending on what a client wants or needs.
Designers need time to gather information from people and get an idea for a space. If you’re not familiar with interior design yourself, then it might be difficult to know how long of a timeline is typical for your project. This is essential so you’re not rushing your designer, and so your designer knows what you expect from them.
Want expert advice on your space, straight from an interior designer? Book a free consultation to work with a design pro one-on-one.
Want to learn more about interior design? Check out our blog!
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