Whether you're building a new home or remodeling a single room, a design project involves numerous choices and decisions.  You want someone knowledgeable and experienced to advise you and make everything come out just right.  Someone you can trust to listen to your ideas, understand your needs and help you realize your dreams.  You want a professional.

Professional interior designers can do so much more than recommend furniture, fabric and colors.  They have a creative eye and artistic flair, but that is only the beginning.  In addition to their in-depth knowledge of products, materials and finishes, professional designers have the training and expertise to plan, schedule, execute and manage your project from start to finish.  Designers work closely with many contractor, vendors, and other service providers coordinating and orchestrating the entire design team.  Specification and purchasing services to procure materials, furnishings, accessories and art, some of which are only available to the design trade.

Your role in the design process is vital to success, so take some time to think about what your wants and needs are, for example:

• For whom is the space being planned?
• What activities will take place there?
• How long do you plan to occupy the space?
• When do you want to start work and when to finish?
• What is your budget?
• Are you relocating during the project?
• What image do you want the space to project?
• Do you have existing elements to include in the design?

Working with your designer involves some give and take.  You will share ideas and the designer will contribute insights and advice based on talent, educated knowledge and experience.  Design is an evolutionary process.  A successful outcome is dependent on good design team communication led by the professional designer.

Avoid disappointment using the following guidelines:

• Minimize changes to the final plan.  Each part of the design affects the whole.  Changes or additions may require costly and timely expenses.
• Take notes before meeting with the designer to promote efficient and less costly consultations.
• Stay flexible.  All good design requires maturity of a plan where compromise is present.
• Be upfront with budgetary requirements for items or services and avoid open ended requests.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS