Hiring a designer

8 years ago

What does a good contract look like when hiring a designer on a midrange kitchen/ living room, front entry remodel? How do I make sure I am not paying for ideas I don't like? Is it standard to pay a retainer fee? This is about a 100k project.

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Network Architects

8 years ago

A retainer is for sure standard. In order for a contract to be legal, money or something has to change hands along with the contract. You would be amazed how many people ask for design advice for free or pretty much nothing in our business. Paying for ideas you don't like is a bit harder, but can be controlled. Typically you will provide the designer with a wish list, images and ideas of things you would like. From that info, the designer should to try to accomplish as much of your wants as they can within your constraints. Once you see the drawings, usually you can find a few things you don't like and most of it you will. Those things are usually minor and you adjust them to what you would like and plow ahead. Sometimes, a good idea from your designer may be your favorite part of the design. If it is an hourly contract, make sure you give them as much info as you can on what you really want and like, to reduce their time.

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Comments (6)

oldcarfun
8 years ago
My complaint is that they charge for visiting, landscape designer in my case $150, then chats us up carefully avoiding any specific ideas because they don't want to give advice for free. The only way to proceed is to pay a retainer and sign a contract without having any idea about their ideas or if we are compatable. I feel scammed that they're making their grocery money at $150 an hour several times a week. I certainly understand that they don't want to get taken advantage of or give their advice for free because that's their product. I don't have an answer but I didn't like being on the receiving end of a $150 charge "consultation" fee twice. We went through the process with the first designer, $150 then a retainer with the contract. She didn't do anything for six weeks when her design was supposed to be ready and she didn't cash our retainer check. But we were still out $150 and had to start the prices all over again and the first gal got her grocery money.
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ksgrant . . . . . I was on a very tight budget, but knew I was going to hit a wall and need a designer consult. I had space plan drawings for my kitchen and used the design services (free w/ cabinet purchase, CAD) to complete the space. I also had very specific inspiration photos that reflected the same perspective as the space, i.e. window placement over sink (light), position of appliances, prep sink. I paid close attention to how I intended to use the space, needed prep space for a least three cooks. I read a lot about the "triangle". Mostly I spent a lot of time with the plans and considering materials in relation to the inspiration photos. For instance, I wanted soapstone but it was out of budget and went with honed black granite to get the same look. Another example is that I wanted the kitchen to have some of the same elements as the old one to reflect the period of the house, so I had venting added to cabinet piece in front of the sink. Houzz was not available at the time, I would have posted some plans/materials here for more input and suggestion. Feel free to email me at tirgoddess.com for any other questions, happy to help. More than anything, take your time and do your research.
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Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
i think the best you can do is get referrals from people you know, and have lots of printed out images ready to hand to the designer at the first meeting. its not enough to have them all ready on the tablet, i find, it works better to have each photo printed in color that you can mark up with a pencil... i like THIS i want THAT to be included. whether its indoor or out.

there are designers who are bad, disorganized, lazy, and/or procrastinators, the same as in any other profession. a recommendation from someone you know is the best.
PRO
KHERBOUCHE DESIGNS
8 years ago
i'm against paying for ideas that you don't like,it's not fair at all, actually you buy the service,

a design is like a product that you buy, ,i'm an interior designer, and i can deal with you online as i made with many people and houzzers, you have nothing to loose , try my dealing and pay after you are satisfy..............welcome.
hayleydaniels
8 years ago
Did you hire a designer whose work you like? And one who specializes in the style you want to achieve? That's the first thing I'd do if I was hiring one.
PRO
Commonhouse Design
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Some good suggestions have been made here. To work effectively with your designer, you've got to have a relationship of trust. There's always some amount of risk involved in any business transaction. However, if you do your due diligence at the outset, that risk is greatly reduced. It's worth your while to get references from past clients before hiring a designer. Take a good look at their previous work (online or in person, if possible) to see whether they've produced work that's compatible with your vision. The person you hire should be a good listener who will implement your ideas at the outset, and willing to make changes during the design process. The designer also needs to know that he/she can trust the client. A retainer is standard practice in this industry, and is a sign of a client's commitment to the agreement.

Hiring a designer

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Comments (6)

oldcarfun

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