Renovating
Here’s What it’s Really Like to Work With an Interior Designer
Three homeowners share their experiences of hiring and working with an interiors professional
Are you wondering whether you should use an interior designer for your next home project? To help you decide between going it alone or hiring a professional, we’ve asked three separate homeowners to tell us what the process was like for them – and to share any tips they learned from the experience.
Yolisa Phahle had been renting out her house for 15 years while in South Africa and was planning to move back with her family. She got in touch with Celine Erlam and her team at Indie & Co to help her update her home (not pictured).
“I knew the look and feel I was after, but I chose to use a designer after I saw some of her work online,” she explains. “While each home looked different and had obviously been created to suit the owner, they all looked inviting and incredibly well designed.”
“I knew the look and feel I was after, but I chose to use a designer after I saw some of her work online,” she explains. “While each home looked different and had obviously been created to suit the owner, they all looked inviting and incredibly well designed.”
Sarah Savitt, who worked with Mel Massey and her partner, interiors consultant Trish Scorgie, decided to hire them to ensure a quick result when renovating her home (not pictured).
“My partner and I bought a house together when I was three months’ pregnant, so we had a tight deadline to get it into shape before the baby arrived,” she says. “We were also moving from a one-bedroom flat into a three-bed house, so we had hardly any furniture, which made us feel a bit overwhelmed.
“After spending a whole afternoon trying and failing to make one decision (about a sofa), we decided to hire an interior designer,” she says.
“My partner and I bought a house together when I was three months’ pregnant, so we had a tight deadline to get it into shape before the baby arrived,” she says. “We were also moving from a one-bedroom flat into a three-bed house, so we had hardly any furniture, which made us feel a bit overwhelmed.
“After spending a whole afternoon trying and failing to make one decision (about a sofa), we decided to hire an interior designer,” she says.
Was there anything they did that you hadn’t expected?
All three homeowners were surprised by the amount of project management the interior designers could offer. “The team did so much more than we expected,” Sarah says. “They suggested so many great local contractors, and helped us be realistic about timelines.”
“Celine and the team worked with the builder I had and, as I was living in South Africa and not on-site, they did an amazing project management job,” Yolisa says.
“I didn’t realise quite how much of the project management Sacha would do,” says Lisa, who wishes she’d made more use of this at the beginning. “I wanted to do a lot of stuff myself, but, towards the end, I asked Sacha to do more” she says. “I underestimated how difficult her job is. In retrospect, I would have asked her to do it all.”
Find out more surprising ways an interior designer could help you.
All three homeowners were surprised by the amount of project management the interior designers could offer. “The team did so much more than we expected,” Sarah says. “They suggested so many great local contractors, and helped us be realistic about timelines.”
“Celine and the team worked with the builder I had and, as I was living in South Africa and not on-site, they did an amazing project management job,” Yolisa says.
“I didn’t realise quite how much of the project management Sacha would do,” says Lisa, who wishes she’d made more use of this at the beginning. “I wanted to do a lot of stuff myself, but, towards the end, I asked Sacha to do more” she says. “I underestimated how difficult her job is. In retrospect, I would have asked her to do it all.”
Find out more surprising ways an interior designer could help you.
Did they give you any ideas you hadn’t considered?
“Too many to list,” Sarah laughs. “My partner and I are pretty clueless about interior design, so almost everything has been Mel and Trish’s idea. They’ve also been very alive to what having a small child in the house means for design – from fabric that won’t show stains to round edges on our coffee table for when our daughter starts walking.”
Lisa explains how the careful curation of her ideas was invaluable. “I like too many things, so I had snippets of ideas,” she says. “Sacha was able to bring some of that together and tell me what wouldn’t work in the space. I thought I’d know from the get-go how it would look, but in fact it’s more of a process where you’re working together with the designer.”
“The best thing is that the team presented me with design features and lighting that I hadn’t come across,” Yolisa says. “I’ve always painted my homes white, but they showed me how to play with different shades of white and when to use colour, which I was scared to do.”
“Too many to list,” Sarah laughs. “My partner and I are pretty clueless about interior design, so almost everything has been Mel and Trish’s idea. They’ve also been very alive to what having a small child in the house means for design – from fabric that won’t show stains to round edges on our coffee table for when our daughter starts walking.”
Lisa explains how the careful curation of her ideas was invaluable. “I like too many things, so I had snippets of ideas,” she says. “Sacha was able to bring some of that together and tell me what wouldn’t work in the space. I thought I’d know from the get-go how it would look, but in fact it’s more of a process where you’re working together with the designer.”
“The best thing is that the team presented me with design features and lighting that I hadn’t come across,” Yolisa says. “I’ve always painted my homes white, but they showed me how to play with different shades of white and when to use colour, which I was scared to do.”
What was the most challenging aspect of your project?
“I think it was FOMO [fear of missing out],” Lisa jokes. “You start looking at images and you want everything, but it doesn’t all work with the scheme.”
For Yolisa, living so far away was a challenge. “Spending money when you’re not there to see what you’re buying is a bit stressful,” she says. “The team understood this really well and, once I knew I could trust them to deliver on my vision, it became exciting and a lot of fun.”
Sarah’s new baby was a big aspect in her project. “We started when I was pregnant and have continued working on the house after the birth of our daughter, so at first there were tight deadlines to make sure it was functional,” she says.
“I think it was FOMO [fear of missing out],” Lisa jokes. “You start looking at images and you want everything, but it doesn’t all work with the scheme.”
For Yolisa, living so far away was a challenge. “Spending money when you’re not there to see what you’re buying is a bit stressful,” she says. “The team understood this really well and, once I knew I could trust them to deliver on my vision, it became exciting and a lot of fun.”
Sarah’s new baby was a big aspect in her project. “We started when I was pregnant and have continued working on the house after the birth of our daughter, so at first there were tight deadlines to make sure it was functional,” she says.
What would you do differently next time?
As well as tapping into the interior designer’s project management skills more, Lisa would perhaps rein in her ideas a little next time. “I put all kinds of stuff in my ideabooks,” she says. “I would really edit my own moodboard, think of themes, and centre myself, as this would really help the process.”
“We’ve found that buying things online can be tricky,” Sarah says. “We’ve sent quite a few things back after liking them on screen, but not in person. But having a small baby and the lack of showrooms for many companies have made this hard to avoid.”
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
As well as tapping into the interior designer’s project management skills more, Lisa would perhaps rein in her ideas a little next time. “I put all kinds of stuff in my ideabooks,” she says. “I would really edit my own moodboard, think of themes, and centre myself, as this would really help the process.”
“We’ve found that buying things online can be tricky,” Sarah says. “We’ve sent quite a few things back after liking them on screen, but not in person. But having a small baby and the lack of showrooms for many companies have made this hard to avoid.”
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
Was there anything you particularly enjoyed about working with an interior designer?
All three homeowners liked the process of collaborating with a professional. “I loved being creative with another person and bouncing ideas off her,” Lisa says. “I had a fear of intimidation and thought I’d annoy an interior designer, but she never seemed to get impatient with me. She was always available and told me why things would and wouldn’t work. I thought that was incredibly valuable.”
“I liked sitting down and being presented with ideas, discussing options, and getting the benefit of professionals who have a network of great suppliers and know what works from past experience,” Yolisa adds.
“In addition to feeling as if our house is much, much more stylish and functional than it would have been left to our own devices, the designers so obviously love what they do, which makes them a pleasure to be around,” Sarah enthuses.
All three homeowners liked the process of collaborating with a professional. “I loved being creative with another person and bouncing ideas off her,” Lisa says. “I had a fear of intimidation and thought I’d annoy an interior designer, but she never seemed to get impatient with me. She was always available and told me why things would and wouldn’t work. I thought that was incredibly valuable.”
“I liked sitting down and being presented with ideas, discussing options, and getting the benefit of professionals who have a network of great suppliers and know what works from past experience,” Yolisa adds.
“In addition to feeling as if our house is much, much more stylish and functional than it would have been left to our own devices, the designers so obviously love what they do, which makes them a pleasure to be around,” Sarah enthuses.
What advice would you give to other people thinking of hiring and working with an interior designer?
Yolisa recommends the process she took, which was searching on Houzz for designers in her area. “I was really inspired by what I saw and arranged to meet Celine,” she explains. “I think the first meeting is very important to get a clear idea of how the process will work, and how and what you’ll be charged for. It’s also a good idea to get references if possible.
“Be clear about your budget and your vision,” she continues. “Then be guided by your intuition – if it doesn’t feel right, look for someone else, as things can get stressful and your designer is someone you’ll need to trust completely at times. Contracts are also important, as they will clearly state what work is being done and ensure everyone’s on the same page.”
“The biggest advice I would give is to hire someone who has a look that resonates with you,” Lisa says. “You also need to find someone you have a rapport with – someone you can call at all times of the day, who is approachable, who gets you, and that hopefully likes you. It’s your home, your money – you don’t need someone who makes you feel as if you’re not part of it.”
“Your interior designer doesn’t have to share your taste exactly,” Sarah adds, “but you need to be sure they’ll listen to you and be open-minded, flexible and creative.”
Tell us…
Are you planning to work with an interior designer? Or have you used one in the past? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
Yolisa recommends the process she took, which was searching on Houzz for designers in her area. “I was really inspired by what I saw and arranged to meet Celine,” she explains. “I think the first meeting is very important to get a clear idea of how the process will work, and how and what you’ll be charged for. It’s also a good idea to get references if possible.
“Be clear about your budget and your vision,” she continues. “Then be guided by your intuition – if it doesn’t feel right, look for someone else, as things can get stressful and your designer is someone you’ll need to trust completely at times. Contracts are also important, as they will clearly state what work is being done and ensure everyone’s on the same page.”
“The biggest advice I would give is to hire someone who has a look that resonates with you,” Lisa says. “You also need to find someone you have a rapport with – someone you can call at all times of the day, who is approachable, who gets you, and that hopefully likes you. It’s your home, your money – you don’t need someone who makes you feel as if you’re not part of it.”
“Your interior designer doesn’t have to share your taste exactly,” Sarah adds, “but you need to be sure they’ll listen to you and be open-minded, flexible and creative.”
Tell us…
Are you planning to work with an interior designer? Or have you used one in the past? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
It was pure indecision that prompted Lisa D’Aguiar to ask Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors to help her design her living room (not pictured).
“I was really overwhelmed. I love a lot of things, but if you put them together in one room, it would look like a hot mess,” she laughs. “I wanted to hire a professional who would help me structure my ideas. I also needed someone objective who wouldn’t be insulted if I didn’t like their choice.”