How to Work Remotely With an Interior Designer or Stylist
Want to redesign your home without leaving the house? The process is surprisingly simple...
Amanda Pollard
4 May 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If your home needs a makeover, but you’re not able to meet an interior designer or stylist in person, you’ll be pleased to hear many companies offer a virtual service. Of course, there are a number of different services that interior designers offer and not all of these can be carried out online – but here, three professionals on Houzz give us a snapshot of what’s a available and share tips on how you can make a remote design service work for you.
Professional advice from: Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors; Sai Siddique of Sai Interiors; Jane Cooper of Dressed2Sell
Professional advice from: Sacha Berger of Honey Bee Interiors; Sai Siddique of Sai Interiors; Jane Cooper of Dressed2Sell
Collate ideas
The process of hiring a professional remotely will begin with an initial consultation, but before this, it’s a good idea to share information with your designer. “It’s always helpful if a client has a Houzz Ideabook to show us the types of styles they like,” Sacha Berger says. “I often send my Ideabooks through to them before we meet, as well.”
“A brief is key,” Sai Siddique says. “Write a list of what you’re looking to achieve with the space, the functionality you’d like for the room, and how it will be used.” She recommends sending a video and photos before the initial consultation as well, so the designer has a clear idea of the space beforehand.
“It’s also useful to send pictures of other rooms in your home that you like,” she adds. “This ensures we know what you like and can tie in the new room without going off-piste. If you’re keeping key pieces, such as the sofa, send photos over so you can make sure it all goes together.
“Look for ideas online and save them to a Houzz Ideabook,” Sai continues. “It’s useful to write what you like about that image in the caption box below. For example, you could highlight the light fitting or sideboard – then when the designer taps into the shared document, they can see what it is you like.”
The process of hiring a professional remotely will begin with an initial consultation, but before this, it’s a good idea to share information with your designer. “It’s always helpful if a client has a Houzz Ideabook to show us the types of styles they like,” Sacha Berger says. “I often send my Ideabooks through to them before we meet, as well.”
“A brief is key,” Sai Siddique says. “Write a list of what you’re looking to achieve with the space, the functionality you’d like for the room, and how it will be used.” She recommends sending a video and photos before the initial consultation as well, so the designer has a clear idea of the space beforehand.
“It’s also useful to send pictures of other rooms in your home that you like,” she adds. “This ensures we know what you like and can tie in the new room without going off-piste. If you’re keeping key pieces, such as the sofa, send photos over so you can make sure it all goes together.
“Look for ideas online and save them to a Houzz Ideabook,” Sai continues. “It’s useful to write what you like about that image in the caption box below. For example, you could highlight the light fitting or sideboard – then when the designer taps into the shared document, they can see what it is you like.”
Jane Cooper, who styles properties for both sellers and general homeowners, suggests getting an image of every room. “Try to photograph each room from as many angles as possible,” she says. “Or video it and send it over via an online platform such as WhatsApp. That will give the designer enough information to see what the place is like. Try to declutter as much as possible before you even start the process.”
Get talking
If you don’t have the opportunity to meet your designer face-to-face, there are plenty of ways to do it digitally. Sacha uses Zoom. “We can walk through each room and discuss what the client wants to achieve, which pieces of furniture they’re keeping and what there is to source.”
“I’d also give my initial thoughts on how to improve the layout or what to bring in to finish off the room,” she adds.
Sai says, “We can either do a video call with WhatsApp or a phone call. Video is good, as you can pan around the whole room. You can also see the lighting on a video, and work out whether it’s a bright or dark room.”
If you don’t have the opportunity to meet your designer face-to-face, there are plenty of ways to do it digitally. Sacha uses Zoom. “We can walk through each room and discuss what the client wants to achieve, which pieces of furniture they’re keeping and what there is to source.”
“I’d also give my initial thoughts on how to improve the layout or what to bring in to finish off the room,” she adds.
Sai says, “We can either do a video call with WhatsApp or a phone call. Video is good, as you can pan around the whole room. You can also see the lighting on a video, and work out whether it’s a bright or dark room.”
“We often do this initial consultation on Zoom,” Jane says. “We find out about people’s lifestyles – whether they’re a family, need to work from home, or want to use their bedroom for other purposes.
“If we’re styling for someone who’s staying put, we focus very much on their particular style and tastes, but when we’re styling their home to sell it, we’re much more dictatorial,” she laughs. “The target audience is probably them 10 years ago when they bought the property, so once we’ve established that, we know what we need to do to style it.”
Take a look around this room, which was designed remotely.
“If we’re styling for someone who’s staying put, we focus very much on their particular style and tastes, but when we’re styling their home to sell it, we’re much more dictatorial,” she laughs. “The target audience is probably them 10 years ago when they bought the property, so once we’ve established that, we know what we need to do to style it.”
Take a look around this room, which was designed remotely.
Measure up
“It’s useful if the client has a floorplan of their property,” Jane says. “If not, they can take measurements of the key rooms.”
“Just a simple, rough drawing of the room is fine, including measurements for alcoves, radiators, fireplaces and ceiling height,” Sacha says. “I show clients examples of how previous ones have been done as a guide. They can also take photos of the relevant walls that match the plan, and pictures of the whole room.”
“Homeowners can draw out the floorplan quite crudely, and from that it’s possible to create a 3D visual,” Sai says. “This allows the designer to show the client what they can have in each room.”
Keen to start the conversation? Find interior designers in your area on Houzz.
“It’s useful if the client has a floorplan of their property,” Jane says. “If not, they can take measurements of the key rooms.”
“Just a simple, rough drawing of the room is fine, including measurements for alcoves, radiators, fireplaces and ceiling height,” Sacha says. “I show clients examples of how previous ones have been done as a guide. They can also take photos of the relevant walls that match the plan, and pictures of the whole room.”
“Homeowners can draw out the floorplan quite crudely, and from that it’s possible to create a 3D visual,” Sai says. “This allows the designer to show the client what they can have in each room.”
Keen to start the conversation? Find interior designers in your area on Houzz.
Consider your options
With the measurements, photos, videos and information from the consultation, a designer can formulate a plan for your home.
“Moodboards, created for each room, will give an idea of colours, styles, and the elements that are required in that room,” Sai says. “I tend to do two moodboards per room – one is designed around the client’s own ideas, and the other is slightly out of the box to show them different options.”
As well as a moodboard, floorplans and 3D visuals, your designer will suggest products to purchase. “A digital document will have options for all the relevant pieces, as well as artwork and wall colours if needed,” Sacha explains. “This will include photos, links and sizes. Then the clients can arrange another video or phone call to go over the scheme and talk through the options.”
With the measurements, photos, videos and information from the consultation, a designer can formulate a plan for your home.
“Moodboards, created for each room, will give an idea of colours, styles, and the elements that are required in that room,” Sai says. “I tend to do two moodboards per room – one is designed around the client’s own ideas, and the other is slightly out of the box to show them different options.”
As well as a moodboard, floorplans and 3D visuals, your designer will suggest products to purchase. “A digital document will have options for all the relevant pieces, as well as artwork and wall colours if needed,” Sacha explains. “This will include photos, links and sizes. Then the clients can arrange another video or phone call to go over the scheme and talk through the options.”
Go shopping
Once your designer has put together a list of options for your space, it’s time to arrange another meeting to source the items you need for your project. “Most items will be available online, although I’d recommend waiting to visit stores for large pieces such as sofas,” Sacha advises.
The purchase stage is where the value of hiring a professional really pays off, as the designer will pass on their trade discounts to the client. “By the time a client has bought everything, they’ve usually saved the fee they paid for the service,” Sai says.
So how does this part work? “The video meeting involves live sourcing as we chat,” Sai explains. “We can send links via email or WhatsApp and order the products while we’re online. It’s a really nice way to work, and quite effective. We’re both looking at things at the same time and working together.”
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.
Once your designer has put together a list of options for your space, it’s time to arrange another meeting to source the items you need for your project. “Most items will be available online, although I’d recommend waiting to visit stores for large pieces such as sofas,” Sacha advises.
The purchase stage is where the value of hiring a professional really pays off, as the designer will pass on their trade discounts to the client. “By the time a client has bought everything, they’ve usually saved the fee they paid for the service,” Sai says.
So how does this part work? “The video meeting involves live sourcing as we chat,” Sai explains. “We can send links via email or WhatsApp and order the products while we’re online. It’s a really nice way to work, and quite effective. We’re both looking at things at the same time and working together.”
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.
Take a closer look
For some surfaces and textiles, you’ll probably want to see how they look and feel up close. The designer will contact the suppliers and get samples sent through the post.
“I’ll ask for a selection of fabrics or surfaces that are similar to what the client is looking for,” Sai says. “For colours, the client can order the paint samples and try them out on the walls.”
Tell us…
Have you used a remote design service to revamp your home, or are you thinking of using one? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section.
For some surfaces and textiles, you’ll probably want to see how they look and feel up close. The designer will contact the suppliers and get samples sent through the post.
“I’ll ask for a selection of fabrics or surfaces that are similar to what the client is looking for,” Sai says. “For colours, the client can order the paint samples and try them out on the walls.”
Tell us…
Have you used a remote design service to revamp your home, or are you thinking of using one? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section.
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hi , Could i ask please how do you pass your trade discounts as i understand you get a discount if you buy goods yourself( as an interior designer) , but if client will only gets a shopping list , how does the client gets discount? thanks
Hi, I cant speak on behalf of other designers as I presume everyone works differently, but I share my discounts 50/50. thanks
Love that painting