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Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Interior Designer
A skilled interior designer can help bring your decor dreams to life – three experts reveal how to choose the right one
Putting together a room scheme, choosing the right finishes or re-envisioning a space – these are the things that keep us up at night and can put the brakes on even the most exciting of projects. This is where an interior designer comes in; bringing with them a trained eye, design contacts and the potential to turn your vision into reality. But working together on a reno or build is a long and intimate process, so it’s important to choose well.
We’ve asked three design experts where to look for an interior designer, what questions to ask and how to choose the right one.
We’ve asked three design experts where to look for an interior designer, what questions to ask and how to choose the right one.
Image: Ritz & Ghougassian
What’s the difference between an interior designer, decorator or stylist?
Guyler says:
What’s the difference between an interior designer, decorator or stylist?
Guyler says:
- An interior designer: Typically holds a tertiary qualification in design and is trained in spacial awareness, form and function, problem solving and can produce conceptual and working drawings to communicate their proposed ideas.
- Has an understanding of building practices and documentation requirements.
- Is equipped to design every aspect of the interior including custom joinery, lighting and furniture.
- Can manage trades.
- Provides decorating advice and can select and source items.
- An interior decorator: Provides advice on the aesthetics of your home.
- Is skilled in soft furnishings and accessories and will select and source these items for you.
- An interior stylist: Provides a similar service to an interior decorator. This profession also extends to styling spaces for magazine shoots and other media platforms.
“Interior stylists are more focused on the furniture and decorative items to improve a space that may already have good bones,” says Christopher Elliott, principal designer at Christopher Elliott Design.
“Decorators’ services generally extend to include window treatments, paint schemes and decorative lighting. Interior designers encompass all of the above, with a focus on the built environment, including spatial planning, joinery design and architectural materials selection,” Elliott says.
“The service you choose generally comes down to the scope of your project.”
“Decorators’ services generally extend to include window treatments, paint schemes and decorative lighting. Interior designers encompass all of the above, with a focus on the built environment, including spatial planning, joinery design and architectural materials selection,” Elliott says.
“The service you choose generally comes down to the scope of your project.”
Where should I look for an interior designer?
“The best place to find an interior designer is through someone you know who has worked with one in the past. If this is not an option, go online to platforms such as Houzz, which will connect you with interior designers in your area,” advises Guyler.
“Look through magazines and online journals for a designer who complements your style,” says Ghougassian.
Or, find an interior designer via the Design Institute of Australia’s website (the DIA is Australia’s peak body for design professionals), suggests Claire Beale, national president of the DIA. Under the ‘Services’ webpage, go to ‘Find a Designer’ and search your area. “You can also use the website to look at the work of winners and shortlisted designers and design practices in the Australian Interior Design Awards,” she says.
“The best place to find an interior designer is through someone you know who has worked with one in the past. If this is not an option, go online to platforms such as Houzz, which will connect you with interior designers in your area,” advises Guyler.
“Look through magazines and online journals for a designer who complements your style,” says Ghougassian.
Or, find an interior designer via the Design Institute of Australia’s website (the DIA is Australia’s peak body for design professionals), suggests Claire Beale, national president of the DIA. Under the ‘Services’ webpage, go to ‘Find a Designer’ and search your area. “You can also use the website to look at the work of winners and shortlisted designers and design practices in the Australian Interior Design Awards,” she says.
Image: Ritz & Ghougassian
What should I look for on a designer’s website?
Guyler says:
What should I look for on a designer’s website?
Guyler says:
- Look at examples of their work to get a snapshot of their style, and the type and size of projects they take on.
- You can determine a designer’s experience based on the extent of their portfolio.
- The ‘About Us’ page is important – it will give you an insight into the designer’s background, approach, personality and team set-up.
- Ghougassian adds:
- Look for consistency in the standard of work a designer delivers.
How important is it to meet face-to-face?
“Very,” says Ghougassian. “A client-designer relationship is very involved, so it’s important that both parties feel comfortable working together. In my experience, you can get a much better understanding of someone’s expectations in person.”
“Meeting a prospective designer face-to-face will give you a feel for what a partnership between you might look like moving forward,” says Guyler. “It’s also an opportunity to ask important questions and get a feel for the designer’s approach.”
You can also get a good feel about an interior designer with a video call, which are becoming more commonplace and, in many circumstances, are now the norm. Just like design work, more communication is being conducted remotely these days, so if a potential designer suggests a video conference, don’t be deterred.
Browse more beautifully designed living spaces
“Very,” says Ghougassian. “A client-designer relationship is very involved, so it’s important that both parties feel comfortable working together. In my experience, you can get a much better understanding of someone’s expectations in person.”
“Meeting a prospective designer face-to-face will give you a feel for what a partnership between you might look like moving forward,” says Guyler. “It’s also an opportunity to ask important questions and get a feel for the designer’s approach.”
You can also get a good feel about an interior designer with a video call, which are becoming more commonplace and, in many circumstances, are now the norm. Just like design work, more communication is being conducted remotely these days, so if a potential designer suggests a video conference, don’t be deterred.
Browse more beautifully designed living spaces
What questions should I ask at the first meeting?
Beale says:
Beale says:
- Why do you want to be part of this project?
- What are your aspirations for this project?
- Who on your team will be working on this project?
- Has working to a budget ever been a problem for you?
Guyler suggests asking:
- What type of projects does your studio like and take on?
- What is the design process and how will you communicate your proposed ideas to us?
- To what extent will you manage our project, and will this include co-ordination and management of trades on-site?
- Does my budget match my vision? Be open to the designer’s advice here, as your budget may or may not be realistic and could be the reason they don’t take the project on.
- How do you structure your fees? Don’t be afraid to talk money up front – an experienced and professional designer will be able to provide you with an indication of their fees from the outset, subject to firming up the scope of works required.
- What will be the expected timeframe? Be open to guidance here – designers need time to consider your project, produce floor plans, working drawings, elevations, renders and obtain samples required to present their vision to you. Providing your designer with too tight a timeframe will result in fewer choices for you and a less considered concept.
How important is it to ‘click’ with a prospective designer?
“It’s very important to find common ground with your designer – you’ll most likely become friends for life!” says Guyler.
“It’s very important to find common ground with your designer – you’ll most likely become friends for life!” says Guyler.
What’s the deal with designers and trade discounts?
“Designers have access to trade discounts on most of the products they acquire for their projects,” explains Guyler. “All design studios work differently – some will pass these discounts or a percentage of them on to the client, and others will charge full retail price in order to supplement their fee.
“You can ask the designer about this at your initial consultation. As long as you are clear on their fee structure, this shouldn’t be a determining factor. There are greater benefits to working with an interior designer than obtaining a small discount on furniture items,” she says.
“Designers have access to trade discounts on most of the products they acquire for their projects,” explains Guyler. “All design studios work differently – some will pass these discounts or a percentage of them on to the client, and others will charge full retail price in order to supplement their fee.
“You can ask the designer about this at your initial consultation. As long as you are clear on their fee structure, this shouldn’t be a determining factor. There are greater benefits to working with an interior designer than obtaining a small discount on furniture items,” she says.
What qualifications should a designer have?
“Most interior designers will have a tertiary qualification in the discipline of design,” says Guyler. “It’s not compulsory for designers to be part of any association, however it displays a commitment to the industry on a professional level.”
The DIA is one such organisation. “Full members of the DIA are Accredited Designers – these are qualified professional designers with at least five years’ experience with a recognised design individual, firm or business,” explains Beale.
“Most interior designers will have a tertiary qualification in the discipline of design,” says Guyler. “It’s not compulsory for designers to be part of any association, however it displays a commitment to the industry on a professional level.”
The DIA is one such organisation. “Full members of the DIA are Accredited Designers – these are qualified professional designers with at least five years’ experience with a recognised design individual, firm or business,” explains Beale.
Do they need insurance?
“Generally, interior designers are not required to take out any form of public liability insurance, as this is covered by the appointed licensed builder on-site, and all furniture and accessory items provided are covered by the supplier,” says Guyler.
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“Generally, interior designers are not required to take out any form of public liability insurance, as this is covered by the appointed licensed builder on-site, and all furniture and accessory items provided are covered by the supplier,” says Guyler.
Read more renovating stories
How do designers charge?
“Design studios charge in different ways,” says Guyler. For example:
“The reality is, the best interior designers come at a cost, and you need to be prepared for this,” Guyler says. “If your project requires detailed elements such as custom joinery design and furniture design, you can expect to pay your designer anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total project cost.”
“Design studios charge in different ways,” says Guyler. For example:
- Some designers charge by the hour and share a portion of their trade discounts with you on any products they acquire for your project.
- Others won’t charge a fee per se, but will source products for you at their trade discount, and retain the difference between the trade price and retail price. In this case, you should expect to pay full retail price for all products.
- Some designers charge a flat or fixed fee, which is directly attributable to their time to produce the concept design, manage the project through to completion and execute the installation for you.
“The reality is, the best interior designers come at a cost, and you need to be prepared for this,” Guyler says. “If your project requires detailed elements such as custom joinery design and furniture design, you can expect to pay your designer anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total project cost.”
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“You will be spending a significant amount of time together during the course of the renovation or new build, and establishing a trusting relationship will go a long way towards ensuring things run smoothly.”
Jean-Paul Ghougassian, interior designer and co-director at Ritz & Ghougassian, concurs, adding: “It is critical to the success of any project that you find a designer you can relate to and trust, be it from a financial, aspirational or aesthetic perspective.
“Projects can stop pretty quickly if these elements don’t align, which ends up costing time and money.”