Your Scottsdale Home: How Do Interior Designers Work?

-Your Scottsdale Home: How Does the Interior Design Process Work?-

In a previous post, I discussed the difference between an interior designer and a decorator. As with the confusion that comes with those two terms, so does understanding how designers work and the bigger issue of how we charge for our services. In this first post of two, I am going to go over how designers work and the interior design process,  as well as the benefits of working with a designer. In my next post, I will cover how designers charge for their services.

Exactly what we do and how we charge is directly related to what your project requires and can vary from a simple consultation to full- blown project management. For instance, you know you want a look or an effect in your Scottsdale area home, but haven’t a clue as to how to approach the task. An interior designer’s training, along with innate talent, gives him or her the tools to understand your vision and work their magic. Simply stated, we can turn your vision into a beautiful, comfortable interior. We are your eyes, your ears and pocketbook into the design world. We have the sources, opportunities and experience to turn concept into reality

How Designers Work

In many ways, designers function as guidance counselors, so in-depth insight into your world is critical. For a designer to truly understand your vision, it is key to unearth everything you have to share about your lifestyle, likes, dislikes and special needs. Our job is to take all of that information and complete the space to reflect your taste accordingly. If we are doing our job correctly…we HEAR what you like, FEEL how you live and UNDERSTAND how you function in your home and  from there use our expertise to create the end result.

If we are doing our job correctly…we HEAR what you like, FEEL how you live and UNDERSTAND how you function in your home and from there use our expertise to create the end result.

When you look at an empty room, it’s most likely what you see; an empty room. When a designer looks at an empty room, he or she sees the space finished down to the last detail. Seeing the big picture is what we are all about, but that picture needs to be communicated by you. To truly create YOUR environment, we need much more information about you before we can make realistic suggestions, versus just throwing out ad hoc ideas.

Steps in the Interior Design Process

• The part or process during which we gather the information about your project is called Programming and is the starting point for beginning a project. Here is where we find out all about you, how you live, and so on.
• Once we have all the details needed to proceed, we come up with a Schematic Design where we share preliminary ideas and sketches, all based on your input from the programming phase.
• From there we get into Design Development. This is where we flesh out the preliminary ideas and final details are added.
• Documentation happens after designer and client have determined that everything is in place and ready for “action”. The details of this phase are critical and the client should have the opportunity to comb through the documents and approve all aspects.
• Last but not least is Administration, where the designer makes sure that the specifications are followed and that work is completed according to codes, budgets and time constraints.

So,as you may have guessed, as designers we wear many hats. It takes more than creativity and a good eye for color to work through the endless details and nuances of a project. That can mean many hours of “discovery” and learning about you (programming), but in the end, when you have and are enjoying the space you envisioned, it will have been time well spent.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER 

•     Discover, define and execute your vision.

•     Expand your own creativity with great style and design ideas.

•     Listen and translate your needs into a beautiful living space.

•     Optimize timing and budget to keep your project on track.

•     Gain style and interior design ideas.

•     Work with a team with access to great resources.

•     Professional project management & design skills.

•     Provide outstanding service that builds trust and a long lasting relationship.

 

More Information: 
Robyn Randall, ASID
Designs by Robyn LLC
Email
Website: www.DesignsByRobyn.com
Twitter: @RobynASID

 

Creative Commons image provided by bdamon