Hiring a Designer

Hello friends,I would like to talk candidly with you about hiring a designer. I get asked a lot of questions about the process so I thought I would share my answers with you today.Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to work with several clients on their renovations and design projects. We have had so much fun and created beautiful rooms together! Clients are happy and that makes me super happy! I love working with clients and making their dreams come true. This is the one thing that I could do all day and never tire of it :)For most of the clients that I encounter, working with a designer is a new concept. It can be overwhelming and even a little intimidating. There is just so much to think about and Heaven only knows where to start, right?Finding the RIGHT designer can be really tricky; so it's best to take your time and do some research. Finding the RIGHT designer is imperative to the success of the project. It's important that you spend the time and money to hire the one that's right for you and your project.Ask ten designers how to do something and you will get ten different answers! When hiring a designer, be sure to check out their website, portfolio photos, and references. Be sure to pay special attention to their design aesthetic too. Does it speak to you personally and make you smile? Do you instantly feel a connection to their work? Do you feel like they "get" you just by looking into one of the rooms they have designed? If not…they are probably not for you. You should feel an instant connection to your designer through their work and in person.

Kitchen by Kim Hoegger Home

Every designer will do things differently; some charge for initial design consults and some don't. Some designers charge by the hour and some charge a fee based on the square footage of a project. And some, like me, determine the method by which they will charge after the initial consult during which they have determined the scope of the work. During a phone conversation, it may seem to me that you need full service design for which I would charge a flat fee based on square footage but once I have been in your space, you may very well be a candidate for an hourly design fee or vice versa. Give the designer the benefit of the doubt when it comes to determining how to charge. They know their business and are familiar with what it will take to do the work for you. TRUST your designer. If you can't trust your designer to take care of you and spend your money wisely then you haven't hired the right designer. TRUST in your designer and in the decisions that they make; this is a crucial part of the process. Without TRUST, the process doesn't work and it can miserable for everyone involved.In my opinion, meeting with a designer personally prior to hiring them is a must. You need to spend some time with the designer and get to know each other. The designer should be a good listener and be able to interpret your ideas. The money invested in an initial consult to determine if the designer is a good fit for you and your project will far outweigh the cost of the consult should you hire the wrong designer. Spend the money on the consult and avoid hiring the wrong designer and losing money down the road. I have heard nightmare stories about hiring the wrong designer and having terrible things happen - it's just like hiring the right hair stylist …do some research, hire the right designer.

Guest Bedroom by Kim Hoegger Home

Designers are artists in their own right. We are creative beings. We can visualize a space immediately upon entering it. We know instantly what the color palette should be and how to pull it together. We know precisely the scale and style that furniture should be and how to place it. It's what we do.It's why clients come to us for assistance.Hours of thought and research go into a drawing of a space before the pencil ever hits the paper and more times than not, many, many drafts of a plan are done before the right one is achieved. Same goes for fabric…hours can be spent flipping through fabric samples before the right one is found. I know that I personally spent almost a year scouring granite houses to find just the right one for my lake house…and it was worth the hunt!! I absolutely love it! In fact, that granite gets more hits and comments in my Houzz portfolio than any other product in any other project! Good design takes time and talent and that is what you are paying for when you hire a designer. Respect the process…all good things take time; and in design…time is crucial to the success of the project. Hiring a designer is like hiring the right hair stylist or attorney...worth every penny. HIRE the RIGHT designer!TRUST your designer!RESPECT the process!ENJOY the process! Have a great Thursday!! God Bless,Kim