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Hire It Out: Interior Designer

Sometimes an interior designer's just the ticket. A guide to ease the journey

Written by Craig Kellogg • Photographed by Alexandra Rowley

If you're a regular Home reader, you may be thinking, "Interior designer? Why?" After all, each month our editors work to give you the know-how to design and decorate with confidence. But a day may come when scheduling constraints, blocked creativity, or a thorny layout problem makes hiring an interior designer the best option. So here's a go-to guide. First, make sure the scale of the project really warrants an interior designer. If you just want to add a piece or two to a room, many furniture stores have in-house stylists who can advise you. On the other hand, if you're talking demolition, you'll need an architect. Interior designers fall somewhere in between: They create furniture plans, coordinate colors, handle purchasing, and manage the installations through a rolodex of reliable subcontractors. To find a pro, peruse shelter magazines, seek recommendations from folks whose homes you admire, and check the American Society of Interior Designers website's (asid.org) referrals page. Meet at least three candidates who satisfy your style and budget needs, and trust your gut on rapport. "You have to like the person; they have to like you," says Debbie Wiener, of the Washington, D.C.area firm Designing Solutions. "After all, you're hiring a new best friend for the next six monthsand that's assuming it's a short project."

deciphering the contract
Though all general contractors and architects rely on written contracts, not all interior designers do. Our advice? Get a contract and make sure it includes the following clauses:

Design Services Details all meetings that will occur between you and the designer as well as the various plans and sketches that will be drawn up.

Shopping and Purchasing Services Lists an itemized total of all furnishings, merchandise, and materials that the designer will be responsible for picking out and purchasing, pending your final approval of the design plans.

Project Management Specifies which aspects of the project will be overseen by the designer (including scheduling of deliveries) and how often the designer will be on site during installations.

Compensation Breaks down designer fees, including retainers, hourly and/or flat rates, cost-plus, cost-of-construction fees, payment schedule, and any other charges that may be part of the pay structure, like those relating to a breach of contract.