(Article courtesy of FineLiving.com.)
Re-decorating your home can be quite a task. Of course it's fun and exciting, but the task can also seem overwhelming. Many people opt for professional help and hire an interior designer.
Jeanine Clark is an interior designer who works on both residential and corporate spaces. She offers a few tips to help you find the perfect designer for your space.
- Get referrals.
If you have never hired an interior designer before, your first resource should be friends and relatives that have used a designer and been pleased with the results.
- Go to a local showcase house.
Visiting a showcase house near you will give you an idea of local designers' styles.
- Search through a professional organization.
Look in the phone book for organizations such as ASID--the American Society of Interior Designers. These types of resources are particularly helpful if you don't have access to showcase houses.
- Decide how you want to use your space.
Think about how you want to live in a room before you actually interview a designer. If you don't know what you want, she won't be able to help you achieve your goal.
- Interview several designers.
You should interview at least three designers. You may want to talk with more than that if your project is large or complicated.
- Avoid "instant design."
Shy away from anyone who comes into your house and immediately begins designing. A designer's job is to help you after she gets to know you and how you're going to live in the home.
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Resources American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
608 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002-6006
Phone: 202-546-3480
Fax: 202-546-3240
E-mail:
asid@asid.org
Website:
www.asid.org
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