Interior Decorating question?

Question

I have a small, basic 3 bedroom ranch home. It is not fancy, and the bathroom needs repairs. But, I just made the last payment, and it is mine! Now I 'd like to do some things like remodel the kitchen & bath, replace doors & windows, add a laundry rm, etc. the problem is I am lousy with stuff like that. I would like to hire an interior decorator to come in and give ideas & estimates. How do I even go about hiring one? Is there a big fee? Do I go thru them & they do the contracting? My small town doesn't even have one, & I'd have to go outside of the city. Are all of them basically the same, or should they have a certain lisence? Please help me out-and pease no sarcastic answers.

Answer 1

Grats on paying off your house.

If you're going to do structural changes you'll probably need an architect. Anyone you hire is going to be expensive. They have to make a living too.

You can do most of your own research on fixtures, windows and all on the internet. A modest bathroom remodel costs about $5 grand if you don't go uber fancy and a kitchen is about $10-$15 grand.

You can go to "home shows" which are usually held in the spring to get ideas of vendors and what's out there.

For windows you can call the dealers (i.e Pella and Andersen) to come to you and give estimates. You don't want the Pinto of windows because you get what you pay for and windows and doors are important.

If you do hire out to a contractor you make sure they have a license and insurance.

Look at consumer reports for quality items with good ratings.

Good luck. Remember, you don't have to do it all at once. Do what's most important to you first and will add to the comfort of your home. And don't let any "designer" or "interior decorator" force you into anything you absolutely hate because it's the fashion right now. Fashions change and you're the one who's going to have to be looking at it (and paying for it).

Answer 2

Interior decorators are expensive. Why not buy a few home magazines and cut out pictures of room settings you like. Hire builders for the things you cant do and add the finishing touches yourself. That way you will feel as if you have put your own mark on it. If I were you I would get the doors and windows done first, then the bath then last of all the kitchen as it can be messy

Answer 3

1st off Congrats!!!! that's a great accomplishment and you should be very proud. As for hiring and the jobs you're looking to accomplish - and interior designer is someone who you might want to hire HOWEVER ... they should be licensed for 'architectural design' not 'interior' which is decorating....

you need then to do some of your own research about cost and also if what you put into the home you'll get back (should you ever sell) ... you should start in the kitchen if that needs it and then do the bathrooms (or vis-a-verse if the baths' are in dire need of repair)...

Also, as for price some interior decorators do free consults in hopes you'll hire them... you can google or use the yellow pages to find some in your area.

Lastly, watch HGTV!!! they have great ideas and you should have your own before you even hire anyone - this way the home is really yours! you have a whole host of things you want to accomplish in this home - you should list them all and prioritize (ie: do you really need a laundry room?) are doors and windows falling apart?

Answer 4

You're going to have to be very organized about this, and remember this will be very expensive. First, do the things that are necessary, such as the bathroom repairs, and then do the other things. I would not hire a decorator. You don't need one to tell you that your windows need to be replaced. Start by asking people you know for recommendations. You'll need different contractors for different things, and since this is going to take a long time anyway, pick one project and one contractor at a time. Also check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints about anyone you might want to hire, and go to your state's website to check if they are licensed. Learning how to install faucets, change fixtures, fix drywall and things like that are valuable skills that you might want to learn yourself. It saves money and you'll get a lot of pride out of your work. Don't forget to budget. Where I live, new windows for a home cost about $10,000 to start, and our bathroom remodel cost about $4,000, even though we did most of it ourselves. We hire people we know, people we heard about from people we know, and companies who have been in business in our area a long time and have a good reputation. And we do whatever we can ourselves. There are tons of magazines out there with pictures of remodeling ideas so you can get a feel for what you like and what you want to do. In my opinion, quality fixtures and cabinets, beautiful flooring and carpet, and fresh paint and cleanliness are all any home needs.

Answer 5

You can call the local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for a referral to a designer in your area. You can also get free design help for furniture, colors, upholstery, etc. at Thomasville and Ethan Allen furniture stores.

Many interior designers have degrees and education specific to design, but there are many aspects of the business and each one may specialize in a different area. In our practice, we work with the client's budget to design the spaces they desire. Sometimes the client wants to hire their own contractors to construct our designs and others want us to supervise the work and hire the contractors. When we hire the contractors, we ensure that they are licensed, bonded and insured for the protection of our clients. We also do background checks for complaints at the Better Business Bureau and the State Contractor's Licensing Board. So it all depends on what you want to do.

There are also many ways contracts are structured, again depending on the desires and needs of the client. Some designers charge hourly, some charge by the project and still others add a "commission" onto purchased goods. You just have to ask the individual designer what their policies are, but most of us will work with you and your budget according to how you want things to go.

Congratulations on making your last payment, that is a feat that is rarely accomplished today.

Answer 6

You could passably look one up in the yellow pages of your phone book. I'm not sure about all the fees.I'm not sure about the contracting either but I would go the cheapest rout on that. Oh and yes the defiantly should have all there licenses. If it was me I would do a background check (lisences, how well the are known,ect....) be for using them. I hope I have been some help.

Answer 7

It would be a lot cheaper to go to Home Depot and use some online sites to learn about interior decorating. Take your time and search for it you will save a lot of money.

Answer 8

The cheapest way to do this is go to your local Home Improvement store, like Lowes or Home Depot. They can assist you as long as you have a general idea of the feel you want. The only downside to doing this is you have no one to blame but yourself if you don't like it afterwards!