Top Ten Questions To Ask Your Interior Designer BEFORE Hiring Them. #10 is the BEST!

A designer is a helpful tool to help you plan and decorate your space.

A designer can also save you a ton of money if you hire the right person.

See below the Top 10 Questions You Should Ask to Avert Disaster.

Prospective clients looking to hire me ask me many questions during the interview process but there are some key questions that are almost never asked. Here are some tips from my end so you can save yourself some time, money and aggravation.

First let me start with a scenario that I have experienced a few times:

Client: Hello? Is this Jennifer Scully Designs?
Me: Yes. How can I help you?
Client: I want to do some construction and decorate my living room. How much will that cost?
Me: Well, I would have to see your space and get a lot more information before I can help you with a budget.
Client: How much do you charge for something like that?
Me: Gosh, I'm sorry but I don't know the scope of the project just yet.
Client: I need to know if I can afford a designer and you can't tell me how much you charge for some construction and a living room? Where did you go to school?
Me: I'm so sorry but if you can let me know a bit more about your project then I would be more than happy to help you in any way I can. I am very efficient, affordable, freindly, professional and you can get my discoun...
Client:...If you can't tell me how much then.,,Thank you very much. Goodbye.

"Buying" a designer is not like buying a toaster that you can shop out on Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart's websites. When you are dealing with a creative person, you truly do get what you pay for.

You cannot expect the same product, level of quality, service or talent from designer to designer. Talent is the key here. A designer is an artist, a therapist, a space planner, an architect, a solutions and logistics expert, a marriage counselor, a color and fabric expert and so much more.

Designers also work in all different ways. Some designers sign long-term contracts, some charge commissions on items, even if you buy them yourself. Some charge full retail and some offer you their discount. So, the price per hour or price per job really can be quite irrelevant.

Here are the REAL questions you should ask:


1. What is your hourly rate?
2. Do you charge commission if I purchase something myself?
3. Do you sign contracts and if so, what is the term/length?
4. Do you offer discounts on items purchased directly through manufacturers?
5. Do I have to purchase everything through you or do you also recommend items from other resources?
6. Can I work with my own contractor or do I have to use yours?
7. Can I purchase things on my own?
8. Do I have input into the design process?
9. Do you offer choices or just one firm design plan?
10. DO I LIKE YOU?

An interior designer will be in your home, will pet your dog, will be meeting with you and shopping with you for a while. Would you want to spend the day shopping with someone you don't like? Would you invite someone over several times if you aren't comfortable with them?

Go with your gut. Ask the right questions. Any other questions for me, please feel free to ask.
jenn@jenniferscullydesigns.com
www.jenniferscullydesigns.com
www.discountdesignerfurnishings.com

Choosing The Perfect Kitchen Paint Color

In order to avoid coming home from the paint store with 900 paper swatches that you might tape to the wall or buying 79 little sample jars and painting little squares all over the place, you must first limit your choices.

If you have an existing kitchen, take a look at your countertop.

If you have a granite or marble countertop, chances are there are a few colors streaming through it. The best to look for painting any sheetrock portions of the kitchen is to pick your favorite color out of that stone countertop and paint your walls that color. That way you are sure to love it and you can be certain that it blends well with your color scheme.

If you have a solid colored countertop, take a look at your backsplash, your cabinet color, your floor color or even something like your favorite dish towel or serving platter. Take cues from what you already have in your space and there you will find the perfect paint color.

If you are putting in a new kitchen, always start with the floor.

Choose the perfect floor. Is it wood? Is it tile? Is it vinyl? Make your selection and then take a sample of your flooring to the cabinet showroom.

Once your cabinet finish is selected, bring your floor sample and your cabinet sample to the stoneyard to select your countertop material.

Now that you've got a gorgeous counter, bring your floor, cabinet and counter samples to the tile store and pick out the perfect backsplash that ties everything together.

Bring a paint deck with you to the tile store, so now you can see your floor, cabinets, counters, backsplash and paint colors all in one shot.

And if your budget is running low, don't discount washable vinyl wallpaper as a backsplash. It cleans beautifully and can look fantastic!

Colors and textures in a kitchen aren’t a mystery. What pulls it all together is not magic, but really thoughtful choices and the ability to see everything together before it’s installed or even ordered.

I am constantly called in to help decorate after the renovations have taken place and mistakes have been made. I much prefer when my clients have me come in from the beginning so we can avert disaster.

Did you know that hiring a designer who works the way I do costs less than if you buy everything on your own?

I hope these tips can help take the guesswork out of choosing the perfect color for your kitchen. As always, I'm here for advice or whatever you need. Feel free to reach out to a professional if you're stuck or if you want to take advantage of serious discounts.

Feel free to contact me: jenn@jenniferscullydesigns.com
www.jenniferscullydesigns.com
www.discountdesignerfurnishings.com