How to Choose an Interior Designer
Choosing an interior designer is a lot like choosing a doctor or a therapist. There are a ton of qualified professionals available, so how do you choose? It really boils down to who you best fit with.
Does their personality gel with yours? Does their “look” match the desired outcome you want in your home? Do their services cater to the way you would like to work?
I was fortunate enough to join group of bloggers hand selected by Esteem Media and the High Point Market Authority to give our readers an inside look at market, and while we were touring it was so refreshing to connect with a variety of interior designers from around the country. Learning about their business and personal lives was so enlightening! I walked away feeling encouraged and inspired by the diversity of talent that surrounded me for two days. Let’s review who made up this crew.
The Bloggers
Haneen of Haneen’s Haven | Heather of French & French Interiors | Me! | Elizabeth of Superior Construction & Design | Alyssa of Grey Hunt Interiors | Stephanie of Olive and Tate | Laura of Willow Street Interiors | Albie of Albie Knows | Courtney of French Country Cottage | Tamara of Nest By Tamara
Haneen has an artist background and loves bold color! She shows off her playfully colored home so well on Instagram. She’s #funsized like me and the mama of FOUR which I believe gives her the patience of Job. She actually doesn’t offer design services at this time, but just following her own home decorating updates on her blog & Instagram is enough to get you inspired to DIY!
Heather is half of an amazing husband and wife duo that also owns a store in the Sante Fe area. Working with her means that you’ll get the advantage of a male & female perspective, plus to access to her extensive variety of product lines. On the tour they asked a lot of great questions about product lines and especially the performance fabrics Crypton offers.
Elizabeth is both a general contractor AND an interior designer. She partners with homeowners to build and furnish their “forever home”. The quality and classic pieces at Hickory Chair are exactly the type furnishings she sources for her clients.
Alyssa is a young designer in the DC metro area, so the sophisticated, urban styles shown in the Nina Magon for Universal peeked her interest.
Stephanie writes about mom-life hacks and this was her first time at High Point Market! She was able to spot the best finds for busy moms at so many of our tour stops. Stephanie pointed out how useful these stools from Dowel Furniture by Molly Skok could be! Immediately she commented on how the built in handle would make them easy to move around the house.
Laura is a mom and New Englander and she has no time of her own to waste, much less a client’s! She uses a proven 11 step process to efficiently delivered consistently bright, beautiful spaces. Of course, she was instantly drawn to the beautiful showroom of Sarah Richardson for Palliser.
Albie focused almost exclusively on virtual design clients and is an expert in maximizing rental spaces. She can transform an outdoor patio into a magical space, and she’s a pro at making the most out of small square footages. The Spaces collection at Universal and the premium outdoor furniture at Lloyd Flanders are sure to serve her clients well.
Courtney has a very specific French country cottage aesthetic and I love that she is so niche in her offerings. I think every designer aspires to be in demand for a specific look so that every client is the ideal client. Watching her zero in on pieces like this bone inlay bed at Made Goods was a joy!
Tamara is New York City personified and just oozes cosmopolitan vibes, just like a lot of the space we saw at Sonder Living. How chic is this metal chandelier above a perfectly tailored bed?
So how do you choose?
When you are making an investment in your home, you definitely shouldn’t make the choice without much consideration. A lot of designers, including myself, offer a complimentary intro call where you can speak with them and get to know more about how they work. I also encourage potential clients to book a consultation prior to committing to a full-service design project too. All of these designers are incredibly talented but you won’t know the depth of their offerings until you chat with them.
Artwork and story board as seen at Howard Elliott
Ultimately, it comes down personal preference. I’m so grateful that the world-class High Point Market is close to me and I’m able to see the best of the best twice a year. Not only do I get to view the products, I’m able to network with other interior design professionals to learn from them as well.
One thing that I would encourage someone seeking out an interior designer is to interview your potential designers and ask them about their experience attending markets or other peer events. Have they taken any professional development continuing education courses? Do they bring a special perspective because they have a background in another industry? I can attest that those opportunities have made me a better designer in so many ways.
If you have any questions about choosing the right designer for you, let me know!
Thank you to our sponsors!
