By Pierre Jean-Baptiste, ASID
Not every project needs an interior designer. I say that as someone who has spent more than two decades in architectural and interior design. Some rooms come together nicely with a good eye and a free weekend. Others have enough moving parts that guessing gets expensive. Here is my honest take on where that line sits, and what happens once you decide to bring a designer in.
When hiring an interior designer is worth it
It usually makes sense to hire a designer when at least one of these is true for you:
- You are furnishing more than one room and want one person accountable for how it all comes together
- You need someone to handle purchasing, receive and store the pieces, and schedule deliveries
- The project includes a specialty room, such as a home theater or a custom bar
- You want to see floor plans, design boards and, if helpful, 3D renderings before you spend money on furnishings
- You do not have time to manage vendors, contractors and freight
If you are buying one sofa and already know the size, you probably do not need me. If you are coordinating millwork, lighting, AV and seating sightlines for a home theater, hiring an interior designer usually costs less than the change orders that follow from guessing at the details.
When you can do it yourself
Doing it yourself is reasonable when you are decorating a single room with furniture you already own, or when the architecture is finished and you mainly need accessories. It also works if you enjoy researching vendors, can live with delays, and are comfortable writing instructions for a contractor on your own.
Online design services can help in that situation. Just know they are a different thing from full-service design. You receive a plan. You do not get a team that receives your furniture at a warehouse, inspects it, and brings it into your home with white glove delivery and setup.
Designer, decorator or architect?
People sometimes hire a decorator when they need a designer, or an architect when what they really need is furniture. The mismatch tends to show up at installation, when it is hardest to fix.
A decorator typically focuses on furnishings and accessories, without construction documents or major redesign in CAD. An architect deals mainly with the building’s structure and code. A full-service interior designer takes responsibility for furnishings, finishes and installation, and prepares the plans the trades work from.
My studio sits in that last group. We design, purchase, store and install, and we issue a Scope of Work for the trades. We do not replace your architect on structural work unless that is separately scoped. If your project is a furnished room with coordinated finishes, an interior designer is the right hire. If your project involves a load-bearing wall, start with an interior designer or an architect.
Specialty rooms need someone holding every thread
Some of the rooms I enjoy most have several trades working in one space. The Philadelphia Eagles Lower Level Lounge brought together a bar with a fridge, dishwasher, ice maker and wine cooler, an 8-foot pool table, a custom mural, a guest bedroom and a bathroom renovation. Luxe Libations turned a blank wall into a bar with semi-custom cabinetry, a bar sink, maple floating shelves with LED strips and beverage refrigeration.
Each of those rooms has its own constraints. A home theater needs seating sightlines, lighting control, attention to HVAC noise, and equipment placement with installation instructions. A custom bar needs plumbing, millwork and enough clearance for stools. A multi-level home needs finishes that feel consistent as you move from floor to floor. Those details are hard to keep together when you are dealing with each vendor separately. You can see more on our home theater design page.
How to get the most out of our first meeting
With my studio, the first step is an initial design meeting at your home. There is a $99 local trip fee, and it is credited towards your project if you go ahead. I think of it as the easiest way for both of us to see how we would like to work together. I measure the space, review the scope and your constraints, and walk you through what full-service design includes.
To make that meeting count, please have ready:
- Access to the property, or photos of the rooms as they are today
- A list of rooms in order of priority
- Any hard constraints, such as kids, pets, accessibility or working from home
- A budget range for furnishings and for building products like flooring and lighting, even a rough one
- Existing plans or contractor contacts, if remodeling is part of the job
During the survey my team records ceiling heights, window placement, millwork and electrical locations. It helps a great deal when everyone who makes decisions is there, so the style direction and scope do not get reversed a week later.
If you are outside our area or not ready for a visit, you can start with a complimentary 15-minute phone call. That call is a conversation about the project, not an on-site meeting or the full design process.
What happens after you hire
Full-service projects are quoted at the in-person initial design meeting, and the design work is billed hourly. My team then produces floor plans, elevations and design boards, and we present the design to you. That phase typically runs two to four weeks.
Once you approve, we purchase your selections, prepare Scope of Work plans and meet with contractors. I can bring contractors to the project or work with the one you already have. Furnishings come through our warehouse, and a typical project has three to six deliveries, with most pieces assembled and set up in place. I lead the creative direction, and Melanie M. handles day-to-day operations.
We work with homeowners across Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland from our office in McLean.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I should hire an interior designer or just buy furniture?
Hire a designer when you want the plan, the purchasing and the installation handled by one team. Buy furniture yourself when the room is simple and you already know your dimensions.
What does it cost to get started?
There is a $99 local trip fee for the initial design meeting, credited towards your project if you go ahead. If you would rather talk first, the introductory 15-minute phone call is complimentary. Full-service projects are quoted at the in-person initial design meeting. I go into more detail in how much an interior designer costs.
How long does design take after I hire you?
Design typically takes two to four weeks, and larger projects are assessed case by case. After purchasing, most projects arrive from our warehouse in three to six deliveries.
Can I hire you for one specialty room only?
Yes. Home theaters, custom bars and other specialty rooms are a regular part of our work. You can see more examples in our portfolio, including our Custom Home Theater and Luxe Libations.
What if I already have a contractor?
We can provide contractors or work with your existing contractor. Either way, we issue a Scope of Work that ties your finish selections and instructions to the contractor after design approval.
