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What to Look for When Hiring an Interior Designer

One of the most important aspects of turning your house into a home is how you integrate your personality and style into your living space. An interior designer is that key person who not only stylishly adds your personal touches but also ensures your selections work with your home’s blueprints and construction codes. Here is what to look for when you hire an interior designer for your custom home.

A stunning portfolio

If you have any interior designers in mind that you may want to work with, it goes without saying that you should look through their portfolio to see what they’ve done for others. There’s the practical element – does it match the style you’d like in your home? But there’s also an emotional component you should pay attention to – is there some theme or commonality between projects that resonate with you? Do you feel connected to their work? While a good interior designer can put their own preferences aside and work with any style, it is always easier to work with someone who already closely matches what you’re looking for.

If you don’t already have a short list of interior designers that you may want to hire, you can look for one by simply googling “interior designers in Calgary” and contact the ones whose portfolios stand out to you. Viewing the portfolios also gives you the opportunity to hone in on the personal style you’d like to emanate through your home if you’re still unsure about that. Just keep in mind that if you don’t connect with any of the designers’ work, that’s ok – keep looking until you find one that suits you.

The professional association(s) they belong to

Interior designers do more than coordinate colours and pick fabrics – they’re experts at making a space beautiful, safe, and functional. They read blueprints, and consider building codes, inspection regulations, and universal accessibility standards in their designs. To select a designer that considers all facets of interior design, you should find one that is part of a professional association. In Canada, the regulating body is called the Interior Designers of Canada, or the IDC. There are also professional associates by province – in Alberta, an interior designer should be part of Interior Designers of Alberta (IDA). Additionally, you can find a trusted designer through the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). They are professionals that specialize in kitchen, bath, or both kitchen and bath design. This ensures that they follow the highest standards and practices in their industry.

Glowing referrals

The best way to know what you’d get if you hire an interior designer is to see the work first-hand in the home of someone you know. If friends, family, or neighbours had professional design help, they can be invaluable by relaying their experiences. Conversely, if you don’t have someone in your life that has utilized the services of an interior designer, ask the designer for references. A professional will be proud to show off the work they’ve done for a client.

What fees and services are included

Interior design fees can vary depending on their fee structure and the services they offer. For fee structure, some charge per hour, some per project, while others may do a combination where you pay hourly for the initial consultation but later switch to a project rate. With that in mind, it’s also good to ask if they have different design packages. A full-service designer may go on shopping trips with clients, meet with contractors, and handle all purchases and deliveries. Some interior designers may simply offer an initial consultation and room stylings.

A feel for their working style

When hiring an interior designer, you should not only have a sense of what you want in terms of services, but also how you’d like your project to be handled. For example, are you a busy professional that wants most of the decision-making off your plate? Are you a creative that needs to be highly involved in the entire process? Whichever work style you are, make sure your interior designer matches your expectations and has the availability you’re looking for.