Why is hiring an interior designer important?
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When we started our own renovation project, it was a dream come true.

 

I've always loved interiors, and much to my parents' dismay I experimented with painting my bedroom walls black, rearranged my entire bedroom furniture every 12 months and I even up-cycled and repurposed vintage dressers and tables to add more character to my room.

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So when my husband and I bought our dream home, a dated Edwardian property that had been split into separate flats, I resigned from my work as a project manager in web development agency and fully immersed myself into our renovation project instead.

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So what went wrong?

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At first glance, nothing much. I love our home and I am very proud of it. 

 

However, I wish at the time I had already retrained and had the skills to draw up detailed floor plans and approach the project in a more methodical manner. My lack of expertise and time, meant that I was unable to delve deeply into our needs and create a comprehensive spatial plan. We were so excited about all the extra space we were gaining, it did not cross our minds that larger spaces also need to be utilised properly to function well.

Looking back, I wish we had taken the time to delve deeper into our storage needs. I wish we had considered the flow of the house in more detail, had investigated and researched alternative layouts and solutions and spoken to more experts. There simply wasn't enough time for me to do it all. Electrical and lighting plans became an after thought as decisions had to be made fast. I picked the styles I liked but a lot of decisions were made on a whim with a "this will do" kind of attitude. The pressure was high as we had moved into a rental home for the duration of the renovation. And the longer the renovation carried on the more the rent was eating up our budget. Speed was of the essence.

 

Does this mean you're unhappy with the outcome?

Absolutely not!

But if you don't fully understand how a space is to be used before the work starts, making considered choices becomes challenging as you're dealing with too many unknowns.  Positioning light fittings, sockets and radiators, establishing storage needs, creating lighting designs and considering acoustics all require careful planning. They form part of a whole and cannot really be planned in isolation.
 

Some of our radiators, while perfectly positioned for heating the house efficiently, now prevent us from adding a much needed sideboard or a large wardrobe where we would really them. Lights and pendants were fitted with a certain furniture layout in mind, so when we changed our mind we had to rewire certain parts of the house again.

Interior designers are skilled at thinking of all these elements right from the start. We guide you to consider different options, and provide solutions. We highlight potential challenges you may not have thought of.  We are trained to look for flaws in architect's drawings. We might spot a door that needs moving or a window that needs changing to ensure your space functions well on a daily basis. 

Interior Designers have the time and expertise to consider these elements in detail and will help you make the right choices from the start. Sadly rewiring, repositioning doors and changing windows, moving radiators or even adding bespoke storage solutions after completion can be expensive and frustrating. The sooner you get an interior designer involved the better. We can even accompany you on property viewings before you put your actual offer in and can advise on whether the property can successfully be adapted to your needs based on the budget you have.

What if you cannot afford an interior designer?
 

If the prospect of designing your own home fills you with joy and you can find the time to do it and can't afford a designer, you can most definitely go it alone. There are many resources online that can guide you through the process and you can also opt for smaller individual design services to help you with anything you find particularly challenging.

However, if you are one of the many people who already juggle a busy family life and/or career and have limited resources and time, adding a renovation project into the mix is far from ideal. The hundreds of decisions that you will need to make can quickly become overwhelming and can add a huge amount of stress. Just ask anyone who has ever built or renovated a house and they will tell you that decision fatigue is real and that is extremely hard to keep motivated to do your research and make informed decisions as your project wears on. All too often, towards the end, people get tired and let themselves be swayed by the input of their trades, who might recommend the quickest rather than the best solution to a problem. 

 

I like to compare a home to a sanctuary. It should be a place that offers comfort and respite and brings you joy. Opening the door after a long day should fill you with a sense of relief. 

 

I see my home as an essential part of me, as an extension to my body and mind. We all thrive to look after our physical and mental health by calling onto experts: doctors, therapists, personal trainers, beauticians, nutritionists - you name it. We rely on expert help and guidance to become our best selves. We happily employ cleaners and gardeners to help us stay on top with daily chores. So why not involve an expert who can turn your home into its best self? You'll get the results you need in a much faster, more efficient way, all the while freeing up extra time to focus on yourself, your work or your family. 

For the majority of people, hiring traditional interior designers seems out of reach and a luxury they cannot afford. But it doesn't have to work that way. If you are prepared to manage some of the elements yourself, there are many individual interior design services that you should be able to afford. These service will save you from making expensive mistakes and thus pay for themselves and more.

I offer completely bespoke service levels, so there is bound to be a service that you can afford:

At the entry level is my design consultation.
Starting at £180 for a 90 minute meeting, you will be able to ask me your most pressing questions and receive professional advice on how best to proceed with your project. This service almost pays for itself, as it will stop you from making expensive purchases only to regret them later on.
To find out more, click here. 

Alternatively for more detailed support I can create a bespoke interior design solution for you. 
The price for this service will vary. Each bespoke service package is tailored to your specific requirements. I will review your project and create a bespoke fee proposal just for you. This means you only pay for the services you need and nothing more.

Get in touch today to find out more.​​​​