Browse Forums Finishing Touch 1 Oct 04, 2007 8:28 pm Work is very quiet for me at the moment. Bit of a concern!
It seems that all of my suppliers are very quiet also. Carpet, tiles, window dresser….. So my question is this: I know just about all of you have not employed a professional decorator or designer. WHY? It seems a lot of you would have benefited greatly from getting one to help you out. 1) Are we too expensive? 2) Do you feel you can tackle your project without the help of a professional? 3) Did you just not give it any thought? 4) Are we that scary!!!??? What where your reasons for not employing a professional colour consultant or decorator to help you with your project? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 2Oct 04, 2007 8:36 pm Michelle,
In due course, I will be engaging a professional decorator or designer to help with: 1) Double checking the overall design for layout and style 2) Selection of fittings and finishes 3) Colour selection 4) General assistance with the design and the way the house work But, I feel I'm in the minority. Cheers, Casa Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 3Oct 04, 2007 8:39 pm Well done casa!
Money well spent! Yes….I think you are the minority. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 4Oct 04, 2007 8:45 pm Hi Michelle, I won't be scared until i see you drive past with a baseball bat!!!!!!!!
In my case i personally believe i have pretty decent taste in decoration and colour selection and don't require outside assistance. I'm sure that some might beg to differ and that's fine too, but i have confidence in my own taste, through having renovated and sold houses before, with successful results. But that's just me. But another reason for possible slowing in the industry could be due to the big builders offering a colour selection process with consultants to assist their clients.....Some don't assist, but simply push their own ideas and some are not professionally trained in interior design and decoration. Our Colour consultant suggested i should take on the 2 yr FT or 6 yr PT course to become a consultant, cause she liked my taste (well most of it). I'm just happy to be confident in my own selections. I am happy for feedback but will usually not consult others to select for me. Michelle, hope this honest feedback helps. Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 5Oct 04, 2007 8:47 pm Yep...you're that scary!!
I dont really have a single good answer to that. I think a lot of people building a residence set themselves a budget and go pretty close to their limit financially wise just buying the land and building the house. Then they start to think about the extras such as window dressings/gardens/driveways...and say wow, thats going to cost a heap when we first get in, but we'll worry about it later! Then they go to pick colours/fittings etc and end up trying to keep within budget, let alone spend more on getting a professional to help in the process! We spent about 6 weeks looking at colours and made sure we had seen every colour in our house in use somewhere!! We drove 3 hours just to see a house built in our brick! Someone like you could have probably sorted us out in an hour - but we had fun in the process When we are older, rich and building our dream home we will get a porfessional interior designer in for sure!! Built Porter Davis "Dromana" 2007. Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 6Oct 04, 2007 8:55 pm **Phoenix**…I need all the feed back I can get, so I can maybe target in a different direction! Thank you for your honesty!
I am always impressed to see that an untrained person can do really well at putting their selections together. So good for you. NOT everyone needs help, I understand and appreciate this. There are a lot of people….and I say people, as I have dealt with many a man who were excellent in understanding where I was coming from with their design. More so than the little woman of the house, who are very colour savvy! It’s great to see. Love the bat comment!!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 7Oct 04, 2007 8:58 pm Vanderlay….good answer!
But really…..we’re not that expensive! I’ve had clients tell me I was the BEST investment they made on their home! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 8Oct 04, 2007 9:13 pm I felt a little guilty writing that post, hope you are not upset.....
By the way, if people were intersted, what % of the house cost would you recommend people spend on interior design/decoration consultancy and the interior decoration of their homes? I've heard that they say a good garden should be between 10-20% of the value of the house? Is it worked out in a similar way? Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 9Oct 04, 2007 9:14 pm I guess there are two markets:
1) Project builders 2) Custom design The project builder market is characterised by very tight budgets and suppliers who provide a full service (or at least say/attempt to). This segment is unlikely to enlist an interior designer. What's more, the finished item is there on display and the project builder would have had the display professionally designed - building and interior. The custom builder market is characterised by somewhat larger budgets and customers who must spend a lot more effort pulling things together. For these people, it would be foolish not to engage both a professional building designer and an interior designer. One of the good things of involving two people, rather than the one person who can do both functions, is that they each provide fresh input and can do a sanity check on the others work. What's important is the end product, not who can do the most and by themselves. For a custom design. the cost of the designers is so little compared to the entire project cost that it would be irresponsible not to engage professionals. Cheers, Casa Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 10Oct 04, 2007 9:14 pm Um, I don't know how to answer without sounding rude - because I know I've asked my fair share of questions re: decorating and colours.
I guess as a young person, I tend to agree with Vanderlay. We are on a tight budget and we've already exceeded our limits and counting. I don't think it's really something the lay-person thinks of doing "oh, I know, lets hire an interior decorator!" Also, I think because we are building we need to go with the suppliers and products that they offer and so we chose from their range with the guidance (or lack there of) of their consultant. I know it's stereotypical of me and I shouldn't do that but I would assume that most of your clientelle are over 30 (and maybe even more so over 40), and are either a business or are renovating. I would also assume that they are on 6 figure incomes. I don't know how much an interior decorator costs, but by the time you count their fees, buy their suggestions and instal/impliment them I imagine for a room or 2 you could be pushing $50K+ - especially when talking about a kitchen or bathroom. I'm sure the outcome would be stunning but then you've got to have the money. Maybe you could try to target younger people and offer some budget tips and examples so that it's not so scary. If people could be shown an example of a room makeover that cost less that eg $1000 then I think more people would consider your services. As I said - feel free to correct me as I have no idea how much the services of an interior decorator costs. Just my opinions and I hope I haven't offended. We all love you around here Michelle! Ray. Second Time 'Round Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 11Oct 04, 2007 9:17 pm **Phoenix**….don’t be guilty!!!!
I have very broad shoulders! I ask so I expect an answer….you did good!!! Not at all upset!!! Where’s my bat?? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 12Oct 04, 2007 9:21 pm Casa ….well done!
I have done quite a few Project Buildings though. The client still feels confused about all the selection there are available to them. Custom build is the way I prefer to go, less limitations. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 13Oct 04, 2007 9:34 pm Ray…you can’t sound rude….like I said I have asked the question and look forward to the answers!
Ray a lot of my clients are first home builders….like yourself, I think you are? I not long ago I when to see a young couple ( about your age) who are mortgaged to the top! BUT they wanted it done right and had no idea how to do it right, AS WELL AS saving money! My clients range from their early twenties to their late 60s….pretty broad scope. Ray I charge $88 an hour and can do a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home in a max of 3 or 4 hours from floor plans, depending what is required of me. I will do a full home from off floor plan, that’s including EVERY selection for about $1400.00 BUT that is a LARGR home, 5 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, lounge, family, kitchen and anything else going! Maybe I should up my prices….I am a qualified decorator but I design as well. I DON”T draw like designers do, but I do everything else they do + more! Thanks for your reply! I will be able to put something together from all the responses. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 14Oct 04, 2007 9:34 pm Still luv ya Michelle..............You should charge per post on the forum then you'd be set big $$$$$$$$$ Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 15Oct 04, 2007 9:46 pm **Phoenix** NO…then were would the fun be!
I have seen forms goes come and go in the last year, which has been sad…..to see them go. But I have taken a liking to the new ones…such as you! Happy to have you here, and glade your going to be around for a while! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 16Oct 04, 2007 9:52 pm Quote: I will do a full home from off floor plan, that’s including EVERY selection for about XXXX Hmm ... Maybe you'd better edit that previous post michelle - the figure typed seems a tad high to me As to using a decorator - I suspect that a first time new project home builder (a lot of the posters here) would not be a prime candidate customer. Maybe the "baby boomers" building their custom designed dream home are a larger marketbase to choose from for you. Plus of course the commercial fitouts where a new business is a good market as they want your professional input to help them with their business success. And as we all know - a house is not a home till a colour co-ordinated woman has added her touch My thoughts. Steve Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 17Oct 04, 2007 9:56 pm It never even crossed my mind to use a professional decorater/designer. I have always thought they would be way out of our budget. Had I have known I could have had a consultation on our whole house for under $300 I would have done it for sure ! Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 18Oct 04, 2007 9:59 pm Thanks Steve, fixed the pricing!
Baby boomers are not the only ones to spend their money; this is why it’s hard for me to target. I am constantly amazed at the retires prepaid to spend as well. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 19Oct 04, 2007 10:03 pm rellie It never even crossed my mind to use a professional decorater/designer. I have always thought they would be way out of our budget. Had I have known I could have had a consultation on our whole house for under $300 I would have done it for sure ! Rellie, Hope I didn’t say something the wrong way here. This just depends what you are prepared to let the decorator do. This is a 3 hour job on the basics. Not the lot. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 20Oct 04, 2007 10:04 pm Hi Michelle,
I guess I agree with Phoenix and Ray. I have my own personal preferences it's hard enough agreeing with my husband, let alone a third party. I think I have good taste too but that's really funny because most people think they have good taste! You only have to look around to see it's not true! But I guess taste is a personal issue, whilst I think something is gorgeous someone else would think it is sick-making. I aslo think that having someone else choose for you makes your house seem less personal. On the other hand, I'm not 100% happy with the choices we made for the exterior of the house. Some of that is due to the lack of choice e.g. with render colours but maybe I really needed you all along and didn't know it!!! Funny how Ray thinks it's more a service for older people. I am an older people and think that probably the younger generation are more comfortable with hiring interior designers. Must just be some of each. You can really use anything you want the main consideration would be how it looks once painted/finished - or the look you want. Cabinetmakers use MDF because its cheap… 2 9960 I would say both styles you have pictured are steel. The lower chord of the first pic would be a massive lump if made using timber considering the size of the rafters. If… 1 6153 1 13125 |