Browse Forums Finishing Touch Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 41Oct 09, 2007 8:32 am I haven't had time to read all the answers this morning so apologies if i say the same things but here are my reasons for not using an interior designer
1) Didn't think of it. Seriously, it never crossed my mind. I would have loved one. I mean we have spend so much building the house i don't want to ruin it by putting in horrible colours and I don't know that much about decorating, so paying for someone certainly seems like a sound investment. Yes we were giving a colour consultant by the builders but she knew less than i did (she seriously tried to get us to pick the INTERNAL wall colour she liked by saying "you have to see it OUTSIDE - it looks better" and i had to explain the whole INTERNAL WALL thing and where that is in the house). But I would have LOVED help with furniture, accessories, floors etc the things they don't cover at the builders (we did our own floors). Other than being open about price (i don't bother with anyone that doesn't display price because im stuck in the old saying "if you have to ask you can't afford) i think just bringing awareness wherever you can to whoever you can is going to be your best bet. Like those home shows etc. If it was in my mind in the beginning than i would have looked into it. This forum is a great avenue for you Michelle and you have helped so many of us for free that we should be helping you - you should have us all on a monthly mailing list. If you sent an email once a month with one tip about house design and photos of your latest job etc then this keeps you in the forefront of people's minds. People tend to associate with similar people - each of us must know at least one person building and we could be recommending Michelle's services to them and getting them on her mailing list. Although you are based in NSW - i dont see why you can't do some interstate advisory services etc. If you already do this just ignore me - i'm babbling. Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 42Oct 09, 2007 10:07 am Mrs B, and bmp….look forward to answering your comments later.
Just quickly on the no mention of pricing bmp….. Most people will do the website hop to get info. If we put our prices on our advertising and websites, there is no reason for people to ring you and ask questions!!! So therefore I can’t snag them in when they ring to get a price per hour from me., as I think I am slightly dearer than the rest….(mind you I have been doing it longer here as well) I need a voice to voice contact to so I can sell myself. By putting a price up on anything….. I would be cutting my throat! More later….thank you both… Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 43Oct 09, 2007 8:30 pm Mrs B…..wish I had of seen the article!
Might see if I can get a copy of the paper from someone. I would love for you to write something up….when you get a moment free of course. I think it would be beneficial to have for those lurking threw my website! Thank you so much!! No hurry..... when you can. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 44Oct 09, 2007 8:33 pm Thanks bmp, for pushing my services!!
You are a gem!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 45Oct 09, 2007 10:10 pm Hi Michelle,
In my professional life (Facilities Project Manager) I deal a lot with architects when doing new fit outs etc and they tend to use a lot of colour consultants and interior designers - I have also worked in real estate and we used an interior designer to assist in setting up the display apartments....however I never thought to use one for my residential stuff ??? And I am not really sure why - I think maybe its because of what has already been mentioned here, that I thought I could do it myself...and of course my partner thinks he has the best taste in the world so I wouldn't be able to convince him that we need professional help!! Anyway, I do wish you the best with finding some work - perhaps if you haven't already tried, you could get in touch with some architectural firms? Or just enjoy the time and continue writing your books - per your MySpace profile...!! Ruth -Bought house in Melbourne inner burbs, knocked it down & now...we are owner builders! Completed OB project and moved in to our new home with our new baby in May 2009! Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 46Oct 25, 2007 10:06 pm Michelle...more details, just for you
What services did my Interior designer offer Just after we bought our block of land, we were totally confused as to where we should start, what design to have, who was going to build it etc, etc. We finally found an architect and he started on some conceptual drawings for us. I knew what I liked in those glossy house magazines but couldnt quite visualise certain elements I would like in my own house. I suppose it was the all important "attention to detail" element I was after. A friend suggested I hire an interior decorator at this early stage to talk through some ideas. The lady I hired specialised in contempoary design and had outfitted a few boutique apartment buildings in Melbourne. I know it was very early to pick colours etc but I also wanted someone to talk to about the house at the start so I could have a clear idea of what I wanted. Here is a list of what she helped me with... 1. Two house visits, approx 2 hours I gave her all my ideas and pictures of houses I liked so that she knew my taste. 2. House plans...She worked through my house plans, advising me of other alternatives 3. Coloured hand drawn pictures of my bathrooms...demonstrating how the tiles should be laid. 4. Sourcing all the materials for my colour board, even tracking down a tile I loved from a magazine. 5. A colour board for the interior. This included all colours for the walls, tiles, carpet, stone bench top etc She explained that I dont have to go with exactly what was on the board but to make sure any new colour I introduce must blend in with the colours on the board. 6. Colour board for the exterior...included product for the windows, stacked stone, tiles etc...I am not going with this board because the facade of the house changed when we hired our architect. Mrs B Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 47Oct 25, 2007 10:23 pm Thank you so much Mrs B!!!
You are a gem!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 48Oct 26, 2007 9:33 pm I got myself an interior decorator before we started building, to help with tile colours, windows, etc. She is one of my husband's clients and my husband said I would love the way she had done her own apartment. But unfortunately she fell badly ill so she recommended someone else. I have seen the lady twice and somehow she did not seem to be able to read what I wanted - OK, I'll be the first one to admit I am really difficult. After she helped me to pick floor and wall tiles I had a couple of months before I had to give the builder my selection and fortunately realised that the tiles were all wrong. Just as well - I would have hated them in the house.
Although I realise that interior decorators are able to work with any style the client likes, I think it really came down to the fact that she was not all that familiar with the style I like. Re: A PROFFESIONAL QUESTION 49Oct 29, 2007 5:20 pm That’s disappointing mek……it is hard to bounce ourself around from client to client, all having different tastes and styles.
But a good colour consultant/decorator/designer should be able to do this. I am VERY lucky to be able to suss my client’s personalities and likes very quickly…..this is not always an easy thing for some people to do. I understand where you were coming from, shame I didn’t live a little closer to you; I would have enjoyed working with you. You would have been a challenge for me!!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com 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 10036 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 6188 1 13163 |