What is an Interior Designer?
It might happen one day when you open the front door to the house you've lived in for decades, or it might be the light bulb that goes off in your head when you walk into a brand-new condo that has the potential to become your future nest. Either way, your eye tells you that something more could be done--a splash of color here, a change of furniture there, a better use of that "bonus room" or maybe an upgrade of cabinets in the kitchen. An interior designer may be the partner you need to eliminate the guesswork and pull all the right elements together.
History
Identifying the best use of space, taking advantage of natural resources and displaying one's treasures are challenges that have beset mankind ever since he started living indoors. As far back as the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome, the upper classes were not only obsessed with creating comfortable dwellings for themselves during their lifetimes but ensuring they would be surrounded by beauty in the hereafter as well. It was the dawn of the Renaissance and the later emergence of the Industrial Revolution, however, that shaped what the role of future interior designers would be. Specifically, the celebration of the arts and architecture during the Renaissance thrust wealthy patrons into an acquisitive mode to try to outdo one another; the subsequent development of machinery in the Industrial Revolution made it possible for the merchant class to finally be able to purchase more goods for their homes and, accordingly, require more advice on where to put all of it so that it didn't look cluttered.
Function
An interior designer's job is to take a look at the existing room(s) a client wants her to work on and to listen carefully to what the client wants the finished result to be. These discussions will address such items as how the room is going to be used by the individual and/or her family; what kind of tone the client wants the room to project (i.e., elegant, whimsical, soothing); what colors, textures and fabrics the client likes; whether building permits will be required to add or remove walls; and how much of the existing furniture, window treatments and/or artwork does the client want to retain as a part of the new look. The interior designer then proceeds to draft a plan of action, show the client preliminary sketches and color swatches based on their discussions, and put together a budget and timeline for completion. Once the details have been locked down and a contract signed, the interior designer works with a wide range of experts and vendors to ensure the work is completed to the client's satisfaction.
Types
Whether a designer is an independent consultant or has a full-service agency with a team of associates, it's essential that he have strong relationships with licensed and reliable contractors, plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters and anyone else necessary to the successful completion of a homeowner's dream. Depending on the size of the agency, interior designers specialize in residential, industrial or commercial properties or a combination. Some of them may even focus on just one type of design service such as kitchen and bathroom remodels, or a particular style of architecture (i.e., Victorian, Craftsman, Colonial). At a minimum, interior designers usually hold a B.A. in interior design, art history or architecture, must take a proliferation of design courses, take qualifying tests through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (http://www.ncidq.org), and be licensed by the state in which they plan to do business.
Time Frame
Sometimes the quickest fix to give a room a dramatic new look is simply a coat of paint, a switching-out of window treatments and accent pillows, or just finding the right painting to hang above a couch. Changes such as these can be done in as little as a few weeks. If multiple rooms are being redesigned, however, or if the home is still in the early stages of being built, a client may be looking at several months or even a year of waiting for everything to be picture-perfect. Interior designers also need to take into account the amount of disruption to a family's routine (if they're going to be living in the house during renovations), the impact of weather, and the availability of the professionals he wants to contract to do the work. In the case of vintage homes where it may be important to maintain a certain level of architectural integrity to the period, it may take longer to complete a job if special materials need to be ordered from overseas or re-created from scratch.
Warning
One of the biggest complaints against interior designers is when they try to impose their personal style on a client who is either indecisive about what she wants or who caves easily to pressure because the designer makes her feel that her choices are all wrong. It takes excellent communication and diplomacy skills to be a successful designer, especially when it comes to the challenges of helping today's empty-nesters decide downsize their belongings to fit a smaller house or working with blended families in compromising on a style that will allow both sides to keep the respective treasures that are important to them. Hiring a professional designer is never a decision that should be rushed into. Interview multiple candidates, ask to see portfolios of his work, and ask to talk to some of his former clients.
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