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 For a few hundred dollars, a pro designer can offer invaluable advice, resources and knowledge, says Cheryll Gillespie, seen here selecting wallpaper for a client. |
You don’t have to be good at everything. Some of us are great bakers; others stop on the way home to pick up cookies and pastries. Some of us are great teachers, with endless amounts of patience; the rest of us hire tutors for our children when they struggle, knowing this is the best for them.
We hire and consult with experts all the time — accountants, lawyers, doctors, dentists, beauty consultants — so why do so many think they have to go a decorating project on their own?
Be comfortable with your talents, or lack thereof, and plan to do the best job possible on every project, whether it’s baking (or buying) a fabulous pie for dinner or making over the living room.
Your guests will not savour each mouthful of pie any less if you know that it came from the lady at the farmers’ market. And visitors won’t praise your rooms any less if you sought a professional designer’s help with your project.
You and your family are going to use that space for years to come, so it’s a wise investment in your enjoyment and in the beautification of the space to hire a pro. For a few hundred dollars, they offer invaluable advice, resources and knowledge.
How do designers work? They’re usually very flexible with their billing. They can simply consult on your project, in which case you’d pay them by the hour. Fees vary with the designer’s training and reputation, from about $100 to $500 per hour.
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I have often been called in to a home for an hour or two just to help with initial ideas, space planning and colour consultation as a project progresses. If you hit a roadblock, you can call the designer back in or chat over the phone. This is a low-cost, effective way to get that designer look and expertise.
If you want the designer more involved, or to manage the project, they may charge by the square foot or a percentage of the budget.
Do you really need a pro? Many people ask, “What if I have friends with great taste?” Well, it may take a village to raise a child, but let me assure you, it only takes you and a designer to design your house.
As the old saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. It’s a scenario I’ve seen far too often: homeowners start gathering opinions — and trust me, everyone’s is different — and wind up with so many unqualified ideas and suggestions that they’re totally confused.
Stop. Plan to consult with a pro. Then unveil the results of the space to your friends – and be sure to hand them all your designer’s business card. Word of mouth is the best way to find a great designer.
Cheryll Gillespie is an internationally celebrated, award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her website.
Colour notes
Before you start a painting project, test your paint chips: see how they look in the room during morning light, during early evening light and against artificial light from lamps, TVs, etc. Don't be surprised if you see three different colours. Be sure to tell the paint clerk to lighten or darken the formula accordingly before mixing so that you end up with a colour suited to all three lighting conditions.
Designer secrets
One of the easiest ways to update a dining room is to change its lighting fixture – but how high do you hang it? Chandeliers should hang about 90-105 cm (36-42 in.) above the top of the table. Any lower will interfere with conversation across the table.