Question about working with interior designers

[tiki]

Last summer I decided to try working with a local interior designer to make our new dining room look nice. Fast forward a year, and we have a new wall color, new chandelier, new table, new dining chairs, curtains, and fun wallpaper. Those things are all great, very happy with them.

We did have to halt original plans for built-in shelving due to ballooning costs, though, and that means the walls in the room are still completely blank. Since the designer is asking to come photograph the room for her portfolio, that means she considers it done, right? We're on our own for any additional furniture (like a sideboard) and decorating the room beyond the major pieces? I'm not sad to get ownership of my space back, but it does feel a little odd to have hired a pro and still ended up with a room that feels unfinished. I'm wondering if this is typical or if I really missed something here. 

[ssmjlm]

What did your contract say?

Why can't you ask her if she has openings to now look into those items if prices have come down?

[tiki]

Prices for materials are still at record highs and contractors are booking 6+ months out, so the built-ins are still off the table.

Also I looked back to confirm, but we didn't have a contract. There was an intake phone call, a site visit, and a design presentation with three proposals. We picked one of the proposals (which FWIW did not include smaller things like art) and she moved into implementation phase, invoicing us periodically as we went along.

Communication has always been a little challenging with this designer, so I probably wouldn't bend over backward to engage her again. I guess I'm more wondering how typical this experience is in case we ever want to try something similar in the future.

[ssmjlm]

You should have a contract.

Although I would think if you're just looking for a sideboard and art, you could maybe do someone online vs local since the big stuff is done.

[tiki]

Well, no contract is probably why I've never been sure of how to tell when we were "done". This is the first contractor we hired after becoming first-time homeowners, so lesson learned I guess. Fortunately it was on a design-only project and not a structural renovation!

[hbomdiggity]

We’re you buying furniture/built in through her or directly with vendor? Have you paid her for services to date?

You likely have a contract, it just may not be a written contract or define completion.

I would just ask. She may want interim pictures or she may think you’re done/canning the rest of the project all together.

[TR]

I'm wondering what resolution you're looking for. You've said you still can't do the built-ins. Were you hoping she'd put forth another idea in place of them? Do you want her ideas for an interim solution for the walls? Did the original proposal include pieces like the sideboard and she just didn't recommend any?

[tiki]

Oct 13, 2021 16:16:18 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm wondering what resolution you're looking for. You've said you still can't do the built-ins. Were you hoping she'd put forth another idea in place of them? Do you want her ideas for an interim solution for the walls? Did the original proposal include pieces like the sideboard and she just didn't recommend any?

Exactly - when quotes for the built-ins put us more than $10k over the original budget + months over the timeline, I said we couldn't stretch that far and assumed she'd come back with a lower-priced alternative. When she didn't, I thought maybe she was waiting for the table to arrive first? Then that came in late August, and now she's wrapping up.

I don't need anything in terms of a resolution on this project - we've gotten everything we've paid for to date, and I'm sure I can put a couple of things on the walls and buy a sideboard and it will be fine. That being said, if I was good at or liked decorating, I wouldn't have hired someone in the first place. So I'd appreciate any suggestions for what I might ask for or do differently if we try this again in the future.

[TR]

Oct 13, 2021 18:12:03 GMT -5 tiki said:

Oct 13, 2021 16:16:18 GMT -5 TR said:

I'm wondering what resolution you're looking for. You've said you still can't do the built-ins. Were you hoping she'd put forth another idea in place of them? Do you want her ideas for an interim solution for the walls? Did the original proposal include pieces like the sideboard and she just didn't recommend any?

Exactly - when quotes for the built-ins put us more than $10k over the original budget + months over the timeline, I said we couldn't stretch that far and assumed she'd come back with a lower-priced alternative. When she didn't, I thought maybe she was waiting for the table to arrive first? Then that came in late August, and now she's wrapping up.

I don't need anything in terms of a resolution on this project - we've gotten everything we've paid for to date, and I'm sure I can put a couple of things on the walls and buy a sideboard and it will be fine. That being said, if I was good at or liked decorating, I wouldn't have hired someone in the first place. So I'd appreciate any suggestions for what I might ask for or do differently if we try this again in the future.

I would tell her that! Maybe she thinks you’re really married to the built-in idea and ask for her ideas for an alternative. The worst she can say is no or she’d charge you more and you say no, thank you if you don’t want to pay more. But for sure ask, I think that’s a reasonable expectation.

[tiki]

Oct 13, 2021 15:48:12 GMT -5 hbomdiggity said:

We’re you buying furniture/built in through her or directly with vendor? Have you paid her for services to date?

You likely have a contract, it just may not be a written contract or define completion.

I would just ask. She may want interim pictures or she may think you’re done/canning the rest of the project all together.

We did both - some orders and subcontracts she arranged, while others we agreed on but then I placed the order myself. Some things we talked about but never got (like shades for the adjacent living room), but we also never paid for those so there isn't really any harm done. 

I can definitely talk to her when she comes to do the photos (still trying to get a date nailed down for that since her photographer thought it was too cloudy on the original day). It's just... awkward? Like if we were dating, it would be clear she just wasn't into me any more and I should move on kind of awkward. After a whole year spent on one room, I think I am happier with the project ending now, too, even if I didn't get everything I was expecting. 

[krystee]

I work with a decorator online who charges $50/hour and does small projects, like selecting a sideboard and styling it, as well as full rooms. I can’t share her web site since her main business is styling clothing and that’s what her site focuses on, but I loved my two room designs. If you want her info to finish it off, just let me know!

[tiki]

Oct 13, 2021 21:43:55 GMT -5 krystee said:

I work with a decorator online who charges $50/hour and does small projects, like selecting a sideboard and styling it, as well as full rooms. I can’t share her web site since her main business is styling clothing and that’s what her site focuses on, but I loved my two room designs. If you want her info to finish it off, just let me know!

Yes, please!  That sounds great. Our current designer's hourly rate is much higher, so even something like a detailed email or a discussion can end up costing $200.