Should I use an interior designer? {Yes.}
DISCLAIMER: Hey reader! Please know the Indiana Design Center is a valued partner of theCityMoms. Because of relationships like these, we occasionally share sponsored content we feel could be valuable or interesting for you like this piece. Read on momma…
Look, I love being the queen of my home decor, design decisions, and remodeling choices. HGTV and I are thisclose. I scour Pinterest. I have a master plan. But when it came time to remodel our original-to-the-house bathroom, I blanked.
Sure, we can all pin our way to a new bathroom or HGTV a remodeled kitchen until our hearts are content, but when it really counts, a designer is only a call away.
What does an interior design professional offer?
Last month we chatted with Stacy Molander, owner of Rusted Window in Carmel, and a staff designer for the Indiana Design Center to learn more:
Often clients don’t know where to start when working on their own.
A designer can save time, headache and money getting customers pointed in the right direction. “Designers are there to work around your style... It’s someone to prep all the decisions, prompt inspiration, and act as a liaison between you and the contractor,” Stacy says.
Your first appointment will consist of asking questions like Is this project a full gut where everything will be ripped out and started from a blank slate? Is there anything in the space you want to keep? What things have you seen elsewhere that you like? {Do we hear your Pinterest board firing up?}
CityMom Sarah has her eyes set on this clawfoot tub at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen, and Lighting Gallery at the Indiana Design Center.
Designers ensure consistency.
Once we work with you on the big decisions, a designer will niche down to the smaller touches. “Contractors don’t pick finishes,” reminds Stacy. “This is where we come in.” Many clients come in with a multitude of aesthetic ideas, but a designer will take all those and compile a cohesive approach and plan.
{Bonus: Where many interior designers may have to spend hours sourcing various needs from a multitude of stores, the Design team at the IDC is blessed to house all needs under one roof. “I can easily walk down the hall to Drapery Street to grab window treatment options, have Conceptual Kitchens for kitchen wares, Ferguson for lighting and fixtures, and so on,” Stacy reminds us.}
You have options.
Right now due to the pandemic, many designers are offering virtual and in-person consultations. But as Stacy notes, “Nothing replaces coming into home where we can be in the space, taking measurements, and start to envision the room. I recommend being in person with your designer, and if you’re concerned, we can limit and sync with others to ensure low traffic.” In other words, designers can setup other contractors such as plumbers or installers to arrive separately with to-do instructions, so as to limit the number of bodies in your home at one time.
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Last but not least, always have an unexpected cost budget.
We’ve all been there with a project that turns into more than you bargained for - tearing out a cabinet only to reveal mold, or pull wallpaper down to find… more wallpaper. Stacy notes: “Something will come up, and you want to have room in your budget for this. Don’t max your budget out on the redesign or remodel without building in a little cushion.”
Stacy’s knowledge comes from years of retail and interior design service, most recently as a part of the Indiana Design Center’s Designer On Call team. The DOC includes a group of professional designers available for both residential and commercial work.
See below for our full interview with Stacy.
MORE INFO: The Indiana Design Center is located at 200 S. Rangeline Road in Carmel, Indiana. It is open to the public 8am-6pm daily, but closed Sundays. To learn more about their services and browse showrooms, visit their website.
