Rumor has it - Demystifying Designers
by Bob Zimmerman and Jami Zimmerman, Cheap Thrills Décor

I REALLY like the Cheap Trick song; I Want you to Want Me. Who doesn’t like to feel needed-- especially designers? We are a loveable bunch of hardcore people- pleasers. Sometimes we get a bum rap. I’ll run into a client and he’ll say some version of the same thing every time I see him, “When are you coming over to spend all of my money again?” Hey! That hurts. I’m joking, but not really. Most designers are not trying to put you in the poor house. We’re actually a great resource to help keep some “ca-ching” in your pocket by saving you time and costly mistakes.

Hiring a Designer can be exciting and sometimes a little intimidating. Will they be judging all of my rooms? Will they totally dis my décor and hurt my feelings? Will they notice my son left his underwear on the floor? Will my house be a funny story for them at their next cocktail party? You have been living with all your skeletons in the closet and they are about to come out in front over a total stranger.

Let me dispel some common myths about interior designers.

#1 Designers are Pricey I hear you. You think it's too expensive to hire a designer. We don’t all work with movie stars and have homes featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Most designers work with everyday homeowners in average size houses -- real folks that will never be featured on MTV’s Cribs. Think of it this way: A good designer will tune in to your taste and search for just the right things for you, saving you unnecessary running around. Your purchases will be of good quality, therefore they should last a much longer. Your whole house will have a coordinated flow. If you are planning on spending thousands of dollars on furniture and appliances, fixtures and paint, spending $125 an hour with an individual who works in the field and can ultimately save you in the end, is money well spent. Keep in mind, you control the purse strings and you call the budgetary shots. We don’t run all over town saying, “I have unlimited funds!” That would be fun but probably the end of my business.

The most important thing you should do before beginning a project is agree on how much it will cost. Work with the designer to make sure that your budget is in line with your expectations. If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, a good designer will help you adjust your design goals and help you get the most bang for your buck.

#2 Designers force their taste on you. Most designers don’t demand that each space they work on be a complete reflection of their own taste. We are not a “my way or the highway” group of gangsters. The ultimate goal of the designer is to help the client get the look they are after and infuse a home with the homeowners personality. If all goes as planned, the end result is a space that the client is crazy about and the designer proud of. The end result is the client tells all of her friends and the designer’s business booms, she becomes a major design star, gets her own show on HGTV, designs houses for movie stars…I may be getting ahead of myself!

I’ve heard those stories from clients who hired a designer only to be told that the designer could not work with anything in the home and it would all have to be kicked to the curb. That designer should be kicked to the curb!

A good designer should be thought of as a sounding board for your ideas. But designers are artists, so hear them out and let them push you out of your comfort zone. It is their job to be creative. You could get an inspired surprise that is everything you never knew you always wanted. If you’re not jazzed by their vision, tell them to go back to the drawing board. Designers are like the perfect hairstylist, the best experience will occur where there is mutual trust of each other and clear communication.

#3 Designers only take on BIG projects. This is just not true. Most designers are happy to come out to your house and give you feedback on your projects. They can give moral support, help with accessories or mediate a marital spat about paint, all one hour at a time. If you like to shop, you might want the adventure of searching for some items yourself. I know that sometimes the thrill is in the hunt. You may want that great war story of how the treasures were found. A designer can give you a treasure map before the big hunt, assist you in coordinating all of your finds and make them work with what you already have.

If you can do-it-yourself then by all means you go girl (or boy)! There is a feeling of accomplishment that's achieved when creating a space with your own two hands. I applaud the everyday-designer and wish them the best of luck. Go forth and conquer those spaces!! If you reach a sticking point, then call a professional and get the juices flowing again. Sometimes we all get house-blind and just need a fresh set of eyes.

Design is part visual, part business, and part psychology. A good designer will bring your ideas to life and help channel your personality in to your home. Depending on the size of your project, this person could be in your life and home for a long time so choose them wisely based on fact and not urban legend! Most designers want the experience to be fun and memorable. We are talking about translating a homeowners dream. We want to get it right on target. And then, when I run in to her husband he will say….well, probably the same thing because it’s just fun to give a designer a hard time.

Home Style article for Southlake Style Magazine by Cheap Thrills Décor, Bob & Jami Zimmerman.
© 2010 Cheap Thrills Decor. All Rights Reserved.

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