Bathroom Remodel Ideas: Tips for Hiring Interior Designers

By: Julia Ritzenthaler | Posted: Oct 14th, 2008

Hiring an interior designer should be done early in the remodeling process and is one of the best investments you can make. They can help you determine what colors will work together, what styles to use and what bathroom fixtures to choose. Nothing is worse than doing this yourself and then realizing upon completion that your choices just don't fit well together. It costs much more to have a designer come in and fix mistakes than it does to hire one from the start. Following are some tips for hiring an interior designer.

Tip 1: Get an Idea of What You Want

Before you even start searching, you need to have some idea of what you want done in your bathroom. Start out by looking through some magazines on home decorating and clipping out examples both of things you do like and things you don't like. You can also get ideas from visiting model homes and watching design shows on TV.

Write down what kind of style you are interested in as well as what color scheme you want. For example, do you want stone, granite or tile? Do you want bold, bright colors or soft pastels? Having this information together can help potential designers determine if they can handle what you want done.

Decide exactly what you want done and whether or not your budget can handle it. Interior designers can work on any size project. You may want your entire bathroom remodeled or only the paint or fixtures changed or updated. Your interior designer can devise an overall plan for your bathroom, and parts of it can be completed as your budget allows.

Tip 2: Research Interior Designers

The best place to start is to ask your friends and colleagues for referrals for interior designers they have used and liked. Using a designer from a referral can help to ensure that you are getting one that has successfully completed room(s) for people you already know and trust. Other options for researching designers include the phone book and referral services, such as the American Society of Interior Designers. Include only designers that are certified or licensed in your state.

Tip 3: Making a Choice

Meet with several designers before you choose one. You want to make sure you're comfortable with both the person and the fees before you hire anyone. Any designer worth their salt will have a portfolio you can look at. Review the portfolio and see if they've completed any bathroom remodeling and whether or not you like their previous work.

Discuss your budget and ask if they believe they can stick to it. If you're capable of doing some of the work yourself, such as painting or plumbing, talk with designers to see how this will reduce the cost of your remodeling. Keep in mind that you don't have to hire a designer to do the entire room - you can hire them only for ideas and advice on colors and fixtures.

Tip 4: After You've Chosen

To avoid any complications or surprises, make sure that the designer you have chosen knows exactly what you are wanting. When your designer presents you with ideas, don't be shy about telling them what you do and don't like. The designer will understand this and will look for alternatives that fit what you want.

Together you can determine if you will purchase bathroom fixtures and other supplies or if your designer will do it. Having your designer purchase any supplies needed will save you a lot of time and trouble, but make sure to discuss the fees.

Be sure to get your interior designer to provide you with a contract or written agreement. This is a crucial step to avoid any misunderstandings later on. The agreement needs to specify:

* What will be charged

* How it will be charged

* Any deposits that are needed and when they'll be required

* What services you are getting from them

* A completion date
About the Author:

Julia Ritzenthaler is Owner of boutique online furniture stores, http://www.UniqueVanities.com, http://www.UniqueMirrorsOnline.com, & http://www.UniqueLightFixture.com. For more information about unique decorative mirrors, visit us online or email us with your questions at uniquemirrors@msn.com.

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