When your creativity is backed up against a wall and a handful of unanswered questions pop up about cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, colors and lighting for your new space—some some stress relief may be found in hiring an interior designer or interior decorator.
Interior designers and decorators draw upon many disciplines to enhance the function, safety, and aesthetics of interior spaces. However, they are primarily focused on decoration. They’re expertly trained to help you define your style and select materials, styles and colors as well as the appropriate appliances and accessories to complement your overall look.
Interior designers and decorators also study the scale and proportion of your room so they can recommend furniture and cabinetry that complements the size of your room. They’re also experts in space planning, and can make recommendations so your space is functional, maximizing the workspaces and enabling good traffic flow. Most importantly, in partnership with your kitchen designer, they will help to ensure that your space is designed to meet your family’s day-to-day and lifestyle needs.
How Do I Find An Interior Designer?
• Ask friends and family for referrals, particularly those whose homes you find appealing.
• Contact a local KraftMaid authorized dealer.
• Check the internet for directories of interior decorators and designers
• Visit online home and lifestyle magazines and visit their web sites.
• Contact the local branch of professional organizations to find a certified interior designer:
o ASID –American Society of Interior Designers
o IIDA - International Interior Design Association
o IFDA – International Furnishings and Design Association
o NARI – National Association of Remodeling Industry
Before Your First Meeting
Similar to a kitchen designer, your interior designer can’t read your mind. The more ideas you can show on your first meeting, the better off you’ll be:
• Be prepared to illustrate your design preferences. Gather images from magazines or search online for kitchens, rooms, appliances and décor that interest you.
• Find your inspiration in the KraftMaid Idea Book. Mark the pages with the styles and looks most appealing to you.
• Visit your local authorized KraftMaid retail showroom to view displays and look for ideas.
• Browse through KraftMaid.com where you can find ideas for door styles, furniture finishes, functional storage solutions and decorative enhancements. Save the items you like to your online project portfolio.
• Make a list of things that you currently love about your home to discuss at the meeting. On the flip side, make a list of things that must be changed about your current home.
• Just in case there are differences in opinion, be sure to discuss your selections with any other decision-makers in your home.
During Your First Meeting
• Review their portfolio. If possible, set up the meeting at their showroom. Discuss what you like and observe what they recommend.
• Understand the time span of your project, the interior designer’s availability for meetings and all fees that are associated with their services.
• Define your overall expectations and make sure that both of you are sharing the same vision for the space.
• Ask to see their portfolio and get at least three or four names of recent references. Give them a call.
• Set priorities early to determine how much you can invest in your project.
• During the meeting, ask yourself if you feel comfortable with and trust the person you’re about to hire?
Extra Tip
Make sure you schedule a meeting with all of your professional partners. Include everyone who is involved with your project, such as your kitchen designer, installer, interior designer, general contractor, etc. This is the time to set ground rules, encourage teamwork and agree on expectations and a plan of execution. Ideally, a kitchen designer and interior designer should work together on your kitchen project.