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Saturday, April 20th, 2019
We have a team of industry professionals who are ready to assist you in your design requirements.
Lives seem to get busier with each passing year. With technology getting more and more advanced, while it does make life easier, it also causes lives to be more demanding. So if you’re redesigning or redecorating, it is often a lot easier to just trust a pro.
Meet your interior designer. There is a host of benefits that comes with hiring a design expert. Reduced time, maximized costs, and optimization of space are just some of the benefits of hiring an interior designer.
Trend and Industry Perceptions
Let’s accept this fact – interior designers studied design, the principles behind it, and may other know-how that the ordinary fellow might not know. As you trust this professional, you will have an access to the plethora of interior design industry knowledge that he or she has.
A few states require interior designers to have a license coming from the NCIDQ or the National Council for Interior Design Qualification before the professional is able to work.
Sitting through an exam means the person should have undergone no less than two years of interior design college education. Four years of required work experience is also needed in some states.
The alternative to this is for the individual to have four years in design education and two years of work experience. For the states that do not ask their interior designers to hold a license, this is an idea for the interior designer wannabe to become a member of the council.
This expert will also know the trends that are super hot, hot, hot; and even the best innovations that could serve well on your office design or family room needs. It is, after all, their job to know the in things and what’s no longer fashionable.
An interior designer knows all these things because they regularly attend industry events.
Far-reaching Design Experience
On top of attending industry events and knowing the trends and new products, a professional interior designer also offers experience. The longer this professional has worked, the likelier that he or she already has the qualifications that you need for your design project.
Through their numerous projects, designers are able to see which elements work and which don’t. If you pick a pro who specializes in a particular sector, then he or she can offer more insights than the regular designer.
Time and Budget Management
An interior designer should have a strong experience in both time and budget management. Check your preferred expert’s portfolio, especially the major projects that they did in the past.
Was he able to stay in the budget that the client required? Was he able to deliver the project according to the schedule? Knowing these things can help you achieve a smooth process.
Planning is also a huge part of the interior designer’s job. The American Society of Interior Designers point out that a designer must be able to render his plans through drawings or the use of design software. See if hired professional is able to execute either or both.
You Get to Relax
It might be tempting to want to be in control as you embark in a design project.
Don’t.
You could declare that you get to have the final say but as the project is ongoing, well, you need to relax. This is the very reason why you’re hiring a professional; so you could take the backseat and just enjoy the project as it unfolds. A designer, after all, comes with the right management skills so he should know how to work with deadlines.
Ask if the interior designer is going to have other projects alongside yours, though, as this could affect the result. Being overloaded with work could result in deadlines not being met or troubles in maintaining order throughout the duration of the design project.
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, interior designer training, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, reasons for working with interior designers, working with interior designers
Posted in Interior Design 101, The Interior Designer | Comments Off on Why Work with an Interior Designer?
Thursday, February 8th, 2018
Maitland-Smith Accessories Set Of Four Rainbow Shell And Violet Hammer Shell Butler Set With Polished Brass Accents: The Pantone Color of the Year is Ultra Violet. Your designer knows that and he should be able to concoct the right furnishings for your remodeling project.
If you are thinking of redesigning your home or are just about to set up your first one, you may be wondering whether you need the help of a professional, licensed interior designer. Hiring an interior designer is an intelligent decision if you have already invested a good amount of money in your home. The best designs serve an amazing purpose not only for you and your family but also for future plans that you might have to sell the property.
The Sensibility behind Interior Design
Please toss aside the notion that interior design is just for the rich and famous. You don’t have to be a Hollywood actor or a sports star just to need the help of interior designers. When you logically think about this, you will actually save a lot of money as you go on with the interior design project.
Everyone also deserves to have an amazing space. Your home should be able to bring you joy and comfort. It must not just look amazing but also a reflection of who you are, where you come from, and what your beliefs are in life.
Breathtaking Interior Design Isn’t an Accident
A lot of people get confused or are intimidated by the very idea of getting in touch with a professional interior designer. You might be overwhelmed by the idea of working with someone else. Also, you might think that these designers might not understand your concepts, or worse, they could look down on you for not having a sense of style.
When your thoughts start to go down those paths, stop yourself. Interior designers are experts that can guide you to the best style that suits you.
Interior Design Saves You a Lot of Money
You might reason out that interior designers are actually costly but they can save you money because they help you avoid pricey mistakes. Interior design is especially essential when you will sell your home in the future. The expert can help you boost the buyer appeal and even set your home apart from the competitors.
Hiring an interior designer can also help you keep away from painting accidents or having to take the furniture back all because you did not do the measurements correctly.
Interior Design Saves You Time
Just like saving some money, you can also save time when you hire an interior designer. Since designers have a trained senseofn what should be done and when they need to be done, they will be able to anticipate obstacles long before they happen.
Interior Design Will Give Your Professional Assessment
As soon as you agreed to hire a trained interior designer, you will know what plans to work on. This expert went through design school and even has a few apprenticeships up his sleeve. You must also keep in mind that interior designers have studied both the art and science of interior design and they know how to apply both concepts into your home.
Having a trained eye such as theirs means they are able to assess if something is wrong with the design or if a design element happens to work. That immediate consult is an advantage that is hard to put a price tag to.
The order of implementation for the design plan is also followed because someone who is professionally efficient is there to help you.
Interior Design Means Having More Contacts and Resources
Do you know how difficult it is to find the best resources when you don’t have the right connections? Hiring a designer means you do not have to worry about finding your own electrician, plumber, and construction workers.
Since your designer has been in the business for quite some time, he is the right person to contact with regard to a one-stop shopping for manpower.
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, hiring a designer, hiring an interior designer, interior designer benefits, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, reasons to hire a designer, why hire a designer, why hire an interior designer
Posted in 2018 Trends, Accents, Interior Design 101, The Interior Designer | Comments Off on When Do I Need An Interior Designer?
Tuesday, August 16th, 2016
FFDM American Cherry
If this is something that you still haven’t considered, then it’s time that you seriously give it much thought – hiring an interior designer is the smartest decision that you can make when it comes to beautifying your home.
Interior designers serve a lot of purpose for current and would-be homeowners. Whether the homeowner knows where to begin or not, these experts can help conjure design ideas where there were none and can execute a long-desired plan.
If you’re too busy to take on a DIY interior design project, then know that there are a lot of benefits if you hire a professional to do the task instead.
Much Savings
You might find it unbelievable that hiring a designer could help save you money yet there are costly mistakes that can add to the ever-growing expense. Hiring a pro becomes much more crucial when you’re prepping your home that’s about to be sold. This move can help you boost buyer appeal and could potentially make your home stand out from competition.
An Expert Assessment
An interior designer can offer professional assessment. This initial assessment would eventually lead to a workable plan. An interior designer will know what order to follow during the entire project duration. In essence, you are hiring an extra pair of eyes that is well-trained to notice stuff that you won’t even imagine being there.
An interior designer is also trained to keep the project within budget. You get to save time and effort since this expert knows suppliers and other contacts that will make your home project more successful.
A Willing Middle Man
An interior designer would be better able to act as a liaison officer between you and the contractor or architect. This is important in time and money management. Every interior designer has been trained to scrutinize all the things that you might overlook. Furnishing and lighting needs should be addressed prior to the beginning of the project. Furniture placement can affect the eventual locations of the floor outlet; this is an example of professional assessments that are missed by DIY enthusiasts.
FFDM Viniterra Collection
Numerous Resources
There are many things that are readily available to interior designers that the public are not even familiar with. In short, they have connections that not a lot of people have. Making use of these resources and merchandise can help make the place look more collected and pulled together. Apart from the vendor resources, designers also have a lot of industry contacts. They can save you from headaches caused by problematic contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc.
Interviewing the right interior designer also means you should ask the right questions. Here are some of the most asked interview questions –
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, benefits of hiring a contractor, finding an interior designer, how to find an interior designer, interior designer benefits, interior designer interview, interviewing an interior designer, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in The Interior Designer | No Comments »
Friday, July 29th, 2016
1586-80151A-GRY1 Lulu Shaped Console Table 4056CR Henry Exposed Wood: Achieving this look is easy if you know which design elements to balance. Don’t know what to do? Hire an expert.
A lot of residential contractors take on design projects here and there usually with the cooperation of the homeowner. The latter could bring photos, sketches, even tear-outs from interior design magazines or books. This is true when it comes to remodeling where the design choices are constrained by some pre-existing circumstances.
Technically speaking, design contractors provide the design-build services yet they are not referred to as design builders. They also do not charge separately for their design project so long as this is not a line item on their estimate.
On bigger home remodels, though, a lot of contractors prefer to work off another person’s plan unless design is a part of their service. Still some allow homeowners to terminate the contract right after the design stage, allowing you to make use of another contractor’s plans. This is a crucial choice that you would want to see in your contract. Contracts may offer discounts if you would be working with the same contractor during construction.
There are various approaches to design-build bidding as well as contracts. A lot of design-build companies work through negotiated bid since they don’t generally put out the plans to different contractors for bidding. In this case, a contractor will share a portion of the costs with the homeowner and would negotiate a fee (whether hourly, by percentage or fixed) for the services that they offer.
Choosing the Right Design-Build Contractor
If you are hiring a designer and a contractor which is the same person, you need to ask the kind of questions that you would ask an architect/designer and the contractor. When you evaluate a company, be sure to separate the construction from the design side. This is because you might like their design projects but not their construction ones.
Talk to people from the design team and ask about how they work together during the design stage. See how they have previously worked with clients and how they charge for their designs. As to the construction side, ask questions that you would ask a general contractor.
Ask for references then ask their previous clients regarding the design and building phases. You need to know what went well, what surprises or problems came up, any cost overruns and how they were handled, and how much the clients eventually liked the project.
Another important thing to remember is the total cost of the project and a breakdown of the fees.
Make it a point to have the design company take full responsibility of the mistakes should anything happen. Have this stipulated in the contract.
Hooker Furniture Home Office
Advantages of Hiring a Design-Build Contractor
The greatest things that you will enjoy when you hire a design-build contractor are the same advantages that you get from a general contractor. You also get to simplify the process by hiring a one-stop-shop for construction and design.
Hiring just one company for design and construction means you save significantly. There will also be no disputes between the design and construction departments since they are technically in the same department.
You get to have more design freedom when you deal with just one company. Here, you can control the specs such as the fixtures that you use, finishes and mechanical equipment.
Lastly, find a reputable design-build contractor. He should also be someone who you would like to work with. You would also be likely to save money if you hire a single expert rather than a team of professionals. Make sure also that you keep the plans that you would work with so you can still use them with another contractor (should the need for another expert arise).
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, design contractor, design-build contractor, finding an interior designer, hiring an interior designer, how to find an interior designer, how to hire an interior designer, interior design contractor, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips, working with interior designers
Posted in Design Contractor | No Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2016
FFDM’s Summer Home Collection: The design elements in this bedroom- from the woodworks to the fabrics and metallic decorative pieces – all work to achieve this amazing ensemble.
Designing the interiors of a home can be a daunting project for many homeowners, even for those who are devoted to DIY tasks. Most just delegate the task to skilled professionals but a lot of misconceptions have been looming about when it comes to interior designers, enough to make others shun these experts from helping out.
Majority of homeowners do not know that there are three ways that interior designers work with their clients; first, through full design services, then through design plans and lastly through consultation.
Full Design Services
This is the kind of service rendered by a designer who offers the complete solution to your interior design dilemma. This is the optimized service level that leaves all the hard work to the professionals. This is ideal for people who do not have ample time to run the project. This is also great for those who would want a packaged deal.
Full design service package is chosen by people who want to have a full house renovation. This is also an awesome choice for kitchen design projects and buying furniture for specific rooms.
Hire professionals from this level if you have a low level of tolerance for design frustrations. This is the kind of service that offers a long list of suppliers and dealers.
Find this kind of professional if you want a huge interior design project finished in no time. What you have here is a handful of experts all handled by a project manager who will manage the outsourcing, ordering, inspecting, installation management, and dealing with problems that could suddenly take place.
The Designer: A Visionary
Interior designers are professionally capable of developing a vision on what your home could be. He or she could give you style cues and steps that are needed to fulfill all your orders and installations.
An interior designer prepares concepts, elevation and floor plans, lighting plans, furniture specs, even millwork designs. A designer can work from the conceptualization phase to the completion period.
A designer is also supposed to help you find dependable and qualified people especially when you are having a hard time searching for them. You can attain peace of mind once you see the team of people that the designer has gathered for you.
Designing takes time and decision-making phases which is why you need to have professionals sort these out for you. These experts are especially helpful when your plate is full and when you don’t have time to spare.
What to Expect
An interior design project can take anytime from a few weeks to several months, even up to a year. This depends on how huge the project requirement is. A major interior design project might also require you to attend a number of meetings where you will be informed about the status of the project and other updates. You will also be constantly reviewing the designs and other elements that are going to be brought into your home.
Cost-wise, know that an interior designer is compensated for his or her education level, experience and overall expertise. The fees can be paid hourly or on a per-project basis. The latter (fixed-price interior designers) calculate their project quotes by computing the square footage against their professional fees. Sometimes, they require a certain percentage of the client’s proposed overall budget.
Remember that hiring a professional for your interior design project will save you a lot of time, even headaches. Structural planners include remodeling contractors and architects. The interior designer, on the other hand, is in charge of design elements inside your home. This expert should work closely with the contractor so that they, together, get to achieve what you would want them to achieve.
Cynthia Rowley 6272CR Lulu Bench: Patterns don’t always jive and it takes skills to fuse them into one working group. These are skills that an interior designer must have.
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, finding an interior designer, hiring a designer, hiring an interior designer, hiring design experts, interior designer, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in The Interior Designer | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 10th, 2016
Traditional and modern elements are creatively mixed in this bedroom. The wooden pieces take centerstage as the decorative elements effectively frame their beauty. Featured furniture is from FFDM’s American Cherry Collection.
The artists – oh what wonderful people they are. They seem to be wandering about with creative brains that are filled to the brim with DIY ideas. See their homes and you’d know that they have Midas’ touch. If you envy the creativity exhibited by artists and designers, then you’re not alone. A lot of homeowners also secretly wish that they could just do interior design projects on their own.
Being creative is a choice, though. You just have to learn how to express your identity in your works. In essence, it is a manner of operating or doing things.
Most humans are creative at heart, it’s just that some are more able to express themselves freely than others. If you want to train yourself to become more creative so you can decorate your own home, then here are the characteristics and habits that you should be moulding –
Ritualize
‘Waiting for an inspiration to come? It rarely does. Rather than wait, seek it. Creative individuals are able to push through writer’s block or inspiration famines. These are the people who doodle even when their minds feel empty.
‘Feeling down? Create anyway. You must comprehend the power of consistency.
Lighten Up
You only live your life once so stop taking it too seriously. You can design your home without pulling your hair.
Creative folks know how to have fun. Most of them are playful, even childlike. Adapt the mind of a child whose imaginations know no boundaries. Weed out the mundane and dull. Be excited to live life. There is no such thing as a boring home, just a boring interior design.
So, if you want your home’s interiors to be admired by all, know how to have a little humor in your life.
Explore
Interior designers are naturally curious. These are the people who are often voracious readers. To them, ideas are a fusion of elements that have already existed in the past. All they need now is to harmonize these elements and what they would achieve is no less than a masterpiece.
Pablo Picasso amounted to something (that’s an understatement because he was actually great) because he studied long hours. He feasted upon Iberian and African sculptures displayed in Louvre.
Ideas should be constantly fuelled, remember that.
Be In Touch with Your Higher Self
One of the most amazing creative techniques is the ability to relax and allow your subconscious to do the job for you. Who can better attest to this than Thomas Alba Edison?
Edison was stumped for so many times but he did not buckle. He took the time each day to leave his desk and nap. This may sound easy, even futile, but this is a habit that every creative mind should get used to.
Mastering the art of relaxation can help you switch off from creative problems. Once you wake up, you will marvel at the results.
Mingle
Creative people are interested in other people, at least this is the case in majority of the best designers. These are compassionate people who are drawn to the raw emotions evoked by others.
If most people are not good listeners, then change that. Listen, be interested, say hello to people. You would be surprised at the wave of creative ideas that your friends or relatives will be able to offer to you.
A great interior designer must also have excellent communication skills. You should be able to engage in meaningful conversations. It is in such conversations that you can glean creative ideas.
Adapt
No great designer is considered successful without the ability to adapt. The interior design industry is an ever-evolving world. Study new approaches and techniques in interior design. List down your choices and preferences; understand how each material will work with or against a certain project.
Always be a problem solver, a doer, and a visual person. Once you acquire these skills, you should be able to design the rooms of your home without effort.
Hooker Furniture Corsica Collection: This is the perfect harmony of contradicting elements – from dark and light, curvy and straight, distressed and block colors. The unique vase of greens in the middle of the table provides a fresh divergence.
Tags: benefits of having an interior designer, finding interior designers, hiring an interior designer, interior designer characteristics, interior designer skills, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, The Interior Designer | No Comments »
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