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Tuesday, May 29th, 2018
The Campton Grove Fiona chair from Fine Furniture Design is one of the elements that harmonized with the other pieces in this well-designed dining room.
The DIY is a route that many homeowners wish to tread but are hesitant to do so. But as soon as you have figured out how your home would eventually look like, it’s time to ask yourself this crucial question – why should I hire an interior designer?
Interior designers and decorators weren’t as in demand in the 20th century as they are today. Although there is still this ongoing stigma that only the rich should hire an interior designer. But paying for interior design is not so much a question of the availability of funds but more of losing control over the design of one’s home.
There are those who hesitate to collaborate with an interior designer so they end up doing the design project themselves. But what are the downsides to this?
Carpentry Isn’t for Everyone
Admit it. Not everyone is cut out to do carpentry projects. After all, a carpenter is an expert who took the time to learn the skills needed to bring about the perfectionism that their clients require. A slight mistake on your part could lead to a crooked-looking kitchen cabinet for many years.
Hiring an interior designer or a contractor who has teams of expert carpenters, plumbers, and electricians is always the best way to go.
Electricity Is Dangerous
There are permits as well as inspections that need to be done when you’re out to improve the electrical system in your home. And since electrical work requires getting into a dangerous territory, that 90% that you might be able to accomplish on a DIY electrical project just might end up with the other 10% hurting you.
This isn’t a great idea at all.
Flooring Installation Mishaps
Most flooring projects are simply too complex to take on your own. What appears to be straightforward at first could easily result in issues that you weren’t prepared for.
Flooring installation also eats up time and it requires the right kinds of tools and supplies. Do you have the right miters, saw, seam cutters, kickers, spacers, and tackers? Proper installation can only be done with the right set of tools.
Now enough about the downsides of DIY projects. Let’s just look at the brighter side. What can contractors and interior designers do that you and your family cannot?
Home Renovation Package in One
A general contractor can offer you practically every service that you’ll ever need for your home renovation. All you need to do is to sit down with the team and to tell them what you require. The contractor will be the one to do all the arrangements, coordination, and even the scheduling to get your home renovation project done.
Most general contractors can also help you come up with a plan and design that will be executed throughout the project. They know whether it is really needful to tear down walls or to just have a workaround for that for now.
You also won’t have to worry about safety during construction because the general contractor will take care of that, too. Also, the team is insured (well at least make sure that they are). The liability insurance will take off the huge risk on your part should there be mishaps that will happen during the renovation.
General contractors are more than qualified – they are actually licensed. A licensed expert such as he and his team are experienced when it comes to the processing of inspections, permits, and being on par with code requirements.
Lastly, when it comes to design, interior designers have an access to the widest selections of furnishings, wall coverings, fabrics, etc. Plus these experts have already established a professional relationship with many of these dealers which is why it is best to get in touch with them and just let the experts handle the renovation job.
Tags: benefits of hiring a contractor, design contractor, general contractor, interior designer vs DIY, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, The Interior Designer | Comments Off on DIY or Hire A Contractor?
Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
1586-90966-BRN Swell King Shelter Upholstered Bed: The airy atmosphere here achieved can be your next project or your project with an interior designer.
As soon as you have figured out what your home would look like, the next big question is – should you do-it-yourself or hire an expert? Or is it possible to have the best of both worlds?
Interior design was not a known profession before the 20th century. Back then, homeowners designed their houses unless they were royalty who had people doing things for them. A lot of people still think that you still need to be a palace dweller in order to hire a designer. Others are simply afraid of the cost (or at least the perceived costs). Still some think not of the cost but are afraid that the result might not reflect their preference or taste.
Advantages of DIY Projects
Designing your home simply means that you won’t have to hire someone and pay him to do it for you. The results will also show your personal taste and you can proudly take credit for all of your work. If you have done a DIY project in the past and were successful, then you shouldn’t have trouble doing it again.
Whether the DIY project works for you or not actually depends on your strengths. It is as simple as knowing what makes you tick and finding the items that define what you like.
DIY projects can be done in phases, more often than not, as the funds allow. You also don’t need to explain what you want to a complete stranger.
The Downside of Doing it Yourself
Primarily, you could mess the project up and if you are working on a bi-budgeted project then you might have to live with the errors for many years. It’s either this or you pay a hefty amount of money just to make the nightmare go away.
You must have the ability to visualize. If you believe that you’re not the creative type then you have to recognize the fact that you need help.
FFDM Highlands Collection
Working with an Expert and Being a DIY Enthusiast
Or you could go down the less traveled path of working with a designer or a decorator. Two heads, as the saying goes, is always better than one so this cooperative thing should work for the better. There are many alternative working arrangements that you two could consider.
Perhaps you could consider hiring a decorator who is paid by the hour. This expert should be able to help you plan the layout, seek out the right kinds of furniture, shop for fabrics and select the right colors. After you get help on these things, you will be better able to execute the plan on your own. Of course, not all designers would sign up for small assignments, hence, find the ones that are paid by the hour.
You can design the project on your own and eventually hire a pro to guide you throughout the selection process.
If working with an actual designer makes you feel uncomfortable, then you can always go for a virtual designer. There is now a growing number of interior designers who are now posting their portfolios online. You can get in touch with them, send photos of your proposed floor plan, then ask for their professional fee. You can do all these without even meeting them in person.
You can also work with someone from a furniture store. There are shops that offer decorating or designing services. Some will work with you on the project – free of charge – for as long as you buy furniture from their shop. If you really love the furniture shop and the pieces that they sell, then, obviously, their stuff is the way to go.
Tags: diy interior design, DIY projects, interior designer vs DIY, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, The Interior Designer | No Comments »
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