As an Interior Designer, I get a TON of questions about the Interior Design process! While a lot of the questions are a bit too specific to answer without scheduling a consultation, I was able to gather some of the most common questions and answer them for you guys!
Where does an Interior Design fit in with the overall process of building or remodeling a home?
This is a great and very important question. Oftentimes, interior designers are thrown into a project way too late in the process. Ideally, you would start working with an interior designer before you even talk to your architect or contractor.
An interior designer is there to help guide you through making key decisions about your home so that an architect can accurately include those details into your drawings, and the contractor has a clear idea of the finishes you’d like to give an accurate cost estimate. Design decisions should be made before you even start construction.
How do I get started with working with an Interior Designer?
The first step to working with an Interior Designer is scheduling a consultation. During this consultation, both you and the designer will get to know each other. The designer will get a better understanding of the project you’re wanting to take on, including the scope of work and timeline. In return, this is your chance to ask questions and decide if this designer is the right fit for you!
Upon scheduling a consultation with Maria Murphy Creative, we’ll decide if we’d be a good match for each other. After this, you can then secure your spot on my calendar with a non-refundable working retainer (amount depending on the scope of work).
Do I need to pay for a consultation?
This completely depends on the designer. Some designers do charge for their consultations, while others do not. Personally, my consultations are completely free. This is our time to get to know each other so we can both decide if we would be a good fit for each other!
What do Interior Designers charge?
The price of working with an Interior Designer can range VERY broadly. Interior Designers can charge per project, per room, per hour, or even take a percentage of the total price of the project. When a designer charges hourly, they may charge anywhere from $75 to $350+ per hour.
When working with Maria Murphy Creative, estimates are included in your proposal following your free consultation. I personally charge an hourly rate, since the amount of work needed for each of my clients varies drastically depending on the project. I’ve found there is no “one price fits all”, which is why my consultations are crucial in determining an accurate estimate for each of my clients’ projects.
How long does a design project take?
Each project is unique and therefore has completely different timelines. To get a clearer idea of how long your project might take if you were to work with me, you can schedule your complimentary consultation!
Does your designer need to be local?
This one definitely depends on your designer. With everything that happened in 2020, a lot of tools have become available to Interior Designers to be able to work virtually. This means they can serve customers anywhere.
At Maria Murphy Creative, I’m so pleased to be able to work with clients all over the country. With our virtual clients, furniture/decor installation can work one of two ways:
- You hold on to everything that has been bought and delivered to your home. Once it’s all delivered we can fly in and install everything for you as we would for our local clients. That way you still get your “HGTV reveal” moment!
- The final installation is on your own but guided with our designed space planning and floor plan.
Do you provide Architectural Drawings?
It’s important to note that Interior Designers are NOT Architects. Unless an Interior Designer has an architect on staff, that designer will not be able to provide Architectural Drawings.
At Maria Murphy Creative, I’m so thrilled to be able to work hand-in-hand with ALB Design, a design firm out of Charlotte, NC that does provide those architectural drawings. If you’re interested in remodeling or building a brand new home, together with ALB Design or your architect of choice, we can make your dreams a reality!
Ready to create the home of your dreams? Click here to schedule your complimentary consultation!
