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How much is
this going to cost?
It depends on what you want. There are many variables including the size of
the project (one room or whole house?), quality of products selected
(custom or prefabricated cabinets?), and the timeframe in which the project
needs to be completed (two weeks or two months?). Developing the budget is
a partnership between the client and the designer. As the client, you
should have an active role in developing the budget. If you're unsure about
costs, your designer can help. Be honest with your designer about your
budget. A professional designer assesses your needs and helps you determine
where to spend and where to save, prioritizing expenses while creating an
interior that is within your budget. Also, remember that not everything has
to be completed at once. Your designer can develop a long-range plan,
consult with you to establish a list of priorities and determine a time
line for accomplishing your project.
Designers, like other professionals, are different from one another
in their combinations of talents, skills, knowledge, experience,
personalities, specialty areas and reputations. What and how they
charge will vary accordingly.
There is no such thing
as a “typical” or "customary" fee for an interior
designer. Many factors, including those mentioned above, influence
what a designer may charge for his or her services. Most residential
designers and many commercial designers use one of the following methods,
or combine methods, to set their fees and may negotiate to suit a client's
particular needs:
- Fixed fee (or flat fee) -- The designer identifies
a specific sum to cover costs, exclusive of reimbursement for
expenses. One total fee applies to the complete range of services,
from conceptual development through layouts, specifications and final
installation.
- Hourly fee -- Compensation is based
on actual time expended by the designer on a project or specific
service.
- Cost plus -- A designer purchases
materials, furnishings and services (e.g., carpentry, drapery
workrooms, picture framing, etc.) at cost and sells to the client at
the designer's cost plus a specified percentage agreed to with the
client to compensate for the designer’s time and effort.
For larger commercial
projects, costs may be calculated on a per square foot basis, based on the area of the
project.
In addition to the fee
structures outlined above, designers may require a retainer before
beginning a design project. A retainer is an amount of money paid by the
client to the designer and applied to the balance due at the termination of
the project. The retainer is customarily paid upon signing the contractual
agreement in advance of design services.
At one time, cost plus
was the most widely used fee structure for residential designers. It
is becoming more common now for designers to charge an hourly rate for
design services and cost plus for products and services the designer is
asked to purchase or a fixed fee for the entire project.
In addition to the
designer’s fees, there are other costs to consider. Only you
can decide what a reasonable budget for your project is. If you have
concerns about price, discuss them with the designer. Don’t be
shy about asking the designer to help you optimize your budget. But
be realistic, too. You may need to scale back your project or
consider having the work done in stages. If you are concerned about
the quoted cost of furniture or furnishings, ask the designer to provide
you with a list of options.
A final word about
cost: How you choose to furnish your interior and how you work with
your designer will have tremendous impact on the final cost of the
project. Items such as antiques or custom-made furniture, and
modifications that involve altering or moving load-bearing walls or beams
will significantly increase the cost of your project, as will requesting
changes mid-project or making excessive demands on the designer’s
time. The more research and planning you do before you start, the
more you will be able to help keep costs down during the project.
For more information on ASID, please click on their logo: 
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