Working With Designers

Bretwr

I am curious do any of the esteemed contributors to this board have an opinion on working with designers (Interior)? It seems to me if you're interested in serving the high-end it would be a natural. Please comment. Thanks. Bretwr.

Teetorbilt

Standby, I have to sack out now. The majority of my business has to do with dealing with them and I've been at it for many years. I could write a book. Think over your questions and I'll be back.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Melissa

My husband definitely complains about some, but some others, well one mainly that is great but he was a GC in the passed and grew up in the business. The one's that bug him are the one's that tell the HO's that they have some one that will do x for a hell of a lot cheaper then what we quote them! Otherwise, I think it makes the job run smoother, and turn out looking better.

Double-A

That would toast my buns but good. We try never to run down another service professional especially when we're working with one on the job, but to have one tell a client that someone else can do it for less is so close to slander that I would not hesitate to call them up and tell them so.

I would like to talk to the person that decided that the word "profit" was an offensive word.

Teetorbilt

Most ID's are more concerned with quality as opposed to price. To the HO, they're to ones running the show and the finished product is a reflection of their work. They're also the ones that catch the flak when things go wrong or aren't up to par.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

copusbuilder

I've just never had much luck with them.
The ones I have dealt with ask for proposals 15 different ways and then change it two more times for good measure. They run you through the mill and then when you are no longer smiling they talk nasty about you.....I guess I just don't have the patience to deal with them....They are like realtors....they should be hung by their B???ls or T???ts

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phinsher

I've come to the conclusion that interior desingners are no different than builders, painters, electricians etc. There are designers out there that range from Very Good to Very Very BAD. If you're lucky enough to catch onto a good one then congratulations and stick with them. If you snag a bad one, be prepared for hell x 10 and some nasty talk behind your back. And if it comes down to the shady head games, cut your losses and run.

PS there are many folks out there that call themselves designers and decorators that have no qualifications to prove their legitimacy. There are several terms tossed around to describe these types. "Decorina" is the one thats always stuck in my mind. In my state in interior designer needs a special license as if anyone pays attention to the law

Melissa

That's a good point. How do you check their qualifications anyway?

Double-A

CALIFORNIA
Type of Act - Title Act
Self-Certification - "Certified Interior Designer"

Post-HS Education & Experience Required:
Education: None
Total Education Plus Experience: 6-8 years depending on education

Examination Required:
NCIDQ or CQRID or CKD and CBD exams plus the CCRE

Grandfather Clause:
Expired 12/31/92

Continuing Education for Renewal:
10 hours per biennium

Year Passed:
1990, amended 1991 extended to 2002

State Board or Agency:
California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC)
1605 Grand Avenue, Suite #4
San Marcos, CA 92069-2440
Phone - (760) 761-4734
Fax - (760) 761-4736
Web site - California Council for Interior Design Certification
E-mail - ccidc@ccidc.org

Double-A

For other states, click here and scroll down to your state.

http://www.asid.org/Asid/Templates/G...est#CALIFORNIA

Teetorbilt

All of the ones that I work with are ASID/ something. NCIDQ is prominent also. I believe that both require a 4 yr. degree.

For $25 I could be a DECORATOR tomorrow. LOL. I have no taste except for woodwork.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Eric K

I have had very good luck with them, as stated before they are more concerned about quality than price, and if you get in with them and they know your quality you can charge even a lil more and they will push for you to get it. Even more so when you add in their lil bonus for getting you the job. I love doing work for them because the finished product is always better than a homeowner going out and just winging stuff. My .02

Teetorbilt

KBK, you are right on all points, especially the finished product. An ID can more than justify the price of a project to the HO.

Anybody can throw in Cherry cabinetry and granite countertops. An ID can make it all an experience and make the HO forget the $$$$.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Melissa

Thanks for the info Double-A. However, I'm still not sure that this is a way to determine if someone is a "certified designer", because there is a designer that I know of that doesn't come up under the, "Verify the Status of a CID", who I know for a fact is and is very successful at that.

I searched for this info a few months ago, when my husband came home complaining about the designer I mentioned above that kept telling our customer that she could get stuff for cheaper through people he knew (must have been slave labor, because the prices we were giving were very cheap). Anyway, I tried to do a search to find this guys qualifications out of curiosity, and couldn't find his name on any of the lists on-line, so I also tried the name of the other designer who we have a lot of respect for to gage it by, but neither names were on any of the lists.

Double-A

Send an e-mail to the address I posted and ask about the designer you don't like. From what I'm reading there, they are required to show experience and register with the state, or they are working illegally.

Unfortunately, this applies to your friend as well. You could just call up your friend and ask them how to verify someones 'Interior Designer' creditials.

It may also be that this is nothing but a state sponsered revenue mill to allow folks to become a member of a professional organization recognized by the state.

I think its just a way for ID's to show state certification, even if that certification is not required.

Bretwr

Thanks for the feedback. I have heard that many designers 'get' a percentage of everything they touch including the contractors job. Is this a standard practice?

UnitedMA

We have actually done some interior painting for a few designers and they make great referrals!

Leo G

I find that most ID have great conceptual ideas but have no clue at how to make them real. I have seen designs with small islands that have drawers on all 4 sides. Try to explain to them that you can't do that and they will likely tell you try to make it work. I have made some of the ID ideas work, but they seem disappointed with them because you have to take something out because on 2D paper it looks great but in the 3D world it can't possibly work. The more experienced ID are nice to work with. These are the one who have been told by the people who do the actual making that this won't work, and they remember that it doesn't work. All in all I dislike working for ID because they make it harder for you with their conceptual ideas. If you can't make it work they blame you and if you do make it work they take all the credit. Just MHO.

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KitchenSync

*cough* Well, being one of them, I think it's like every other trade; there are good ones and...others who need some hard seasoning. Only you can figure out the fit. I work for a design-build firm now, but I've met a lot of kindred spirits in all aspects of construction, and I'm not planning on giving it up anytime soon.

Here's what you might consider looking for:

* chosing the designers you'll work with as carefully as you choose your clients. If you don't yet know what that means, you will. Life's too short not to have good people in your life.
* designers with some installation knowledge; who understand that a drawing without installation knowledge is just a pretty picture (and yes, there are many who don't. Goes back to the wide varieties of trade). Most professionals I know have a pretty strong grasp of what they need. Or, if they don't, they'll work it out with you pretty carefully before final drawings.
* designers who realize mistakes funnel through to the crew and do everything they can to both avoid it and help you smooth the way with the client.
* designers who understand they're a part of a team, not a speshul snowflake. (Yes, I know. I've seen some. My apologies. )

I like to think we're all looking for the same thing: professionals who take pride in their work, who like pleasing the clients, and who believe all of us deserve to head home at the end of the day with some money in our pockets.

And Leo, I grew up in the cabinet business. I suspect if we were closer, it could have been fun to work together.

woodworkbykirk

the larger percent of the jobs ive worked on with an interior designer were hellish, the HO confronted my boss as to why things were costing so much more than the original quote it came down to countless change orders from the original spec of work

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