As someone that demands good value, I can understand that some people are reluctant to spend on a designer if they feel it might be a bit frivolous.
Naturally being designers we have some pretty strong opinions on the subject so, in our experience, here are the headlines.
Experience
Sounds obvious, I know, but experience has real value in avoiding potentially costly mistakes, planning ahead and reducing stress by helping you through the process. A planning application is relatively simple if you know what the Local Authority expects but can be a confusing conundrum of standardised letters if your new to it. Statutory permissions
We understand these can be baffling sets of requirements, a good designer will take away the mystery and stress of the processes so you can focus on being excited about the end result.
Decision making and visualisation
Whether its mood boards, photo-real renders sketches or plans a designer can help you work through the sometimes overwhelming possibilities, to refine what you want and give you some definitive options to choose from.
Questions answered
This process generates a lot of questions. Your designer will be there to explain processes, timings, help straighten out misunderstandings with your contractor or simply give you a second opinion about that key purchase or incorporating a family heirloom.
Coordination
There are a lot of factors that need to be considered and brought together harmoniously in building and renovations. A designer will have an overview of all of these aspects and co-ordinate the design not only from aesthetics but functionality and usability as well. Before you know it the builder will be asking for socket types and locations and if all that information is readily available on the drawings you avoid rushed decisions and things ending up in the wrong places.
Unlocking hidden space
Adding more space isn’t always the right answer, as designers we will look at how the existing space is used, flows, functions and feels. By taking a new approach you can often restructure the existing space to provide more value and impact than an extension ever could.
Bringing the practical side
Wouldn’t it be amazing if your home made life blissfully easy- and wouldn’t it be even more incredible if your home was as restorative and as much of a treat for the senses as a weekend away in a fancy hotel. Now I’m not saying everyone should try and make your home a hotel, there will still be life admin to do- laundry, dishes etc. But if your home makes these tasks as easy and efficient as possible your home will in turn become a joy to be in and the time you spend in it rewarding.
Value for money
Aside from making sure than the project brings the maximum benefit to you, maximises your property value and preventing costly mistakes many designers are able to arrange discounts on furniture and finishes. They will have done the research and made the contacts that could easily save you the cost of the designers fees throughout the project.
So what are you waiting for...
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