Does anyone know how much it costs to hire an Interior Designer?
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The cost will usually depend upon the scope of the project. Remodelling a living room will not cost you as much as a kitchen.
The best designer will first schedule a consultation with you. During this consultation, they will ask you about your vision and questions about the function of the room. They will basically get to know you so they can design the best room for you.
I'm just a student at this point, but I will give you examples of what I would charge for a room.
For example if you were planning to remodel your kitchen. I would not charge for the first consultation. This would be an in home meeting and I would use this time to get to know you and your family to get a better understanding of your needs. If you decided to use my services, I would schedule a second consultation. Since the average kitchen remodel costs about $35,000, I would charge between 10 and 15% of the total budget. Ten percent for a remodel with minor changes and 15% for a complete gut and the need for an addition. I would probably charge more if this included designing a family room or dining room. If that is the case I would increase the fee to 20%. However, what I would do is try to include my fee into the budget so that my client would spend the least amount as possible. But the basic point is that the more work required on my part, the more that I would charge.
The cost is dependent upon the type of designer that you hire. A designer with an assitant is going to be cheaper than a senior level designer in a firm. I think a lot of designers charge a percentage of the total project cost. I personally think any other way is unfair to the client. And there are some, that will not take on your project unless you spend a specified amount of money. I think Nate Berkus (who didnt go to design school if my memory serves me) used to have a $50,000 minimum.
If I say, it will not save your pocket.
It depends on the designer himself. If you are using a well known one, then it will cost you a lot.
Depends. Some may charge by the hour ($50-75 an hour or more depending on where you live). You may be able to hire someone for a specific job at a specific amount, just like you would a remodel contractor.
Talk to at least 3 designers, and look at some of their work. Find out how they charge, and if there are any additional charges (mileage, per deims, etc).
If you have a specific project, like redoing your living room, then see if you can hire them for that for a set amount of money, rather than an open ended per hour basis.
I would also check references and see how others felt their time management skills were, as if you're paying by the hour, you don't want a slacker.
I'm not sure how much it would cost where you are but in my country, interior designers charge a percentage of the total cost of the project. This is anything between 10 - 15 % of the total cost of the project and is usually paid in phases as the project progresses.Generally though, the standard is about 12 %.
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