Professional interior design help

[organicapricot]

I'd love to decorate our downstairs it's open plan living, kitchen, dining but very defined zones. I just feel its all a bit mismatched and doesn't flow. I have an idea of what I want and the style but I was thinking of asking an interior designer to come and give some ideas. I want someone to come and provide the 'vision' then I'd be happy to put it into practice. Has anyone used a designer for this? Was it worth it?

I have had interior designers & yes it was worth it.

I would say make sure you get a decent one - I know people who do this on a shoe string and because they have done their own house nicely they set themselves up as an interior designer - which to me is no better than getting a trusted friend or two to talk you through what you might do. Make sure you get one with a proper portfolio and recommendations. If all you want is ideas and then you will do everything yourself you will have to pay them a decent consultancy fee for the ideas.

I don't know where you are in the country but look near to you and see who you can find. If it is a relatively small domestic project then find someone who listens to your ideas rather than having their own stamp as it were.

That said @organicapricot paying someone to help can actually save money in the long run by not making mistakes. A good interior designer will make sure everything works together and avoids the " Oh I got this table and this sofa and this table and these curtains & they don't fit well so I have to change one of them "

Not sure if I have got my point across terribly well there but if you can afford it I would do it.

Good luck 😊

Thank you. I'm in Yorkshire. I've seen one I like that seems to charge a daily rate. I agree I think I'd end up buying things I regret then regretting the money spent so an upfront investment to get it right might be better.

Implementing a vision can still be quite tricky, though. Just 1 example: you and designer agree that a picture wall would be great. Hanging pictures so that it looks really great is actually not as easy as it sounds. I once hired a designer: they listened to what I wanted to achieve and helped with the sourcing of items not easily available (sensibly priced antiques, bespoke upholstery, rugs and lampshades etc), but then also came with a drill and assistant and actually put stuff up, including pictures, mirrors, curtains etc. It taught me a lot about how to style a place. They weren't particularly expensive and for the styling/putting up things charged a similar hourly rate that a joiner or builder would charge, and they were quick. The designer was Holly Keeling https://www.hollykeeling.co.uk/projects I'd greatly recommend her, it was money well spent and taught me a lot about how to do things myself.

Oh, just see you are in Yorkshire. Yorkshire to Devon is a long way, but it's common for designers, especially London based ones, to travel or to do video consultations.

I’m in the exact same position OP and also in Yorkshire ( Harrogate) so watching this thread with interest. I don’t know anyone who has used an interior designer so don’t know what to expect . However I really needs some inspiration as I have a tendency to do the same things

Yeah I definitely think the styling makes it. My DP and I also tend to deliberate for ages over things like rugs etc and paint colours so I think having a third party might help us be a bit more brave with the design and I think he'd be more open to it coming from them. We have a 4 yr old too so I want it to be practical also. I always thought interior designers were for very rich people but the more I look into it I can see they work with more modest budgets!

These are a couple I like the style of instagram.com/freshstart_living?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

instagram.com/155interiordesign?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Yes I’d seen the first one and was planning to contact them !

Choosing a designer does depend on your style as, even though designers can be flexible with the look you're going for, if they have done work that is exactly what you want, you're going to be on the same page from the beginning.
Try Karen Knox from Making Spaces - in my opinion (as a fellow designer), there's no one better, and she's super nice and down to earth. If you like what she does, she's very up front with costs on her website, tho I do think she's super over subscribed.

Hey, if you're still looking I'd try My Bespoke Room - amazing reviews and super affordable (£395 per room!). Plus they work nationwide. Seen them on TV recently too.

Here is a link to their reviews. https://www.reviews.co.uk/company-reviews/store/mybespokeroom-com

Hiring an interior designer to provide the initial vision is a fantastic way to kickstart your home transformation. They bring a fresh perspective, expertise in spatial planning, and a deep understanding of design trends and styles.