Anyone ever used an interior designer to help decorate a house?

[Pennies]

If so what were your experiences?

Was it expensive?

Any other comments really.

I used the service which came with Laura Ashley and was singularly unimpressed. I got the impression (friend making over her house at same time who tried various designers agreed) that interior designers do not expect you to live with what they do for very long (as it will become "unfashionable") and you will make over your rooms every couple of years because of this. Not quite what I had in mind - I wanted the curtains etc to last for the next 10 years and a colour scheme to match. So it depends what you want in that regard. I would recommend contacting someone who appears just to make curtains and see if they spill over into other things. I did that and the lady has proved to be full of ideas for the house - has made cushions/accessories etc - has the eye for colours and textures that I lack - and her services are in effect free apart from the actual items made.

We got one of those house doctor types round when we were having trouble selling our house. Told her the budget (a few thousand, just to tart the place up a bit). She came back with suggestions for 30 grands worth of improvements that we just had to make. Stupid poncey cow.

Moral of this story - only use someone that has been recommended, or maybe that you've seen their work in a magazine. Don't pick someone out of the phone book.

I know that's not entirely relevant to what you asked, but it's put me off all interior design 'professionals' for life!

I used a local shop once - just went in looking at wallpaper and different floor stuff etc. He realised I was planning to do three rooms and offered to come out with the books and samples one evening when dh was about to discuss it more. Helped pick out paint colours etc. I guess we started with a wall paper I liked and went from there. I really like what we ended up with and it didn't cost anything (apart from buying the stuff) wasn't really trendy so hasn't dated.

Yes - shaky start....they sent us a 20 something light weight girlie who wrote us an extraordinary letter after our initial consultation saying that she couldn't help us!

Dh rang up - somewhat piqued, and the owner came to see us. He was a bit up himself but very knowledgeable. He got us to do a tour of the house pointing out what we were happy with and what we no longer liked (to guage what our tastes are)...and then came back to us with some exquisite recommendations for wallpapers and curtain fabrics. I lack the 'eye' to have picked these out myself, but when I saw what he was proposing it completely worked....

I think you are best off buying a load of Interiors Mags and cutting out rooms that you like or elements of rooms that you like (pictures of mirrors or rugs or lamps etc) then stick them all in a big scrap book. Normally a definite theme emerges, giving you something to work from. I have had my house completely renovated. Every room redecorated, recarpeted/floored, and new kitchen, family bathroom etc. I am good at fabric and colour but not so good on gadgets (because I dislike them) and modern stuff. I think anything you do should be liveable with for at least 10 years (save for a lick of paint here and there). One of my neighbours is constantly changing the themes of her rooms, whole room-sets change on a regular basis, yet when she changes the rooms they actually look pretty much the same (I haven't pointed this out to her!). I make some of my own curtains and blinds but I have found a brilliant local woman who makes the most fabulous curtains, very reasonably! On the whole, people are pleased with their rooms when they truly reflect their taste..... less likely if you employ someone else to choose for you.