Tag: budget

What Can I Skimp On in the Design Process and Where Should I Spend Serious Money?

It is never a good idea to start out by trying to skip anything in the design process because so much is very important in order to figure out what you really want so your design team can best advise you, but there are some short cuts you can do to save money.

For the Client

Depending on the scope of your project, you can save money by doing your homework. If you are only doing furnishings, familiarize yourself with whatever style you like and give your designer photos. If you can determine what pieces you definitely want to use, photograph them and dimension them so your designer won’t have to. If your project is more extensive such as a remodel or construction, again research your plumbing, appliance and cabinet preferences and give your designer some input to get the project moving in the right direction.

Never skimp on planning and discussing your final goal, but if you can do some of the leg work and shop yourself, you can help lessen the costs of your designers’ fees. If you choose to skimp on the details, your result could be problematic. Spending money should be a result of a well prepared budget inclusive of all costs from your designer and your contractor. I would never skimp on the finishes…that said, you usually can find lesser costly alternatives so the overall look won’t suffer. Always try not to give up on your dreams, but maybe you can live with the ceramic floor while keeping the stone countertops. Keeping your electronics simple is a way to save money and less lighting with less complicated switching can also save money. Never skimp on safety but you can possibly live with less costly materials which could be upgraded at a later date if you so choose.

Sometimes while we are shopping with a client, they will see something that is absolutely the most beautiful item they have ever seen and it is fatal to their budget. If this happens to you and you can’t live without it, go ahead and determine what the damage will be to your budget and determine how best to go about incorporating it into your plan. If you have to wait until a later date to do something, maybe that is the solution, or finding less costly items for the balance of the project, but usually that is not the case. Remember, a budget is only that, an estimate of what things could cost…you are in the driver’s seat, so your designer can’t make you over-spend, only embarrass you into doing so! Discuss with your designer what could be done so you can have that wonderful item. Recently we did that with one of our own projects…the client wanted an antique item which was so out of the budget, we determined we could do without a table in the corner of the library and only do a floor lamp instead of a table. We also used some of his existing pieces which helped balance the budget. There are a lot of ways to stay on track, but most likely you will go over the budget, so factor that into your overall cost scenarios and have a contingency plan for just such occasions.

For the Designer

When your client wants to control the spending, let them know this is their option, and let them know you will work with them on this issue…all while attempting to give them the best possible look without overspending. This is really difficult to do because most clients don’t know everything they will encounter while working on this project…you should. Most clients go over their budget, but to start off by doing so will most certainly create negative consequences later. We had a client who told us if they really wanted to purchase something over the budget, they would make that decision…after about eight such decisions, they were complaining about how they were so over budget and that we had to finish their project without any profits…guess how that one came out! Remember to caution your clients about going over the budget and if you are the one suggesting they do, then you need to be prepared for an inevitable argument or have a solution on how to achieve the overall budget with an alternative to bring the budget in line.

For the Designer and Client

Remember, a budget only includes what you have included and if you determine to go over budget, there should be no blame unless you have been deceived, so don’t deceive your client and clients should not try to deceive their designers…it ruins relationships.

Everyone Has Needs

When a client calls a designer for an appointment to interview each other, it is somewhat understood they need your help otherwise they would not have called you. While some clients don’t know how to express themselves, a designer MUST know how to interpret their comments and ask the appropriate questions.

For the Designer

Some clients will say the most outrageous things to their designer trying to get the designer to know what they want, but they don’t always use the correct terms. Once a client told me she “HATED” Art Deco, however whenever we shopped together, she only like those pieces which were Art Deco inspirations. When I pointed this out to her, she was astonished….what she really hated was early American…go figure. Some clients will tell you they hate antiques while their spouse loves antiques. Suggest a compromise, not one which will create one room of antiques, but integrate antiques in a contemporary manner, such as a French Bombe chest with a contemporary painting, lamp and area rug in a hallway, or minimize the amount of traditional or antique pieces so there is a well-rounded balance of contemporary and antiques.

The key is to listen and give them what they want, however it has to work well together and meet with your approval as well as the client’s. While you should never compromise your beliefs, you must always convey your opinions in a direct yet courteous manner to your client and your client should do the same with you. Often, I can’t get a client to do what I know to be the best options for their home, however I will let them know this is not what I think is best, but that they have to live with their decisions…I then at that moment will know if I will be able to photograph their home for my portfolio or not…some clients won’t care but they should have what they want.

For the Client

When you decide to work with the designer of your choice, discuss with them any and all issues facing the overall project, whether is it differences you and your spouse have, pieces from Grandma, budgets, and expectations, but remember, you will get an opinion which is not yours and you need to be open and listen to the suggestions. You may be surprised your designer can do this with such little effort, but if you know you won’t like these ideas, let them know in a polite manner for we don’t read minds, and we only give opinions which will work if we know all of the parameters. Changing your mind is okay, but making this a habit will drive your designer crazy and if you plan any deceptions, it will backfire…be open and honest without any fear…if you are, then there should be no surprises.

For the Designer

Sometimes it is a question of expense, or a reminder of their old Aunt Jane’s house, or some other preconceived influence over their decision process. Give them alternatives they can afford or a piece which will achieve their idea of how they see themselves. Remember, you don’t live there, yet you do need to be proud of your work…sometime it simply won’t work, so then it is only a paycheck and a satisfied customer. One of the worst experiences I’ve ever heard involved a wonderful designer who is a friend of mine…his client fired him over a discrepancy over costs. When the designer originally asked the client what his budget was, the client responded….”we have no budget.” What the designer heard was, it was an unlimited budget and found astonishing things with high price tags. When the client saw the prices, he thought the designer was trying to take advantage of him. The designer was not being unfair, but those costs were not for the timid. You must always make your opinions, your thoughts, your ideas and concepts very clear to your client…some will never understand specific issues, so then you need to ask them to trust you, and then you can’t disappoint, and take my advice, always let a client know how expensive items are when you show them the pieces…that way you will not shock them with your proposals.

For the Client

While a designer will always want to finish your project with the best intentions in mind, don’t be afraid to tell them something is too costly or not your taste. While most designers can do some things less costly, if you only choose the cheapest items they show you, your project will most likely look like a budget project rather than a well balanced piece of work. If you control your designer too much, it won’t be something special. Once client begged me to not let her fall into the same old trap of being boring…she then only approved things which were cheap, beige and boring…guess what, it was really boring…the same as she had before, but beige and not grey, and she was unhappy with the results, but she knew why and could not break her streak of being boring.

For the Designer and the Client

One of my most successful projects was one that I did not like how it turned out…while the client was wonderful, their taste was too wild for me, but they knew what they wanted and I gave it to them in full. They have gotten me more referrals, not for how lovely the apartment was, but because they were so happy working with us, that others hired us to work with them as well, and those projects were some of our most successful collaborations. Remember, compromise and understanding is a two-way street…

Next up…how to use those irritating old pieces from “Aunt Jane”…