News

Actions

Angie's List: Deciding On An Interior Designer

Bathroom
Posted at 8:00 AM, Sep 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-20 04:52:21-04

TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - Most of us don’t think twice about calling in a professional when the roof starts to leak or the basement needs painting, but what about when you decide to makeover a room or even your entire house? An interior designer can keep you from regretting the colors you combined or the new flooring that doesn’t stand up to the traffic. 

Elaine Raszkowski has lived in the same house for nearly 30 years. With her children grown and gone, she decided it was finally time for an update, but one big question loomed, “How can I marry this traditional house with all this woodwork with a modern, sleek design? And I thought ‘I need help.’" That’s when she called interior designer Amy Contreras who takes a simple approach with each of her clients.

Elaine remodeled her entire kitchen. She also added new flooring, paint, lighting and artwork around her home, but much of the furniture stayed after getting a fresh cover. 

Angie says the key to hiring the right designer is finding someone who gets to know your tastes and is enthusiastic about your project. She says to look for someone who belongs to the American Society of Interior Designers and has experience with your type of project. Fees can be fixed, an hourly rate or a percentage of the total project, so make sure you understand that from the beginning.