Converting an ordinary house into a beautiful, breath-taking dream home can be easy if you get a talented and experienced interior designer. Be it for remodelling an existing abode or designing a new home, working with experienced designers helps, for they have the knowledge of design, trends, and most importantly, what works and what doesn’t.
Home design isn’t just about aesthetics, but also the functionality. The interior designer will work as per your vision and turn your home into a functional and pleasing place. For this to happen smoothly, there has to be communication, sharing of ideas, and trust amidst all the stakeholders. This is why a design consultation meeting is necessary.
What is a home-interior design consultation meeting?
The first meeting with your interior designer is crucial, as it helps move the project forward. The home-interior design consultation meeting enables you to acquaint with the designers as well as the project.
While doing renovation or redecoration, decision making tends to pose a challenge. There are several factors at play, such as choosing the right paint and, then, the correct shade, furniture, upholstery, plumbing and electrical style and equipment, tiles, carpets, decorative items, and so on. The consultation meeting helps you all the stakeholders understand what is required and, then, what should be done. It helps build a smooth foundation, so your work starts on the right note and is executed smoothly.
It is best to meet the designers at your home because it would help them see the space, understand its specifications, and take measurements and notes if required. In a way, the first meeting flags off the project helps clear your doubts and concerns and forms a clear picture on planning and execution.
What happens at the meeting?
Sharing of ideas
You have a vision, and the designer has a sounding board. Most of the time, we get inspired by designs we notice in magazines, TV shows, celebrity homes or even at a friend’s house. However, we remain unsure if they will work for us. Subtle details, such as a wall or floor tiles, wallpaper or accessories, have to be worked out in such a way that they work well in your space.
The meeting will help you fine-tune your vision, accept new suggestions and drop abstract or non-executable ideas. The designer will work with you to avert expensive pitfalls and create a design that you will love.
Preparation from both sides
If you have given the designer a rough idea about the scale of the project, they will come prepared with their plan. Once they see the space, they may also promptly come up with a revised, more-suitable plan.
What you should do is present your design ideas clearly. You can show them images from the internet, magazines or photographs to further elaborate on your ideas. You can also bring along swatches, accessory designs, fabrics, etc., to explain what you want. It always helps to clarify via illustrations or live demonstrations than with mere descriptions. So, prep up well for the meeting.
A one-point resource channel
At your design consultation meeting, you get the expertise of not only an experienced interior designer but also various other resources to help you in the renovation work. These resources could be contractors, product suppliers, etc. The designers can help you get quality materials and experienced workers at the best rates. It will be a one-point reliable resource, so you don’t have to roam about searching for service providers and ending up with dishonest and unreliable people.
Answers to your questions and some more questions
You can expect honest and clear solutions to all your questions. If you have a query about expenses or materials, the designers will help you understand the process. They will also give you alternatives in the cases where some of the accessories or materials you might have in mind would not fit in your budget or suit the space of your home.
At the same time, the other side will also have ample questions. They may want to seek answers to their queries, like if you need a theme, how you visualize the function of your home and each room, what type of design you are comfortable with, your budget, etc. Answer them as articulately as you can, so that there is clarity at the execution level.
Better and clearer decisions
You may have a design in mind but converting it into reality means going through thousands of minute details. For example, selecting tiles can be a confusing experience if you do not decide on the design and material beforehand. A tile store will have thousands of patterns in the display, and it will only make you more confused if you go without a plan.
Designers have not just the right knowledge, but also access to modern technology. They will be able to create a visual representation of a new design, so you can see what works and what doesn’t. And yes, all of this can happen in the first meeting itself! Having a visual presentation through drawings on paper or computer will help you make better and more practical decisions. The consultation meeting is to help you finalize the designer and other subtleties. Further, when you make a clear decision, your second meeting may even kick off the project implementation process without any delays!
House tour and site measurement
Your designer will have to put up a design for you taking into account several factors, ranging from your taste and preferences to the expanse of the space and functions of each room. At the design consultation meeting, the designer may like to measure the area and, also, take a tour around. They may want to know the functions of each room, and how you see the rooms with reference to the design. It will help the designer understand your relationship with space and, thus, come up with a curated, customized home design that well with your taste, vision and lifestyle.
Budget planning
Perhaps, the most crucial aspect of home designing is the budget. Your designer can give you a tentative budget during the consultation meeting. They will also help you plan your budget wisely. Sometimes, what you think might be expensive turns out to be within your budget and other times, what you consider as cheap turns out to be costly and even unnecessary. Thus, your designer will help you spend your money more wisely and provide insights into where you should be spending and where you shouldn’t.
Allow trust
It is not easy to bring in someone inside your home and talk about what works and what doesn’t. A designer has worked on hundreds of homes before, and they have the right education and knowledge about designs and other factors. You will have to trust them with their ideas and views.
At times, you may not agree with some of their suggestions, but eventually, their inputs may give out some of the best features to your home. At the consultation meeting, try to chalk out a middle path. Feel free to pose your queries, but also allow the designer to come up with his design without any pressure.
A design consultation meeting is your first step towards designing or remodelling your home. Make it fruitful with honest opinions, frank discussions and in-depth communication. If your session goes well, you will be able to start work on your project promptly. You may or may not end up with the same designer, but the process will help you understand your vision better and, thus, get the best design for your home.