What to Expect from an Interior Design Initial Consultation
Be Prepared
This is a great opportunity for you to meet the designer and see if they are a good fit for you and your project. Prepare any questions in advance but do not expect to have ‘on-the-spot’ design solutions during this meeting! This is just the first step in the design process.
It would be helpful to have a think about what you like about the room and what you dislike, what furniture and accessories do you want to keep and what new things might you want the designer to source for you? Are there any visuals you can show the designer to help explain your style preferences? It is also helpful to think beforehand about your budget for the project.
Questions
An initial consultation with an interior designer is all about information gathering, they will want to get to know you and understand your project requirements.
Be prepared to answer lots of questions about yourself; your lifestyle, hobbies, work, likes & dislikes, questions about your project; how you want to use the space, how you want it to feel, furniture needs, storage needs, budget, time scales etc. The designer will make lots of notes during the meeting and may also do a site survey to take measurements and photographs of the space or they may arrange to return to do this another time.
Next Steps
At the end of the meeting the designer should discuss a plan of action with you. You will agree what particular interior design service is required for your needs.
Following the initial consultation, the designer will analyse all the information they have gathered and formulate a design brief for your project. If you work with me I will provide you with a copy of the brief alongside an inspiration board to give an indication of the direction of the design to check I have understood your needs correctly. This is usually followed up by a fee proposal and contract.
Once the contract has been agreed the designer will get to work on your bespoke design.