Designer Diary

Luci Roper from Luci Living Design gives VIVA the low down on hiring an interior designer and an exclusive insight into her diary.

Luci tells VIVA hiring an interior designer is a smart decision, especially if you have invested a good bit of money into your home, you want a real ‘wow’ factor and to be able to showcase it a designer can help. Often people have no idea where or how to begin when decorating their home or how to pull it all together. Most often the issue arising is that they don’t have time to execute the chosen style and have no idea where to access products required to achieve the look.

Luci tells us to toss aside the idea that interior designers are only for the rich and famous.

“Hiring a designer can help you to avoid costly mistakes that will not only help you save money but can increase the value of your home.” 

Whether an interior designer is a commercial or residential designer, an independent contractor with a personal client base or one who works for a larger firm they will not succeed or be able to secure on-going work unless they excel, add value for money and build themselves a great reputation in the industry.

They should be able to help you save money, access discounts, find products, do the core research, keep on budget, act as a resource, ensure the products chosen are fit for purpose and importantly save you masses of your precious time.

Products that are available to designers that are often not available to the general public and so by accessing a designer’s services you can help to make your home more collected, unique and pulled together.

“In addition to resources, designers usually work with and have many approved contractors. They can save clients time and the worry of trying to identify reliable, contractors, plumbers and electricians for their projects.”

If you are looking to sell a property then a designer can potentially transform or add to the look of your home, which in turn can increase viewings, value and sales.

“Interior design is a skill and an art that will only enhance the space and the quality of your life in the space. Hiring a professional raises the level of that experience and makes your house a home.  

So what does an interior designer do?

VIVA takes a peak into Luci’s ‘Designer Diary’ for this week …….

• Consulting with clients to help determine project goals and objectives
• Generating ideas for the possibilities, function and look of the space
• Creating drawings, illustrations and 3D renderings
• Developing specifications, documents and schedules relevant to the project
• Ensuring compliance with building regulations and furnishing legislation
• Allocating, ordering products, organising and arranging the space to suit requirements
• Visiting shops to purchase furniture, artwork and supplies for creating the desired look
• Project management, monitoring and managing construction and installation of design
• Producing, mood boards, obtaining and presenting samples of fabrics and finishes
• Selecting and specifying fixtures, furnishings, products, materials and colours
• Purchasing products, furnishings and fixtures on behalf of clients
• Providing costings and quotations
• Designing and arranging manufacture bespoke furnishings and interior details
• Designing lighting and specifying
• Advising on flame spread ratings, smoke, toxicity and fire rating classifications and materials
• Space planning and drawing plans
• Problem solving, attending site meetings, meeting with contractors and suppliers
• Determining lighting quality and quantity
• Consulting on acoustics and sound transmission
• Advising on ‘green design’ where possible incorporating renewable, recycled or energy-efficient elements

So what does it take to be an interior designer?

Being artistic, having an eye for design, colour, space and use of contrast and texture and the ability to work with different styles is crucial. A knowledge of construction work and being able to use computer-based software is also important.

If you are looking to hire an interior designer there are other considerations and Luci advises to do your research. Her top tips are to choose someone with good listening skills who is not going to be too pushy or get all ‘diva’ on you, find a designer who’s style you like to begin with and who has a good portfolio. In addition to the ‘pretty stuff’ choose someone who demonstrates excellent organisational, management and decision-making skills. Ask for references from previous clients and definitely choose someone who is going to be able to work as part of a team as they are likely to be dealing with lots of individuals as well as you during the process such as, suppliers, manufacturers, builders and other tradespeople.

Most of all ensure that you get the stunning design you were after, relax and enjoy the experience.