Hiring a designer for the first time is a big step no matter what age you are and how many dwellings or houses you have lived in. While many people hesitate because going with a pro IS an expense, we believe that hiring the right person or team actually saves you money in the long term by preventing costly mistakes, streamlining decision-making, and ensuring investments are made wisely.
Read on for five ways in which choosing a designer can be a good financial decision as well as an aesthetic one.
1. We think about the bigger picture and the smallest details.
Finding a deal for a dining room table online feels like a win…until you realize you have to also purchase new chairs, swap out your china cabinet for a new one that accommodates that new table, and potentially change up your art. An experienced designer can help take your project from concept to completion while keeping an eagle eye out for potential bumps along the way.
We take care of critical details like measurements while making sure to consider the style and structure of the space in order to design a space that feels balanced and a reflection of your story and values.
2. Designers keep an eye on your budget and help you make decisions accordingly.
When you work together with Sara Hillery Interior Design on creating your vision, we can help you determine where your priorities (and potential splurges) lay and where you can or should spend more conservatively.
For example, a bedroom redo for a teen could include prioritizing a welcoming bed and accessories to encourage good sleep hygiene, a comfortable desk chair for hours of homework, and a closet to accommodate all the latest fashions, while focusing less on expensive wallpaper that will inevitably get covered up by short-lived art as tastes evolve.
By working through the project from the start, we can craft a budget that considers upfront costs as well as others that might pop up along the way.
3. Designers have the inside scoop (and often insider pricing) for sources.
We have done dozens of home and space renovations and transformations, and we are constantly looking at new vendors, trends, and designs. We’ve also spent years cultivating relationships with design sources, and we know which ones create and deal in trustworthy, quality products that stand the test of time (and which ones are not worth the price tag and will likely result in you having to spend more money down the road). These relationships also mean that we may get better-than-retail pricing and that we can make specific requests or changes to their typical array of offerings.
4. Time is money, and yours is very valuable.
Coordinating the purchase, shipping, handling and placement of each piece in a design takes time as does collaborating with contractors and architects.
Our designers serve as project managers, which means your days (and precious free time) are not spent poring over tracking notifications or trying to get a hold of busy tradespersons.
5. We have a well-trained eye and an open mind.
Over the years, we have worked with clients at all ages and stages of life: single retirees, young families, empty nesters, and everything in between. We’ve also designed spaces that range from traditional to modern to eclectic. We understand that the fabric choices of an urban dwelling, 50-something who loves to host post-pickleball wine tastings is going to vary quite a bit from that of a suburban couple with two kids under the age of three and a menagerie of pets!
Our mission is to bring comfort, functionality, and joy to your living spaces, and we’ll offer expert design advice to help you best honor the lifestyle phase you are currently in while also planning for the future.
First-time hiring a designer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Let’s chat.
