Why
How Hiring a professional can help your project
Bring peace to the
design process
Written by Ela Lindsay Illustrated by Beth Thayer
“The most expensive design decisions are the ones homeowners make that are wrong,” says interior designer Pamela Sandall, owner of Pamela Sandall Designs. She tells the story of a couple who purchased an expensive 96-inch sofa for a small room where a poker table was already set to go. The room couldn’t accommodate both pieces, resulting in a costly error, says Sandall, local chapter president of the national Interior Design Society and a member of the Conejo Association of Professional Interior Designers (CAPID). “Brought in early to a project, a designer can help prevent you from making costly mistakes,” said Wendy Weiner from Westlake Village’s Wendy Weiner Interior Designs, Inc. “(Also), designers know reputable resources that will offer fair pricing and quality workmanship to stay within your budget.” “It’s prudent to call a professional when there’s equivocation,” says Sandall. “Like when someone says, ‘I don’t know what to do with this space’ or, ‘what color should I paint?’ It’s like anything else in life. I
don’t know how to rewire a lamp, so I’ll call in a professional to do the job for me.” Interior designers have access to thousands of products and lines the typical consumer does not, and they can whittle down options to a manageable number for the homeowner to consider. That can save a person time, energy and money. They are also trained to work with other professionals, such as architects and contractors. “There are different ways that a designer can deliver design,” says Sandall. “Full service means someone comes out and takes measurements and talks about wants, needs and goals.” Then the designer takes it from there. On the other hand, homeowners can also utilize just a portion of an interior designer’s services, such as simple room rearrangements or a color consultation. “We can work with what the homeowner already has,” says Sandall. “It’s amazing how far some fresh paint will go toward creating a whole new look.”
It’s amazing how far some fresh paint will go toward creating a whole new look. 26 www.beyondtheacorn.com | fall 2013