FAQs About Interior Design and Decorating

What should I look for in an interior designer and what can I expect to pay?

In order to hire the best designer in your area, you must first understand what you want and what your budget is. Try refining your needs by talking to friends, neighbors, and business acquaintances to find referrals. If that doesn't work, call the local American Society of Interior Designers or visit their national website for a referral.

You are looking for an interior designer whose portfolio shows results you like and reflects your own needs—both functionally and aesthetically. Depending on your project, you may want a designer who has passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam and is a full member of either the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

Whatever you decide, make sure you like this person. After all, you must be able to communicate your needs and believe the designer is listening. Designers may be in your life for an extended period of time.

If all else fails, try looking through magazines for designers' works you like and then call the magazine for that designer’s name and contact information. Above all, have fun.

Price? It varies. A beginning designer may charge as little as $35 an hour and take much longer than a seasoned professional. An exceptional, award-winning, well-established member of ASID or NKBA may charge as much as $250 an hour.

This is not always a case of getting what you pay for, however. Make sure the designers you are considering show you past designs that reflect the look and feel of what you want before signing a contract. Also, make sure you have a way to resolve grievances. Ask to see proof of insurance and make sure any professional organization such as ASID or NKBA shows your designer to be in good standing.

What do I do about the "popcorn" ceilings in my house?

Older popcorn ceilings often contained asbestos fibers. To check if yours does, use a spray bottle to thoroughly wet an area about 1 foot square and then scrape some of the wet material into a baggy. That way no fibers will fly around the room. Take the sample to an asbestos abatement company (look in the Yellow Pages) for analysis. If the test is positive, you may wish to have the ceiling professionally removed. Otherwise, cover the floor and furniture with plastic sheets, then soak a 4-foot-square section at a time. Use a broad putty knife to scrape it off the ceiling. When the ceiling is clean and dry, finish it as you wish.

How can I make my small living room look larger?

Mirrors do wonders for opening up your space. You may not want to invest in floor to ceiling mirrors, but you can use unframed (or framed) large mirrors that can be removed when you leave.

If you have a fireplace, put a mirror over it. Or, you could put one over your sofa area. A mirror in the dining room is also good, as it can reflect the light from the chandelier. Don't over-drape the windows. Let as much natural light come into the room as possible. The mirrors will help distribute the light around the room.

We have several rooms with dark wood paneling. What can I do to lighten the room?

First, the wood may be some lovely old cedar, redwood, or other fine wood that would be a shame to damage. Look at the possibility of removing it. Once you get the first board off, the others may come easily. What kind of a wall exists behind the paneling? If it already is covered with drywall, you can start from there with painting or wallpapering. You could also cover the paneling with ¼inch drywall and go from there; you could paint the boards as they are; you could fill any grooves with spackle, sand it smooth after it dries, and then paint it all. Or cover it with bright fabric.

Another option to consider is adding skylights to let in more light.

Other Design, Planning When do I need a permit?

Obtaining a permit is not a hard and fixed rule, but it is generally required for anything involving a structural change or adding something new. You wouldn't need a permit to put in a new toilet, but you might to install new windows. Because rules vary so widely, the simplest solution is to

call your building inspector's office, tell them what you want to do, and ask if you need a permit.

Where do I find the building inspector's office?

Check your local government white pages under city or county offices. You can also call city hall and inquire.

I want to purchase a house that had work done on it without a permit. What are my options?

A buyer should have the option of accepting property ''as is'' or insisting that a permit be obtained for work done without a permit. The building inspector's office may impose a fine if the owner knowingly did or had the work done without a permit. Having a permit obtained for the work will ensure that it was done according to the applicable codes. If you accept the property ''as is'' you may opt to use such information to bargain the price down, with the idea that you will subsequently have the work permitted on your own. But make sure that you can and do obtain permits for this work, because if you sell the house later, you will have to disclose your knowledge of this work.

What's the difference between a designer and an architect?

A designer is a person who provides design and technical information, design concepts, and construction documents for construction purposes. An architect holds a professional degree from an accredited school of architecture, as well as being registered in his or her state, if a registered architect. An architect is a professional who has completed formal studies in his or her field. An architect typically will be able to provide you with a complete and detailed design package based on his or her formal training and experience. However, there is no rule that says an architect is always better than a designer. And a designer will likely be less expensive than an architect.

Several great architects in the past were neither educated nor registered by today's modern requirements, but that doesn't mean their creativity, knowledge, and technical expertise were inferior. What is important is that you find an architect or designer who can guide you in the correct direction and whom you feel comfortable working with. You need also to check that the local building inspector's office will accept a designer's architectural drawings, which they normally do.

Source: https://dticorp.com/faqs-about-interior-design-and-decorating/