I'll be the first to admit that when I hear the title "Interior Designer," stereotypical thoughts of fully bespoke high-end design are what pop into my head. Or at least it used to until I jumped into this field, got to know both the business and the creative side of design, and met some incredible people in the industry. That's when I realized that the stereotype is, like so many others, a misconception based on what we've heard or seen but haven't experienced for ourselves.
It's no wonder that with that stereotype comes some misconceptions or myths about what we do, how we do it, and what working with one is like. And while there is a lot to unpack there, and we will in future posts, today we're debunking the myths of what working with an Interior Designer looks like.
Myth #1: Hiring a Designer is expensive as all get up and completely out of the realm of possibility for my family and our budget.
Truth: It absolutely can be true that Interior Design can be a high-end luxury service that is priced beyond a conceivable realm for the majority of us, so this isn't entirely a myth. But here at 13th Avenue Interiors, I've positioned my services and pricing to be curated specifically for us, the busy families with competing priorities in our budget. You can learn more about the pricing for design services here and through a Discovery Call. As far as how much you'll spend on furnishings and décor, it is always up to the family to specify the budget that works for them. I'll be here every step of the way to make sure you prioritize and maximize that budget
Myth #2: I must discard everything in my existing space and completely start from scratch with all my furnishings.
Truth: Nothing could be further from the truth. At 13th Avenue Interiors, I love working with what you already have and cherish because it's a big part of what makes your space unique to you. Whether it's an existing sofa, Grandma's piano, or the wall art that you purchased on vacation, those are the pieces that make our houses feel like home. When clients come with pieces they love and want to incorporate into their new space, we use those as our starting point for design. It may be the colors in the painting or the story behind the piano that begins the process of designing a space that looks and feels unique to you, and then we build around that. For things that we do buy new, we'll guide your families investment to prioritze your unique needs and wants.
Myth #3: Working with someone will take more time and energy than doing it myself.
Truth: Have you ever started a home project where you feel all excited to tackle it, ready to get into it and make some significant changes, and then a few steps in, you stop? Or your passion for the project dies, and you settle for "ok" or "done"? That, my friends, is decision fatigue, and it holds us back from completing projects to the level and specificity that we intended because we get burnt out. And that is where hiring 13th Ave comes in. I take all the work, decisions, required energy, and time investment off your plate, leaving just the fun stuff for families to participate in (like viewing and approving concept designs and product selections).
Myth #4: Working with an Interior Designer means all my furnishings will be bespoke and therefore incredibly expensive.
Truth: Remember in myth #1 where I said you get to set your budget? You do! And for some, that may afford a few tailor-made pieces, but for others, it doesn't, and that's ok. I leverage all the brands, retailers, and trades I've worked with and that I know can deliver on a family's needs and wants with quality, timeliness, and customer service. This includes a lot of brands and retailers that I've worked with over and over, that are lesser known to the average consumer or only available to Interior Designers. For our families, it's about finding the right piece for them and knowing what will have the function, look, and feel that's perfect for them that fits within their investment.
Myth #5: It's intimidating to reach out to a Designer; they'll have unrealistic expectations of my budget, needs, and wants.
Truth: Interior Design is somewhat shrouded in mystery because it has a legacy of being only accessible to luxury and high-end clients. That has changed quite a bit in recent years as the range of interior design services and types of designers in the field has grown, giving clients more insight and transparency into the industry.
Here at 13th Ave, I welcome families that want to learn more about how an Interior Designer can help them, even if they're unsure if this is a service they want to invest in. My Discovery Call is totally free for exactly that reason: to talk about your project, share what a designer does and how I can help, get some quick advice on how to tackle their project and more. So, as far as 13th Ave is concerned, never hesitate to reach out!
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