Q: Who should you hire?

A: Working with a designer was very intimidating for me. I am not ultra-wealthy so I was concerned that my budget would be too small to warrant professional help. I started by looking for local designers on Instagram. I met with 3 designers before committing to work with Emily, the lead designer for Urban Revival Phoenix. Upon meeting Emily I knew that her super cool, non-intimidating, laid back vibe would be a good fit to guide me through the process. Having seen some of her work in the real estate community I knew she would be able to grasp the style and direction I wanted for the house. I highly suggest meeting with several designers in person because they will all have different ideas for the space(s) that you’re looking to overhaul and you’ll take bits and pieces of each of their advice to influence the final design concepts. Some designers charge for the consultation time, but it’s without a doubt well deserved for the value they provide. 

Q: How much does it cost to hire a designer?

A: It depends on the size and scope of the project. We hired for our kitchen, living room, dining room, primary bedroom and new built in bar center. Based on the three people I interviewed, the design quotes I received varied significantly ($10k between the highest lowest quote just for the design portion). Some charge by each space/room and some charged by the hours it would take to complete the design. I ultimately went with the person who was middle of the road on design fees and charged by the room. When it comes to the furnishings costs, the designer is essentially the retailer. They purchase items at their designer wholesale price and you buy things from them at a retail price. This is one of the main ways designers make their income.