How To Choose an Interior Designer

The top no fail tips to choosing an Interior Designer that's best for you!

Choosing a designer is as important as any other life decision such as choosing a doctor, a babysitter for your child, or a dentist.  Although designing your house may not be life or death, it sure does impact the sanity of you and your family and should be considered an important decision.

1.)  Experience
Interior Designers come a dime a dozen, but experienced designers with a long career history may not.  It is important to inquire about credentials, and in the business of design nothing speaks louder than experience.
How long has the designer you are considering been in business, do they own their own business or do they work for someone else?  The way the economy has been over the past 5 years, if you are fortunate enough to find a designer who has been in business for over 20 years and stayed in business maintaining customers during the recession, you may have found a gem.  Many designers because of the economy were forced to work for furniture companies, or forced to find other employment all together, as unfortunate as this is it did weed out alot of the bulk leaving behind mostly designers with years and years of experience.

2.)  Pay Structure
Most designers work by the hour, but don't get hung up on the hourly rate of the designer.  An experienced designer may charge a higher hourly rate, but the job is going to get done sooner and with more ease than a newer designer that charges less of an hourly rate.
Most designers, atleast the good ones, are willing to work with you.  If the job is going to be large, and include furniture, designers have more wiggle room with prices to offer you.

3.)  Style
A good designer won't only design one particular style.   After reviewing a designers portfolio you should see all different works with different styles; traditional, asian inspired, or even country.  It is important that they are able to incorporate whatever your style is with their design expertise.

4.)  Connection
You should have a connection with your designer.
As strange as that may sound you will be spending alot of time with your designer and so it is important to have a strong relationship from the beginning.  The vibe that you get from your initial consultation and the connection you organically have is extremely important.  It is important throughout the design process that you feel as if your needs are being met and your concerns are being heard and addressed, and that you trust and respect your designers decisions these are reflective of the connection you have.

Do It Yourself: Tips to having a beautiful space one detail at a time

Follow these simple tips and you are guaranteed to feel better about your living space, what are you waiting for??

• Add color to your palette: If your rooms are mainly neutral tones, or one solid color add a few pillows, a colorful rug, or a new chair that has pops of color to update the drab.  A little goes a long way and can make you go from feeling bored to feeling revived with just this subtle update.
• Reupholster that chair or ottoman that has been passed down through the family.  It may not be in the budget to go out and splurge on a whole new family room set, but by finding a good upholsterer your dreams may just be answered.  (contact me to refer you to an experienced upholsterer in your area ayselewisinteriordesign@gmail.com)
• If you are someone that has shopped at furniture stores in the past and were sold on a matching couch and 2 chairs try separating 1 of the chairs into another room and substituting in the room with a pop of color chair.  Furniture stores are for the masses, and so there are many other people just like yourself with the exact same furniture set in there home.  By separating a piece and adding your own it really brightens up the area so it isn't so predictable.  (contact ayselewisinteriordesign@gmail.com for furniture ideas)
• Accessorize your living space.  By adding candles, picture frames, plants and mirrors your space will feel updated and alive.  

I hope you have enjoyed these tips from the designer and hope it helps to spruce up your living space so your space is as beautiful as you are, you deserve it!

Contact me for any questions or blog ideas you may have.

585-330-0445 or ayselewisinteriordesign@gmail.com

Happy Designing!

The Value of Time and Virtual Design

With our lives becoming more hectic, being pulled in every direction, and free time becoming more scarce, it is a good thing that technology is at all of our finger tips and more readily available than ever before.
Our time is extremely valuable to us, and that is why Ayse Lewis Interior Design now offers her services virtually.  Why should your home not be perfect just because your busy?  We will work with you from across the country, from your office, from the car, or wherever your life may take you when you are away from THE most important place; your home.
Take a photo or a video and based on that we can do an entire floor plan for a room or your entire home, order furniture to be delivered, and have people at your door to install drapes and furnishings all done virtually.  We can even set up consultations via skype or facetime, so if being busy is the reason you have put your homes decor on the back burner, we are here to help!
I am always available to discuss all of your design needs at 855-393-9423 or email at ayselewisinteriordesign@gmail.com
Mention this post and enjoy a special gift towards your design.  Share this link on your facebook page and automatically be entered for a chance to win an hour of consultation virtually.
(Winner to be revealed in August)

The biggest misconceptions about using an Interior Designer and the truth revealed!

Using an Interior Designer can save you valuable time, energy, and costly mistakes.  Here are a few of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to using an Interior Designer.

1. I could use a designer for my entire house, but I really can only afford to do one room right now.  It will be better if I just wait until I can do the entire house.  Ayse Lewis Interior Design can set up long term plan based on your goals and your budget and continue with the project overtime.  It is better to begin, atleast with a consultation so you can get excited about your space, instead of overwhelmed.
2. I am too busy to commit to using a designer right now.  Ayse Lewis Interior Design can do an entire room or house layout based on just photographs if that is more convenient for you.  The entire project can be done via skype or facetime so regardless of where you are, we can be right there with you even across the country.
3. It would be nice to use a designer, but it's not something I could ever afford.  By using Ayse Lewis Interior Design you will actually be saving money from making mistakes that will end up costing you in the long run.  Ayse Lewis Interior Design can work with your budget to create an amazing space you will adore.
4. It takes too long and I need furniture now; it's easier if I just order from a furniture store.  For a comparable price Ayse Lewis Interior Design can provide you a custom piece of furniture; exactly the model, color and fabric you have in mind, instead of having to select from the 5 models a furniture store is going to carry.  We can order and have delivered in almost the same time a far superior custom product....it's worth the extra week or two wait in the long run when your space is complete! 

Happy Designing!

Ayse Lewis Interior Design

http://ayselewisinteriordesign.blogspot.com/

Canandaigua Lake Family Room

http://ayselewisinteriordesign.com/