The Shocking Truth about Shopping with an Interior Decorator

Have you ever second guessed your choices while shopping for your home decor to the point where you get so frustrated that you walk out the store with nothing and just give up? I think it is safe to say that we have all been there, but there is a solution! Hiring an interior design professional to shop with you or for you can make this task stress-free and give you a happier home and life.

Have you ever second guessed your choices while shopping for your home decor to the point where you get so frustrated that you walk out the store with nothing and just give up?  I think it is safe to say that we have all been there, but there is a solution!  Hiring an interior design professional to shop with you or for you can make this task stressfree and give you a happier home and life.

Last Thursday I went shopping in Burlington with a client for the day, sourcing accessories for her front foyer and living room.  I have been working with her and her husband on these areas since shortly after they moved into their home and it’s great to see things come together so beautifully.

Before our day out, there is some prep work needed to ensure we make the most of our time together.  I always make notes of measurements and sizes required for specific areas such as the walls for artwork or mirrors as  well as keeping dimensions handy of tables or mantles for accessories.  I bring a folder with my clients information which typically includes specs on items we’ve already purchased, CAD drawings and 3D renderings of their space as well as fabric and paint samples so we can compare colours as needed.

I also make an itinerary listing all the home design stores and resource centres that I think will be best for my clients needs.  A measuring tape is a must as is my phone so I can take pictures as we go. No one leaves the house without their phone these days anyway, so that one is a no brainer.

Here are some photos of the house before she hired my interior decorating services.

Here is the renderin I designed and I continue to update it as the decorating scheme evolves.

And below you will see some photos of the nearly finished space.

For their front foyer, you can see below how the wainscoting stopped short of the wall by the stairs to the basement which I thought looked awkward.  It did right?! My suggestion was to take it to the wainscoting to end of the wall and then continue it in this area to give the space a finished look.

I suggested we add only a vase with branches such as pussy willows on top of their round mirrored table so that the space would have an ‘airy’ feel. This would also allow for their framed family photos to take centre stage.

And now you can see her actual foyer with the new vase and pussy willows we bought on our shopping day together.  (photos by me)

This is the opposite wall where we have housed a large black dresser for extra storage of their childrens winter mitts/scarves/hats and other items neatly tucked away and out of site!

So the big suprise here for many people may be the actual cost of hiring a decorating professional for a day of shopping. The myth is that my services are a luxury, only for those with big wallets. But the truth is, my shared designer discounts can often offset the price of hiring my services.

I created an infographic to easily depict the cost of the items we purchased and the discounts my clients received. Check it out below.

Not only do my clients benefit from shared designer discounts, they also have the peace of mind in knowing that the items they are purchasing will look fabulous with their existing decor.  I organise the day and save them time and money.

My clients had a party this past weekend and she sent me this in her email on Monday:

“We got so many compliments on the foyer and just the house all together. Thank you!”

If you are looking for professional decorating services in the Burlington, Oakvillle and surrounding areas, please contact me. I’d be happy to discuss how my services can help save you time and money…and have you loving your home the way you deserve.  Call Claire on 905-581-0776  or contact me by email here.