Not all contractors and designers are equal, and even an experienced professional might not be the right fit for a particular project. The adage, “measure twice, cut once” can apply to considering your options before committing to working with a particular person or firm, too.
For both designers and contractors, word of mouth can be the most powerful search tool. If you have friends whose taste you admire, or a family member just finished a big renovation, ask for recommendations. You can cut hours of research by getting a lead on a pro who aligns with your design preferences.
You can also find designers by visiting showrooms, looking through the NKBA directory or other professional organizations for interior design, or searching for local kitchen design studios. You can find contractors on sites like Angie’s List, craftsmen’s guilds, or sometimes by asking around at home improvement stores.
Questions for designers
Questions to check that a designer fits your style and approach to home design include:
- What design certification do you have?
- Can I see your portfolio?
- Which home design styles are some of your favorites to work with (contemporary, traditional, shabby chic, eclectic, etc.)?
- Can I share a Pinterest board or other collection of my favorite inspirations?
- How do your fees work?
- How much contact do you expect to have with clients, and how much do you do independently after discussing initial plans?
- Will I get final approval on product use?
Questions for contractors
A few questions that can help you narrow down choices for the contractors that work best for you are the following:
- Are you licensed?
- Are you and any subcontractors fully insured?
- Will you take care of any permits needed to complete the work?
- What are the payment options and your price estimate?
- What timeline do you estimate for the job?
- What happens if you can’t get materials I choose?
- How do you prefer to communicate with clients throughout a project?
