Reflective Designer
About
I am never satisfied until the client is. I work tirelessly to make sure everything is to the letter. Over the decades I have worked in the trade, I have amassed the finest collection of trades specialists. I know just about everybody and they know my company. Our integrity is spotless.
Every job is different, it is always a creative challenge...never dull or boring! Just when you think you've seen it all, something new pops up. At the end of each job, I have made a new friend. It doesn't get better than that.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We start with a telephone conversation where I get to know a bit about the potential client. If we both think we can work together, I will schedule a one-hour preliminary visit which is complimentary. Based on our mutual impressions at the first visit, we will then decide to move forward or not. Design fee applies but often if there are furnishing purchases which can be had through my showroom, I will credit a portion of the design fee back towards those purchases.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I hold a degree in the Applied Science of Interior Design. I am an American Society of Interior Designers Allied Member. I also am a highly schooled and proficient fine artist with an extensive knowledge of color theory. I have been in the trade for 30 plus years.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
My hourly is $150, this is for consultations and space planning. If I shop at retail for a client, it is a $95/hourly fee. Travel beyond a 30 mile radius from my Stow showroom is charged at the current allowed US Governmant mileage allowance.
How did you get started in this business?
Decorating and design is a high art. I was born an artist. Although my first love was the fine arts, I was strongly attracted to interior design after purchasing my first home.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I work with a broad range of people from all lifestyles. Everyone deserves good design, it makes for a better society. I have modest projects and high end. Because I am a design professional, my approach is to always work with the client's needs and desires. It is never about me and my taste.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Look for someone with professional affiliations. This assures you that the person you are considering is serious about what they do and derive their living from it. You want to run away from anybody who has no training or who "dabbles". Designers frequently handle tens of thousands of dollars of customer's hard earned money and I take that responsibility very seriously. Clients put their intimate world into my hands and I always remember that.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
Customers need to be realistic about what it will take to do a job. Recognize that hiring an expert will, in the end, save them money because they will eliminate expensive mistakes. Be clear about your timeline and communicate that to the designer. Be clear about your expectations for responsibility and liability. Professional designers are just that, they have worked hard to learn their trade. Recognize that as a professional, they are dealing with the person who hired them and not that person plus their sister, brother, mother, neighbor, or "friend with a knack". No designer worth their salt will work in that fashion.