Why are Design Services So Expensive?
This is a hot topic for us as consumers and designers. I felt this should be addressed in my own way, to answer questions people may have about design and its costs. I was inspired to write about this because I often felt that people never wholly understood what it is designers do. I used to be one of them, until I myself became a designer. Here’s my answer to that question, as prepared to become part of my welcome packet for all of my prospects and clients.
Why do Design services Cost so much?
Design is complex. It is a profession that is greatly passed over due to images we see online or what is depicted on television shows. Design is what has made your home, your clothing, your car, and your lifestyle comfortable and appealing to yourself and others. Design is the art of combining safety, function and beauty into one. It is the practice of creating new environments people can enjoy and live with for many years to come.
When we design a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom an entire home, we consider your likes and dislikes, the way you want it to feel, the way you want it to look, the way you want others to see it while we consider it’s use, safety and how it will make you, the homeowner feel, upon completion.
Many people believe our gift is to pull colors and fabric and improve the way a space feels. Our gift is taking the minute details you provide during our interview to create a space that reflects you. We look for cues for your style – they could be in the shoes you wear, the jewelry on your wrist, your cufflinks, your tie, or your hair. These details are combined with the things you say to create the space you have been dreaming of and as you try to put them into words, we put them into action.
We take details of our conversation and apply them to your project. We take your ideas and make them flow with one another. These could be ideas that are in different ranges of the design spectrum and don’t normally flow well but we find a way to make them work well together and oftentimes, they become the showcased feature of the room. How do we do that?
It takes time. For a Designer, Time is the single most precious commodity we have. We meet with you, we design a plan for you, we think in terms of details that the untrained or inexperienced individual may not think of. We take the time to get to know you, we connect with you to give you the best design possible. We create things that reflect you, your style and how you want to feel as well as be seen.
Design is a luxury. When you hire a designer, you have someone working behind the scenes, creating a new environment that didn’t exist when you first contacted them. We research, we draft, we communicate with our resources and, yes, these may be things you’ve never heard of nor considered but it is what happens on a daily basis in the office, on the road, in meetings and even while you sleep.
We work with reputable contractors that deliver quality services and products. We cannot take a risk with your safety, your family, your home or our reputation. We pride ourselves in providing customer service that you no longer see with lower-cost contracts. We design with you to create a space you will love. We design what you imagined possible but could not find. We design what you will want to keep for many years to come. We design to help you love where you live. Isn’t that worth the price?
