How do I find a decorator or interior designer?
In a perfect world we?d all locate designers, architects and decorative painters by word of mouth. For now, you can rely on two great resources. The Franklin Report is the Zagat Guide of the decorating world, and includes write-ups on everything from decorators to upholsterers to architects. It also offers pointers about cost, how to talk the talk, and what some of the big trends are in various fields. The ASID, founded in 1975, has 48 chapters of members who?ve met their rigorous acceptance standards. See the ?Find a Designer? feature on their site to sort through 20,000 professionals by location, personal style, project size, budget, etc.
Once you?ve narrowed down your choices, do a little homework. Pull plenty of inspiration photos from books and magazines, make sure you have a strong grasp on your budget and priorities. Then when you meet with a design professional, check out their portfolio, ask about receiving renderings and billing before you sign on the dotted line.
(image and text from domino magazine)