FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does an interior designer do?
An interior designer is someone who works with a client to create aesthetic rooms and spaces. Clients range from homeowners to large corporations. The spaces and rooms interior designers create are equally varied, ranging from simple indoor and outdoor residential spaces to corporate office spaces cafes and elaborate mansions. Designers work to create safe functional, yet attractive spaces while meeting the specific needs of the client.
An interior designer is typically an independent contractor who has relationships with many supplier’s contractors and trades that can make the design plans come to fruition.
Why do I need an interior designer if I already have an architect?
An architect is great at preparing plans and thinking structurally about a space and putting together a building or home with building codes, and construction complexity in mind.
An Interior Designer thinks about each individual space within a building or home and analyzes its function and flow from space to space. The designer specializes in all the finishing elements like flooring, cabinetry, built ins, decorative details, tile, stone plumbing fixtures, staircase details, paint, and much more. Architects and Designers often collaborate to insure functionality and safety are merged together to create a well build functional home that is finished with a cohesive balance from space to space
What should I do before I contact an interior designer?
Prior to contacting any designer, we recommend you gather notes of the work you would like to consider. What is your ideal outcome? What are your timeline expectations? Do you have a budget in mind? It is also helpful for clients to gather inspiration to express their likes and dislikes of styles. Collect magazine clippings, online images or create a houzz ideabook of inspiration that interests you: overall styles, materials and finishing’s, lighting, furniture fabric, and anything that is of a source of inspiration. Carefully consider your lifestyle and how you want to use the space. I will assist you in setting both short term goals and developing long range plans that will ensure that the finished project is part of a well-coordinated design.
How can hiring Cassie Bowman Interior Design save me money?
As your Interior Designer it is important for me to focus on the end result and go back from there to ensure all the little details are incorporated into your design. We consider spatially how all the details will look and express these through imagery and planning on paper before any construction commences. This allows the client to visualize and see the outcome before spending any money.
Saving you time…. Have you searched through store after store for the perfect sofa sifted through multiple fabric choices for those drapery panels and you just can’t decide? When you spend days collecting samples to remodel your kitchen, only to come home feeling more lost than you were before. As a designer who has a wealth of knowledge about where to find specific materials for all styles, I can find those perfect finds to create that beautiful space. My design experience allows me to confidentially create a material collection that blends both style and uniqueness that will be enjoyed for many years to come
Save you money….. I have built several relationships with local suppliers and trades who offer me discounted pricing for services and products such as tile, flooring, cabinetry, plumbing and lighting fixtures, furniture and accessories. As an added bonus, I pass on a percentage of this to my clients allowing your dollar to go further! Essentially, these savings can help absorb much of the cost for design fees, leaving you with a professionally designed space you will enjoy for many years to come!
Do you work with other trade professionals?
Cassie Bowman Interior Design has multiple contacts to commence the construction portion of any project. I have built strong relationships with full construction teams or specified trades to help. These trades are reputable and skilled in their trades. I am also comfortable to collaborate with any trades you would like to work with.
Is any project too small?
There is no project too small. We are able to help with all scales of projects from simple drapery jobs to full scale renovations and tenancy upgrades.
Do I have to use a designer’s services for everything, or just as needed?
When we initially meet, we can discuss what design services will best help you. All projects are a collaboration with my clients, and if there are elements of a project that you wish to take on by yourself, we can discuss and set you up to complete that task the best way possible.
Can you integrate my favourite pieces of furniture or accessories into the design?
When decorating a space, there are often special existing pieces that clients wish to keep in a space. It is your designer’s job to work those pieces in with the new selections in the space. These existing pieces can often express a personal touch to a space.