Q: We are building a new home. When is the best time to involve an interior designer?

A: Right away. We help you envision your finished rooms and work closely with you and your builder to plan integral elements like lighting, mouldings, cabinetry and plumbing fixtures. We also help you choose flooring, wall treatments, etc.

Q: We want to remodel our kitchen and bathroom. Should I speak with a remodeler or an interior designer first?

A: It’s sort of a chicken-and-egg question. If you’re already sure what you want to do and just need help with the decorative elements such as flooring, wallcovering and window treatments, it’s OK to wait to involve Indicia. However, if you’d like help envisioning the possibilities for the remodeled rooms, call Indicia first. Together we can develop a plan and the remodeler can implement the structural changes and installations.

Q: I’m overwhelmed just thinking about remodeling our home. How can an interior designer help?

A: Indicia has a lot of experience organizing and managing remodeling projects. We understand the steps and can help you make sense of them.

Q: Can a designer help me control the overall costs of our project?

A: Yes. We deal with budget issues every day and can help you keep your overall budget in mind. We’ll help you understand the trade-offs as you make choices, and we can suggest a range of options from modestly priced to top-of-the-line.

Q: We are building a new home and I’m very busy with work and family, but I don’t want details to be missed. Can you help manage the entire project?

A: Yes. Typically, project management is part of our services. We have an in-depth understanding of the various stages of building and finishing a home, and we can manage the project for you. We’re very detail-oriented, so you can be confident that we’ll keep track of everything for you.

Q: Do you have to have an expensive home to work with an interior designer?

A: While some of our clients have expensive homes, many do not. Often families find that they are too busy to handle the project themselves, so they turn it over to us.

Q: How do I know if I need an interior designer for my project?

A: One way to think about it is to consider the scale of the project. If you are building a new home, remodeling your home, or updating a kitchen or bath, the design considerations are more challenging and expensive, so it’s a good idea to involve interior designers like Indicia. Or if you simply have no time or interest in design, but want your place to look distinctive, call us.

Q: I’m intimidated by the idea of interviewing and/or hiring an interior designer. What is the best way to proceed?

A: There are several considerations when selecting an interior design firm:

1. Look at the designer’s work. If you’re not familiar with Indicia’s work, it’s a good idea to see homes we’ve worked on or photos of our past projects. Like most designers, we have a portfolio of work samples and would be happy to show it to you. As you look over the portfolio, remember that we’re capable of a wide variety of styles — the portfolio is a just a sampling. Please ask questions so you feel confident of our skills. But ultimately, you should like our thinking and sense of style.

2. Is the design firm full-service? As you interview designers, find out the scope of their services. For example, if you know you need window treatments and that’s not something the firm has much experience with, they’re probably not right for you. Also, do they manage the project or just refer you to half a dozen vendors? Indicia is a full-service design firm that offers construction and furnishing design as well as project management services.

3. You should feel comfortable that your designer listens to you and understands your priorities.

After you’ve established that you like the firm’s work and they offer the services you need, it comes down to chemistry. Trust your instincts—if you like the designers, you have a match. At Indicia, we work hard to understand your point of view and communicate well, so we have a good relationship with our clients.

Q: Do you charge for the initial meeting? Do you provide a contract or letter of agreement for your services?

A: We do not charge for the initial meeting. During the initial meeting, we meet with you in your home to discuss your project, show you our portfolio, and discuss how we work. If you decide you’d like to work with Indicia, we provide a Design Services Contract that includes an estimate for the scope of work.