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“In the age of do-it-yourself, why hire an interior designer? In our current economy, is an interior designer worth the investment? When Laura L. Hutton, partner of Hutton Mebane Design & Construction LLC, meets potential clients, these are common questions, and Hutton quickly alleviates their concerns with confident enthusiasm.
“Hiring an interior designer actually saves you both time and money,” said Hutton, who is certified by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). “A talented designer can make your vision a reality with fewer mistakes along the way. A good designer knows the products, materials and manufacturers so that your money is invested wisely.”
Working with a budget
When meeting with an interior designer be upfront about your budget, said Hutton, so the designer can plan accordingly. “Create a realistic budget and then reduce it by 10%, because there may be unexpected overages,” she said. “Talking money upfront establishes a sense of trust that will last throughout the client-designer relationship. Just remember that you’re the client, and you’re the one who drives the budget at your comfort level.”
And not everything has to be done within an immediate timeframe, Hutton noted. “Your home should be a reflection of your life, your love and your interests. That doesn’t happen in the span of three months.”
The coastal design influence
Hutton stays on top of trends in her native hometown of Atlanta, along with other larger Southern cities like Charlotte and Charleston. “I’m a Southern girl and Wilmington is a Southern town,” she said. “Folks moved here to enjoy the salt air, and the blues and greens of the water — that translates into a lighter, airier interior and exterior style. A lot of people want to blend traditional and eclectic contemporary designs. The current trend is a touch of nautical that’s not blatantly beachy — a sophisticated, coastal Carolina look.”
Personalizing the experience
When meeting with new clients, Hutton asks lots of questions and listens closely to determine the client’s vision and personality. Hutton also likes to know about the client’s family. “I listen to mothers talking about tennis lessons for the kids, or how they love to barbeque or go out on the boat, and I take the essence of that lifestyle and drop it into the design.”
Give the designer an idea of your vision with magazine photos, color swatches, trinkets from a trip, even your favorite t-shirt, said Hutton. Ask the designer about how you plan to communicate when one or other of you isn’t happy with the process.
“Don’t be afraid to hurt feelings,” said Hutton. “We’re professionals, not your best friend giving you advice, which reduces the pressure.”
Balance and harmony is an innate need in humans, said Hutton, and an interior designer can create that feeling in your home. “When I create that sense of peace and harmony and balance,” said Hutton, “my clients feel a deep seated visual relief that they often express simply with a sigh of satisfaction and a heartfelt, ‘Thank you.’”
To find an ASID-certified interior designer, go to www.asid.org
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