We just received all our new showrooms and it is time to have our 50% OFF Floor Sample Sale. Come on in and see what we have to offer at amazing prices. For directions click here. Check out images below for a few ideas of what we are offering. Also, while your at our store make sure to check out our “Attic” where the discounts are even greater!
I am constantly asked by friends, family and relatively new acquaintances what my services cost. I always return with, “Well, what does a car cost?” Cars come in all shapes, sizes and price points. So does interior design. A color consult will cost less than a kitchen design. Each client has a need and an expectation, and it’s my job to give them the best value for their dollar.
There are two aspects to the cost of interior design: time and product. Let’s start with the cost of the designer; this will vary with education, expertise and demand. A seasoned designer will charge more per hour because they are good at what they do, and they can usually pull together a project more efficiently than a new designer. The designer must be looked upon as a value to the project. Just think, the client probably would never have thought to put together the color/decor combinations that the designer does. Her eye, vision, talent and, most of all, experience all come at a price.
Now, with that price needs to come a layer of trust. I always tell my clients, “The quicker you trust me, the more money you save!” There are clients you present to who tell you to “go for it”; and then there are clients who need to see every possibility before they finalize the choice. When I first meet a client, I do not know what category they fall into, so it is difficult for me to tell someone how much time I am going to spend on their project. That is why I always ask my client what their budget is before we get started. This way I can estimate how much time we CAN spend and still get a room together that the client will enjoy.
With that budget comes the discussion of the Design Triangle. This is a great visual tool that has helped me show clients how to think of interior design. There are three factors when approaching a project: cost, quality and quantity. Pick two, and the third will follow.
For example:
I recently met with a client who wanted only high-end cabinetry in her kitchen but had a $40,000 budget. She looked to me to come up with a miracle, but the choice lay only in her hands. I showed her the Triangle diagram and explained that she could up her budget and get exactly what she wanted (the super high-end cabinetry and larger kitchen), or go with a lesser quality cabinet and the larger kitchen, or if she wanted the highest quality then she had to radically minimize the scope of her project. In the end, the budget could not move and the cabinets had to be high quality, so she chose to keep the size of her kitchen small.
Interior design can come at all different price points, and it is up to the consumer to decide if that price point works for them. As with most things, the cheapest isn’t always a value, and the most expensive isn’t always the best. One of the most valuable services you can provide your client is to help them understand the choices they have and how those choices will impact the final result.
Article written by Bridget McMullin, ASID, CID, CAPS
Duralee Pavilion consists of three different types of indoor/outdoor product, Sunbrella®, Weatherwize® and Teflon®. Please follow these care instructions for the indicated finish.
It is important that fabrics are cleaned regularly. Most dirt and stains can be cleaned if they are promptly treated. The fabric can be machine washed at a low temperature (less than 100 degrees F) with lukewarm water using a mild soap.
Do not dry in electric or gas dryers and iron the fabric only at a low temperature. Excessive heat will shrink the fabric. Allow to air or line dry. Stain removal: Brush stain lightly, spot clean with warm water and a mild detergent, non-chlorinated bleach or diluted chlorinated bleach. An upholstery spot cleaner may also be effective. Blot the stain with a cloth or a sponge damp with the solution, turning continually so that only the clean part of sponge or cloth is in contact with the stain. NEVER RUB. Never try to remove a stain with household detergents. For large or serious stains, a professional upholstery cleaner is recommended.
Sunbrella® is a solution dyed acrylic fabric that resists stains, water, and mildew; retains color and strength. During the winter season it should be cleaned, air dried, and stored in a dry well-ventilated area.
Most stains can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution. Sunbrella® fabrics should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, etc. are allowed to accumulate on and become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without being removed from the piece. Simply brush off any loose dirt, etc. then clean with water and a mild natural soap. (No more than 100 degrees F.) Rinse thoroughly to remove soap. When using liquid detergent, it may be necessary to re-apply a water repellant treatment, such as 303 Hi Tech Fabric Guard or a similar product.
Sunbrella® is made from 100% acrylic fiber and is heat sensitive. When washing or cleaning, DO NOT SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE HEAT as the fabric will shrink. DO NOT STEAM PRESS OR DRY IN ELECTRIC OR GAS DRYERS. Allow fabric to air dry.
Properties of Weatherwize®: 1,000 hours of lightfast, resistant to pilling and abrasion, contains a fungistatic agent to protect from fungal growth and resistant to stains caused by mildew, odor resistant.
General stain removal: Warm water spot clean with a mild detergent (Woolite®), non-chlorinated bleach or diluted chlorinated bleach, then air or line dry. Upholstery spot cleaner is also effective.
Thibaut introduces Geometric Resource as a dynamic tool filled with unified designs of shape and movement. Hip geometrics, traditional trellis and simple small prints are paired with subtle and bold color combinations. Thibaut offers Resource collections twice yearly which combine product of a similar genre into one large volume making it easier for designers and consumers to find the perfect pattern.
Inspired by the scrolling fretwork of a delicate iron gate, Allison is a rich surface print of gentle shapes in chic color combinations.
The triangulated pattern of Medina creates the perfect rhythm.
A veritable texture of applied glass beads creates the gently rising pattern of Beaded Trellis.
Pearl Trellis is a gently twisted oval upon a tactile ground of color.
Grayden’s hand drawn trellis offers soft yet simplistic elegance.
Petite Diamond’s miniature diamond shaped trellis is alluring in its simplicity
Floating rectangles fill the space of Katsu in a modern take on mid-century style.
The modified hexagon of Prescott presents a moving harmony of shape.
With a balanced hand-blocked effect, Merrill’s simple design reads as an inviting backdrop for easy-going style.
Etosha is a wonderfully wild interpretation of a zebra print, printed with casually chic colors with a thrilling large scale impact.
Vibrant and engaging with a subtle shadow effect, Rothbury Trellis shines with heaps of understated glamour.
Delicate dots and decorative medallions frame the lattice of Wilton Trellis.
Ikat quatrefoils sparkle with grandeur in Novia.
Screen printed with slightly raised ink to imply further dimensions, Kirkos spins with radiance.
Geometric Resource and other Thibaut collections are available through interior designers and fine decorating stores worldwide. Please visit http://www.thibautdesign.com/ to view patterns, decorating ideas, and to obtain the names of local dealers.