What you’re looking for here is how well the designer describes their vision. Does it match yours? For example, at Akriti Interiors we don’t specialize in one particular design style. Whether it’s contemporary, traditional, eclectic, romantic, or serene, we find inspiration from our clients and what they enjoy. There are many designers like this, as well as designers that stay within one style profile.

This is an important question for a couple of reasons. First, you want to make sure you’re working with a firm that specializes and excels in the services you need for your project. Second, you want to understand how the design firm thinks about themselves. For example, you may only need furnishings in your new home, but have no idea where to start. If you’re interviewing an interior designer, they might mention great brand relationships, having a good eye, and a portfolio of stunning interiors. A designer with more experience in space planning and interior architecture, may talk about custom millwork and introduce you to an in-house architect.

When hiring an interior designer, budget questions should come into the conversation at the very beginning. It doesn’t benefit anyone to start working on a home, only to find out the budget is too small or too large. But I know budgets can be tough to talk about. I also feel like reality TV has blurred the lines between affordability, timeliness, and realistic expectations. I recommend interviewing a few different designers to get a baseline for what your project should cost. Before the design even begins, my firm answers this question in our client questionnaire. If the budget is a fit, then we move into site visits and take deeper dives into specific styles. If the client needs to stay within a smaller budget, we recommend other services and local designers that would be a better match.

The designer you interview may be the only one working on your project, or they may be part of a design team. If you’ll be working with a team, ask to know more about the backgrounds of everyone involved. Again, it’s imperative that everyone understands your design style AND your communication style. At Akriti Interiors, we utilize design teams, which consist of a Senior or Lead Designer and a Design Assistant, throughout the project. Our designers work closely together to ensure that old adage of “measure twice, cut once.” It’s essential to have more than one designer on every project because there are so many moving parts.

This happens from time to time. The initial design presentation could be a huge hit, but sometimes, it’s a big miss. Don’t let this discourage you. We have always been able to overcome those issues in subsequent design presentations. Keep in mind, design is always changing. Your personal style is evolving. And it takes time to curate an interior that is perfect for you.

Here, you’re looking for positive testimonials and a glimpse into the designer’s portfolio. You may be able to find these on the designer’s website, but it’s important that you ask in the design meeting. Often times, our clients request internet privacy, so we cannot publish their homes online or on social media. For the most part, however, they do permit us to share their interiors with potential clients in our design meetings.