Transformative Homes with Mitchell Thompson Interiors

Budget Whisperers: How Designers Save You from Renovation Nightmares

• Roy & Diane Mitchell • Episode 11

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What’s The Biggest Misconception About The Cost Of Hiring An Interior Designer?

Ever wondered if interior designers are only for those with endless budgets? Roy and Diane Mitchell shatter this persistent myth in our enlightening conversation about the real value of professional design services.

The husband-and-wife team behind Mitchell Thompson Interiors brings over five decades of residential design experience to the table as they address the anxieties many homeowners face when considering professional help. Their refreshingly transparent approach separates design fees from product purchases and contractor services, ensuring clients maintain complete budget control throughout their projects. As Diane explains, "We do a very specific project scope at the beginning, and then we definitely define an end point." This structured methodology eliminates the nightmare scenario of runaway costs that prevents many from seeking the design help they need.

Perhaps the most compelling revelation is the extended value clients receive beyond the designers' own expertise. "When you hire an interior designer, you're also probably hiring about 20 other people," Roy points out, referring to their carefully vetted network of specialists from upholsterers to tile installers. This access to pre-screened professionals not only saves countless hours of research but provides peace of mind when entrusting precious possessions or expensive materials to craftspeople. Their system offers both quality assurance and built-in advocacy should any issues arise.

Whether you're navigating a major life transition, upsizing, downsizing, or simply redefining your space, Mitchell Thompson Interiors demonstrates that working with professional designers isn't about unlimited spending—it's about making wise investments with expert guidance. Ready to transform your home without the stress? Schedule your complimentary 30-minute discovery call and experience how professional design can bring your unique vision to life while respecting your budget and timeline.

To learn more about Mitchell Thompson Interiors visit:
http://www.MitchellThompsonInteriors.com
Mitchell Thompson Interiors

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Transformative Homes with Mitchell Thompson Interiors. Join hosts Roy and Diane Mitchell, the creative force behind Mitchell Thompson Interiors, who together bring over 50 years of expertise of residential interior design across the US. Are you navigating a major life transition, upsizing or downsizing your home, purchasing a vacation home or redefining your space? You've found the team to guide you so your home truly reflects your unique dreams. Stay tuned and learn how to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. Let's delve into today's topic.

Speaker 2:

Think interior designers are only for the rich and famous. Roy and Diane break down the biggest myths about design services and how the right designer will help you invest wisely into your home. Welcome back everyone. I'm Sofia Yvette, co-host slash producer, back in the studio with Roy and Diane Mitchell, owners of Mitchell Thompson Interiors. Roy and Diane, how's it going today? Wonderful, Great. How are you? I'm also doing great, and it's good to see you both again. So, Roy and Diane, tell us what's the biggest misconception about the cost of hiring an interior designer?

Speaker 4:

We've experienced over the years a lot of potential clients who ask us questions related to cost, and it's interesting how many different outside influences come into being that really are not part of the equation. And so the misconception for the most part is transparency in what you are paying for, the interior design service, what the products that you may eventually purchase are going to cost, the services that are hired outside, like, say, a wallpaper hanger or an upholsterer or maybe a tile installer. And the other piece of transparency is that the project scope is going to increase so much that you lose control over what it is that you're paying for. And it all happens so fast and it feels like, you know, you just all of a sudden have this open checkbook and things are happening and you have no idea what's going on. Okay, that is a nightmare for a client. And so we, we Go ahead. Okay, we I didn't want to cut you off, but you know we do a very specific project scope at the beginning of the project, and then we definitely define an end point at any point in time that we decide we need to add more.

Speaker 4:

Then we go back and we revisit okay, well, what is this next scope that we're going to do and we talk about the pricing associated with that. The other thing that we do is we divide our services, which means what you're paying for our expertise and our talents is going to be paid separately from all of the other outside contractors. The furnishings purchases side of our design services is going to be quoted and pre-approved before anybody walks in your house and starts putting a hole in a wall. And when we do our estimate of design services again it's based on that initial scope and you will know at the beginning of the project exactly what you're paying for the design service. That's been the best model for us, where it keeps our clients in control of what they're spending and it keeps everybody on a level playing field.

Speaker 3:

Well, it takes the stress out of it.

Speaker 4:

Absolutely.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it takes the stress out of it.

Speaker 3:

Just knowing, once you put the design plan together, just knowing, you know, from the paper hanger to the painter well, we pretty much know almost everybody in the industry who can do the job, actually the best job, for the client. Again, you talked about paper hangers, upholsters. I mean, that could be a nightmare just going through the yellow pages and not knowing the person that you're going to take this beautiful piece that maybe you've had in your family forever and you know, know, is it going to be in good hands? Is, is the fabric going to be applied? The right?

Speaker 3:

way there's just so many variables that you could think of that are really stressful, especially going through the.

Speaker 4:

The wife hiring an interior designer, I think, takes a lot of that away well, and we've always said you've always said when you hire an interior designer, you hire us, but you're also probably hiring about 20 other people, and the reason that you want to come through a central source like us is that we've already vetted all of these vendors for quality, for their attention to customer satisfaction. If indeed you do have a problem, you know that you have a resource, not just the vendor him or herself that can rectify the situation, but you have a third party also that can help facilitate remedying something that might be an issue. So that's a huge value.

Speaker 2:

Most definitely I agree with you, and what is a typical designer consultation involved? Can you walk us through that process?

Speaker 4:

sure it really is about defining that scope of the project. I mean, obviously we're talking through the dreams and the hopes and the function of what this home is going to turn out, but the scope and the services and the objectives need to be laid out and that is how we are able to arrive at a fair design fee, so that we have a beginning point and we have an ending point and we know what it's going to take to put that vision together for the client. And so in that consultation process, if furniture needs to be reupholstered, if we're going to need a tile person, if we're going to just completely purchase new furnishings, if we're going to reuse what is in the home already, projects have a lot of different look and feel to them and we just adapt to what it is that the client needs.

Speaker 3:

But I'm going to say for the client say, if we're doing a room and once we get the scope, we can basically tell you how many hours it's going to take for us to put it all together. We've been doing it for both of us for over 50 years and we know when we look at a room how much time it's going to take us to put it all together. So you will know the cost. You know if it's going to take us 10 hours, it's going to take us 15 hours. You will know.

Speaker 2:

Wow. Well, thank you so much for joining us again today. Roy and Diane, We'll catch you in the next episode. Have a fantastic rest of your day.

Speaker 3:

You too.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, Sophia.

Speaker 1:

Thanks for tuning in. That's a wrap on this episode of Transformative Homes. Are you ready to begin the journey toward elevating your home and lifestyle? Visit MitchellThompsonInteriorscom and schedule your complimentary 30-minute discovery. Call Roy and Diane will explore making your vision your reality. Join us for the next episode as we continue discussing elevated lifestyles through the lens of interior design. One unique and exquisite home at a time.