Interior Designer & Professional Organizer

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. The most numerous jobs I take are color consultations and organizing projects. Because of their very nature, interior design and remodeling projects tend to be longer term and hence, not as numerous. Many of my organizing projects lead to interior design for the same space.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Determine what you need the interior designer and organizer to do for you. Do they offer that service? Also, if your project is a small one, does that designer accept small jobs.

For organizing clients, many organizers specialize. For example, I do not work with relocation clients or do garage sales. Find an organizer that does the work you need accomplished. NAPO Colorado has a great website for finding an organizer.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Interior design is not just for the affuent and is an affordable option for most. By hiring a consultant who charges hourly the client only pays for the services they need and can afford. And, by hopefully avoiding costly mistakes and getting designer discounts on products and materials, it should cost them less than doing it themselves.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. I mostly work as a consultant on interior design projects to assist and advise the client on their projects. That can include space plans, design and remodeling ideas, color stories, product specification and design implementation. For organizing projects besides organizing the space it's all about a transference of knowledge to the client.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Before I ever became an interior designer I was a consummate DIY'er. That is what led me to go back to school to obtain a degree in interior design. My hands on experience helps me work with my clients especially since most of my clients are middle class and want to save money by doing some if not all of the work themselves.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love teaching and helping others. And, I love turning disorganized, unfunctional spaces into beautiful ones. I find that truly satisfying!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How much do you charge? Depends on the project, time involved and complexity.

Do you have a contract? Yes, I create a Letter of Agreement for each project, big and small agreed to by all parties.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Many organizing clients think they are all alone in not being able to keep things organized and that an organizer will judge them. They are surprised to find out that they are one of a crowd of thousands (millions?) and that we are there to help, not to judge because we love what we do and helping others.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. It's a lot of work, much of it physical, and it doesn't pay as well as you might think. You need to wear many hats and do many things other than work with the client: run the business, accounting, marketing/advertising, website designer/updates, social media, correspondence, continuing education to name a few. You must love the business to work as hard as we do.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. Organizing: I organize because it is so satisfying to take a disorganized space and bring order to it. Organizing is a family trait, all my siblings and parents are naturally organized, including me and I find the organizing process relaxing. And finally, I like passing on the skill of organizing to my clients as I love to teach.

Interior Design: As my youngest sister said, "you've done it all your life, it's what you do, you don't leave anything alone!" I have spent a lifetime modifying inexpensive furniture, accessories, room layouts, flipping a house, etc. As a result, I went back to school and got a degree in interior design and started my own business. I specialize in DIY Interior Design because of my own experience doing all my own projects for over 20 years.

Color Consultant: I love color and find builder's beige and all white rooms boring unless used as a design statement, such as in modern houses. The first thing I do upon moving into my own homes is paint to make them my own and warm them up.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I assisted a seven year old girl in removing the clutter in her bedroom and organizing the very small space. After removing the stuff she had outgrown from the closet and room we moved the dresser into the closet to create more floor space. Next, I put on my design hat and selected an apple green paint to liven up the basement room, reorganized the furniture and put flower decals on the wall and a flower rug on the carpeted floor. This little girl now loves her bright updated bedroom and brings her friends over to play in her room, something she never did before.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I belong to ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and CAPS (Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist) and take continuing education classes to maintain my memberships and certifications. Plus, I receive many trade magazines and emails that keep me up-to-date on the latest products, colors and trends in interior design and organizing.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Many interior designers are working more as consultants than as resellers taking a percentage of the products they specify.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. I am working with a couple who want to move with their two children in about two years to the suburbs. They want to update their house now so they can enjoy the upgrades (granite and tile in the kitchen, new paint, new flooring etc.) before selling their home. At the same time they want assistance in selecting colors and products that are neutral that will help sell the house when they are ready. I also assisted by pointing out "delayed maintenance" projects around the house. They are prioritizing these projects and will complete them as their time and budget allow.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I charge by the hour and pass along designer discounts when available to my clients.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. If you want to get into this business you must like to work, hard!