Ask an Expert: An Interior Designer answers our top home questions
To be honest, this feels like a dream. Kim here and as the "editor" of Spilling Goodness, I usually use this space to introduce our conversation or our experts and share a little bit about them that you may not already know. And, this week, I was the lucky duck who was able to step on to this stage and answer some fantastic questions. While I’ve loved interior design for what feels like my whole life (even using Rolling Stones magazine covers as sudo wallpaper in college!), little known fact, I went back to design school in 2018, worked with some incredible designers and recently launched my own design studio helping clients with a myriad of projects. I could talk about home projects all day long and absolutely loved answering these questions.
Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart
Ali asked:
We are starting a basement renovation on our unfinished basement. Would love all the advice on do's and do not's when designing and decorating this space. It will be an area for us to use as a family, our gym, and a space for guests.
Kim answered:
First of all, how exciting! While an unfinished basement has its time, having an entire extra finished floor of your home will be huge.
Do’s: Start with function. Really think through who will be using the space and for what? In 3 years, in 5 years, what would you love to see happening in your basement? Then, work backwards from that. If you see a group of kids watching a game - where will the food be? Where will they gather? If you also see family movie nights, where are the blankets? How can the furniture adjust to fit a small family and a bigger crowd? For the gym, who will be using the space? Multiple people at once? Would a TV with a streaming workout be helpful - think through the placement and electrical for where it would ideally be located. Would mirrors help with form? The flooring for gyms is a specific consideration. Also think about noise in the gym - would a door or any sound dampening be helpful?
Do not’s: Don’t skip features that you may not need now, but will want in a few years. If you might want a bathroom down the road, now is the time to add it. If you may want a locked space to keep anything away from teenagers, figuring that out now will be helpful. Make sure the lighting plan is thorough - natural light in a basement can be limited, having a layered lighting plan helps (overhead can lights - I like the 4” ones, lamps, sconces, etc.). Many basements use LVT flooring, don’t skip the rugs - they warm up a basement tremendously. Don't forget to measure the width of the stairs when ordering furniture - a big sofa is only great if it fits through the door. Ultimately, I’m sure your family will love the space!
Jen, Bespoke Travel Planner from @GlobalOnDemandTravel
Jen asked: Rugs- why are they so expensive and where can I find reasonably priced ones? With kids and a pet that has frequent diarrhea, our expensive rug has taken quite a beating! I don't want to buy a new nice one since it will also get ruined, but the Ruggables just won't cut it.
Kim answered:
Yes, a quality rug can be pricey, but I still always recommend 100% wool rugs. Rugs made out of synthetic materials simply don’t hold up the way a real wool rug does, they absorb spills (or dog issues!) quicker and they can look printed instead of woven. If you already have a nice rug, there is a good chance it can be cleaned and put back in for another round. 100% wool rugs can last decades- think of the rugs you see in churches all over the world - I’d bet they are wool and some could even be over 100 years old. The lanolin in wool provides a natural stain resistance and wool rugs are just softer and more comfortable under foot. If an 8x10 rug is hand woven, it would have well over half a million knots - there's a lot that goes into well made rugs!
For reasonably priced options, I like to shop vintage rugs. I have found gems on Etsy and at a local rug shop (they do ship nationwide). For a new rug, a few good retail options are West Elm, Lulu and Georgia and CB2 - just be sure to look for 100% wool. You can sometimes come across a find at Home Goods, but good options usually take some hunting and while they can shed a lot more, anything wool will beat a Ruggable.
Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive
Rebecca asked:
Where should you splurge and where should you save when renovating spaces?
Kim answered:
Every renovation comes back to budget Tetris - figuring out how to shuffle costs around to make sure the priorities for the space get full attention by saving where you can. When to splurge comes down to two questions - 1) How much do you love it? and 2) How permanent is the update? For instance, if there is an accent tile that you are totally in love with and is the linchpin in the design - splurge. That decision could make you smile for years. The same applies to decor - if art is meaningful to you, it is worth the splurge. If softness underfoot matters - the rug is worth the splurge. And next, how permanent is the update? When renovating, you have to get the space plan right. You’re not going to go back in a few years and move a wall. For the tile example, changing tile is a lot harder than changing paint. So, if you’re not 100% on a color, you can go neutral with something that is harder to swap out (tile) and go bold with something that is easier to change in the future (paint).
Now, where to save? This depends on the space, its usage and again priorities. Here are a few examples: in a basement bathroom, the vanity needs to be nice, but it won’t be opened and closed all but a few times a year, so you could save there. But, a vanity in a main bathroom - I’d make a different choice. In the design of our kitchen, the hood was the star of the show, so the subway tile could be quiet (and cheap!). In a bathroom design, I was set on a finish, but liked two plumbing profiles - one was over $700 less than the other for the entire bathroom package. That was an easy save.
Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle
Ashley asked:
How much should an interior designer cost per hour? Is it normal to have to commit to X amount of hours or can you do say one room at a time with one? Has it become harder to find clients now that people can use AI to decorate their rooms? Is Home Goods just certifiable junk (aka quality over quantity)?
Kim answered:
All awesome questions that I could chat about at length. Here are some brief thoughts:
Cost per hour: This varies across the country, and depends on the pricing model of the designer, their level of experience and the goal of the time. I’ve seen hourly pricing from $150 an hour up to $1200 for a 55 minute video consultation for designers on The Expert.
Structure: This again depends on the designer and their packages. Some designers have a minimum number of rooms or scope of work and some will consult hourly. I prefer to chat with a client about their goals and the overall scope, estimate the amount of design time to meet those goals and adjust if the project warrants.
AI: I’m sure AI can help with some elements, but there is plenty that AI can’t do (yet!). AI can’t meet a contractor for a framing review to make sure a renovation is on track. It can’t meet an electrician for an electrical walk through and mark for light fixture heights. It can’t recommend a wallpaper installer that you trust with the tiniest detail. It can’t hear you ask for one thing, but also hear the goal behind it, share what you’ve asked for and then share what would be even more amazing. It can’t notice your personal style or something unique about your family and weave that insight into design details.
Home Goods: Shop carefully! Some finds are great and others are a hard pass.
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Ask an Expert: An Interior Designer answers our top home questions
