April 2024

Solo by design

Is bigger always better? Can you get a better residential interior design service or value from a larger design firm than from a solo design practitioner?

 

Of course, a lot depends on a particular client’s needs. If you are building a house, it makes sense to have a team working on your project to ensure that the design process is keeping up with the construction schedule. On the other hand, if you are redoing your living room you may be better off served by a small firm where you will be working directly with the owner/designer and don’t have to go through assistants to have your questions answered.

 

Could a larger interior design firm offer you better prices? Unless the design firm is also a retailer and dealer for certain brands of furnishings and interior finishers, the answer is no. Designer net prices (what a designer pays for products) do not depend on the size of the company. If a design firm operates as a retailer, then there are other features to be considered, as I discussed in my April 2024 article that can be found here.

 

Many years ago, I worked as an assistant interior designer in a medium-size firm. What I took from that experience is that while teamwork can be great, the more people work on a project – the higher the potential for mistakes on that project. I do not have any research data to back up this statement – this is my personal observation. In a business of custom interiors, a human error is omnipresent. 

 

From a designer perspective, going solo means not only more control of the quality of service, but also more personal flexibility. So, when I decided to return to interior design, I envisioned a solo practice where I can take care of my clients one at a time and build life-long relationships.