Communication’s key when hiring, working with a decorator or interior designer

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This undated publicity photo shows a finished bedroom designed by Interior designer Phoebe Howard in New York City. Howard advises homeowners to communicate closely with their designer as they plan the decorating of their home, then step back and trust that the finished product will please them. (AP Photo/Phoebe Howard, Josh Gibson)

Home-decorating television shows and shelter magazines have many Americans dreaming about inviting an expert interior designer into their homes.

It looks so effortless when a popular designer arrives in a whirlwind of creative ideas and quick-working craftsmen. By the end of an hour of cable TV, he or she has transformed a hopelessly drab home into a stylish oasis.

But what's it really like to hire a designer? How can you make sure it's a successful and not too expensive collaboration?

As with a good marriage, says interior designer Phoebe Howard, the relationship between designer and homeowner is about communication, trust and respect.

FINDING CANDIDATES

Many homeowners find a designer by asking friends whether they've used one. Designer Cathy Davin, founder and president of Davin Interiors in Pittsburgh, says new clients are often referred to her by previous clients.

Others discover her online, she says. Interior designers generally keep a portfolio of photos of rooms they've designed on their websites. Browse through as many as you can in your area, noting photos that fit with your vision for your home.

Training varies: An interior designer "typically has a bachelor's degree in interior design, and in several states must be certified," Davin says. They can collaborate easily with engineers, contractors and architects, and should have a full understanding of colour, proportion and other elements of design.

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Communication's key when hiring, working with a decorator or interior designer