STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

decorating?

Hermes

IMO, $500 is not small beans to someone on a limited budget...

I would probably charge $50/hour for consultation. You could devise some "packages" that would be indicative of the service one would received from a one hour consultation, three hour consultation, etc. to manage expectations.

For example, a one hour consultation can consist of determining personal style and color and furniture style suggestions. A 3 hour (doesn't have to be in one house call - plus you may want to research between calls) could include determination of personal style, specific color scheme and furniture suggestions (arrived at during your 2 other hours).

You could also pick up accessories as you see them to resell at a small mark-up to your clients (thrift store finds, etc.)

-- Edited by detroit at 22:20, 2006-07-05

FashionPrincess · Hermes

I definately think that there is a market for that. I'm thinking $30-$50/hour is fair. Also, one thing that is a big help to people is new floorplan/furniture arrangement suggestions. There is a company where I live that will come to the house and use what's already there and simply rearrange furniture and move around accesssories so that the client doesn't have to purchase new items but still gets a fresh look. Good luck if you decide to go for it!

kenzie · Chanel

FashionPrincess wrote:

I definately think that there is a market for that. I'm thinking $30-$50/hour is fair. Also, one thing that is a big help to people is new floorplan/furniture arrangement suggestions. There is a company where I live that will come to the house and use what's already there and simply rearrange furniture and move around accesssories so that the client doesn't have to purchase new items but still gets a fresh look. Good luck if you decide to go for it!

This is a good idea. Adding to that, you could help them to spruce it up with less expensive things, like art, candles and other decor on a budget.

halleybird · Hermes

I think there's definitely a market for it. My mom had a decorator a few years ago and they had a similar setup to what detroit suggested. The decorator was actually an intern/student at a high-end decorating firm here, so she was able to get industry prices on things like custom-made furniture, textiles, etc. I don't know if you have access to that sort of thing, but if you do, it's a huge selling point. My mom's decorator basically paid for herself that way. I also like the idea of selling thrift-market finds, etc.

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

kenzie wrote:

Adding to that, you could help them to spruce it up with less expensive things, like art, candles and other decor on a budget.

Yeah this is exactly what I'm thinking about. I'm in the midst of a move--my BF and I are getting a place together--and I am planning to use our completed place as a portfolio piece. I'm going to take "before" photos of his stuff at his apartment and then show the "after": all the same furniture, but a much more polished space with just the addition of nice paint and a few new accessories.

One of my main points will be to work with what people have, rather than trying to sell them a bunch of expensive furniture so I can up-charge on it.

Hermes

sephorablue wrote:

kenzie wrote: Adding to that, you could help them to spruce it up with less expensive things, like art, candles and other decor on a budget. Yeah this is exactly what I'm thinking about. I'm in the midst of a move--my BF and I are getting a place together--and I am planning to use our completed place as a portfolio piece. I'm going to take "before" photos of his stuff at his apartment and then show the "after": all the same furniture, but a much more polished space with just the addition of nice paint and a few new accessories. One of my main points will be to work with what people have, rather than trying to sell them a bunch of expensive furniture so I can up-charge on it.

I think this falls under the category of home staging more than decorating. Home staging is basically what you are now describing -- "using what [they] have and creating a more polished space with paint and accessories" vs. decorating which is "identify their problems and needs, and give them ideas to work from. I'd suggest sources for furniture & materials, but I wouldn't be responsible for buying or coordinating any of that--all the labor would be DIY"

a friend of mine has a home staging business - a lot of it is home sale driven, but often times people fall in love with their house all over again after it's staged. maybe you could provide both services.

here is my friend's web site so you can see how she has it set up: http://www.impactids.com/

my mother does what you initially described: "identify their problems and needs, and give them ideas to work from. I'd suggest sources for furniture & materials, but I wouldn't be responsible for buying or coordinating any of that--all the labor would be DIY." she may assist with ordering and finding contractors/upholsterers/seamstresses but it's all covered in her hourly fees - she also doesn't upcharge furniture or fabric.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

With all the home decorating shows on tv you'd think the market for this is increasing, so I'd definintly give it a try.

People around here sure could use home staging help.

The home below has been on the market FOREVER! Easy to see why. The room has so much potential.

Don't even get me started on this one, they need some serious help:

The backyard is nice but has a lot going on:

I could see where $500 would totally be worth helping people to sell their homes since that could make a difference of thousands. But a lot of people just wanting to redecorate a bedroom or a living room, $500 is probably going to be a huge chunk of their budget if not all of it and is a huge sum for just having somebody make suggestions.

joy0302 · Kate Spade

I agree with Detroit about charging $50 an hour. I am a part time interior design student and that is the price that we were advised to charge as students. I agree that you could just get a few new things here and there to help spruce it up. If you are a member of the student chapter of ASID you can also get discounts from many different places, (I think Pier 1 is one). You could probably get some things for next to nothing that would make a big difference to your clients. Good luck with your business!! BTW how many classes do you have left? I am about 5 away from finishing, but it seems like forever!