Using Complementary Design Services: Part I

Many major retailers now offer complimentary design services for their product lines. I tried services from both Ballard Designs and Pottery Barn. I selected these as I tend to like their aesthetic and the items are at a price point where I’d realistically be comfortable spending.  While I love the aesthetic of Serena and Lily and Williams-Sonoma Home, their price-point is on the higher-end and at that price point it’s on par with traditional  full-service designers and you’d get a custom look. A number of local retailers in our area also offer complimentary design services, but I’d put those in the high-end category as well. 

The current state of the Bay House Living Room

For some context, we recently purchased a small vacation home near the Chesapeake Bay. It came furnished (from 1980) so it’s liveable, but it’s time for a refresh. And honestly, I thought this project would be a fun way to try my design skills, but I quickly got overwhelmed. Plus, sectionals can run $10,000 these days! That’s an expensive mistake. At this point, my husband suggested just getting IKEA. And I ALMOST agreed, but I’m trying to hold out and go with a more sustainable approach. I figured, what do I have to lose by trying complimentary services? So how was my experience? 

I found several benefits to using these retailer’s services. The first is that it was very easy to get an appointment. I was able to schedule something in the next 48 hours. In my experience it can take at least a few weeks to get on the calendar with a designer. I appreciated the quick turn-around. 

The best advice I have to get the most out of these services is to BRING GOOD MEASUREMENTS OF YOUR SPACE. The size of the room, the location of the doors, windows and entryways, the height of the ceiling, etc. And also measure any furniture you plan to keep. Of course, bring pictures with you too. Try to get a shot from every angle of the room. 

The retail designer can help create an appropriate furniture layout, but being specific about the size of your space is imperative. Otherwise you’re just picking items you like and may go together, but you won’t know how they will fit in your space which is crucial. 

One of the things I liked about my experience with Pottery Barn was that I could see items in-person and test seating options for comfort. I could feel the fabric, compare it with the rug I liked and see if the colors work well. 

The Ballard appointment I did virtually, although they do have a select number of in-person stores now. I felt very confident in her ability to develop a cohesive design plan. She seemed like a well-versed and experienced designer. She will get back to me this week with a complete design plan and recommendations. 

Based on my experience the turn-around for the design plan is much faster than traditional in-home designers. Granted their selection is much more limited so if you go all in with a retailer your room may end up looking like a page from their magazine.  

Furniture and Accessories suggested by PB Design Services

The designer who I was assigned to at Pottery Barn led with a lot of their product options, rather than focusing on the floor plan. Her background felt more sales than design. She was well versed in the retailer’s various lines and was savvy in adding items to a floor plan software so we could visualize these in a layout. I could tell she was a less experienced designer, but she engaged another coworker for an opinion who was excellent. He had a strong understanding of size and scale which is a crucial (ie. what size rug goes with the sectional, the scale of the coffee table for the sofa, the appropriate size console table for the entry wall, etc.) and was able to explain why he suggested certain items. It really helped me appreciate the attention to detail you often hear about in design because his selections had purpose in the context of the room and with one another. He even had some great styling ideas and they were able to add the specific product options and color selections to my design plan. Overall I was there for an hour and could have stayed longer if I had the time.

Furniture Plan developed by PB Design Services

This experience also helped me realize that I don’t have some of the critical tools at my disposal that designers do, like software to create a scaled drawing for furniture layout, access to trade only resources, etc. This is like when you hire a handyman and it’s so much easier for him because he has the tools (like the jigsaw) and knows how to use them! That is not to say you can’t do it without them, but it will be harder and mistakes are more likely. 

The quality? Again it was nice to be able to try the items. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the quality of some of the furniture items. The PB Comfort line was by far the most comfortable and it’s one of the more expensive lines they carry. I tend to agree that you pay for what you get. But that is not to say there aren’t better quality options at the same price point. As far as the quality of the design, I would say it was good, not great. The outcome engaging these services was better than what I could have come up with on my own, so I certainly find value in them. But the result still won’t be the level of design that I would get from a traditional designer not limited by the retailer’s items.

How does the cost compare? I don’t know yet. I’m not obligated to purchase anything, although I likely will. The prices for these retail items are fairly in-line with some of the custom items I’ve seen from traditional designers. But those designers can mix and match to accommodate your budget helping you focus on where to spend and where to save. 

As a parting thought, to the extent you can order through the brick and mortar retail location, I would encourage it. You will have a single point of contact at the store if you need help with your order (and you know something will likely come up) rather than being passed around some “concierge” service though a 1-800 number. And also it helps keep the store open and local employees hired.

Stay tuned for the design plan from Ballard!