Get a Free Consultation with an Interior Designer at IDSWest

Credit: Flickr/Gambar Rumah + Desain Interior ANNAHAPE GALLERY

Get tips from an interior designer to give your home renovation that professional touch

The expertise of an interior designer can be invaluable during a home reno. Take advantage of a free consultation at IDSWest this year

My last home renovation project was so painful I swore the next time I had to do it again, I’d hire a professional. That would have been my first choice, if expense were no issue, but of course, everything in a renovation is costly enough already.

Free Interior Design Consultations Offered at IDSWest

So, lucky for all of you who are in this position now and desperate for a professional designer’s advice to help you choose the perfect tile/sconce/paint colour/faucet: The Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) will be at this year’s Interior Design Show West (IDSWest) offering FREE 10-minute interior design consultations.

For the first time ever, IDC will make the expertise of design professional available to the public with their design service exhibit, “What’s Your Design Dilemma?”

The name says it all.

Be Prepared, Be Realistic when Doing a Home Reno

Take it from someone who’s survived a complete kitchen and bathroom renovation solo – no project manager and certainly no interior designer in sight. Ten minutes might seem scant, but in the throes of a near-décor-tragedy, 10 minutes can be a lifesaver or, given enough time to plan ahead, a game changer.

Come prepared to make the most of this valuable opportunity. But don’t expect them to completely remodel your kitchen in 10 minutes. Rather, pick your project(s) carefully and be realistic about what you can accomplish in 10 minutes.

And remember, the more details you can bring to the table, the more specific they can be with their advice. Bring samples, photos, floor plans, and lots of questions – anything that will help a virtual stranger understand what you have and what you want in 10 minutes.

Don’t forget to mention details such as which direction your windows face (warm south, or cool north?); or if you’re on a limited budget (don’t waste time pining over quartz countertops you can’t afford); or if there are must-haves you need to work into the design (for me: heated floors!)

Professional Advice for Your Design Dilemma

All the featured interior designers participating in the “What’s Your Design Dilemma” exhibit are members of the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC) and are certified Registered Interior Designers (RID).

Go, and give your sanity a fighting chance of surviving whatever renovation or redecorating dilemma you’re grappling with right now. There are only so many paint chips, fabric swatches and porcelain tiles the untrained eye and mind can process. It’s time to call in the professionals.

Consultations at “What’s Your Design Dilemma” are on a first come first served basis on Saturday, October 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

IDSWest takes place Thursday, September 29 to Sunday, October 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Catherine Tse is a freelance writer and editor based in Vancouver who brings her love of style to a variety of print and online publications. She discovered early on that writing and an ambitious penchant for lovely things was a good combination.