19 michigandesign.com How do you help your clients prioritize their budget? Jane S. Synnestvedt Jane S. Synnestvedt Interior Design Consultant, LLC Narrowing the project scope is the first step to take after establishing a preliminary budget. We can help customers with this very important step if the estimated cost is over budget. Focusing on specific rooms is an important decision to make. For example, kitchen and bath renovations are costlier. It is also important for the customer to become educated about their options, discuss the way they need their space to function, and decide on the aesthetic they want to achieve before determining the final budget. A best practice that we always use is to add 15 percent to the estimates to cover any price changes that may occur or additions that are requested. Ongoing twoway communication is essential because this sets the tone of the trusting relationship between the client and the design professional. Ann-Marie Anton It’s Personal Design It’s very important to have an overall realistic budget in mind when embarking on any design project. Usually at our first meeting I like to create a “dream wish list” where every idea we have gets written down. Once a total estimate has been put on the project, the wish list is a great tool to go through item by item and together we decide what are the most vital aspects of the project and what can be eliminated or postponed for a later date. I also do floor plans for all the rooms that need to be completed with an allocation of estimated cost for each piece of furniture as well. However, this number is obviously a moving target. Having a sense of what you have to work with and a total vision for the project allows my clients to get comfortable with a cohesive master plan. Designer Talk Top designers tackle some of clients’ most common questions. – Emily Crawford
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