Are Interior Designers Snobs? | Items They Hate But I Love
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video, I chat about why Interior Designers get the reputation of being snobs. I also discuss some of the items they wouldn't recommend and why I think they don't recommend them. Please add to the discussion in the comments below, can't wait to hear what you think!
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⏱ Timestamps:
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03:34 - Peel and Stick
05:40 - Used Items
08:06 - Dupes
10:45 - Laminate Countertops
13:19 - Big Box Stores
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By the way, in no way am I saying that it's not worth it to hire an interior designer! They are skilled professionals and if you can afford to hire them, they are worth it! I just think that for most people, hiring an interior design is a luxury service because their prices are going to reflect their valuable time and skills and this puts them out of reach for many people. I also think that because they know that not everyone can afford their services this changes how they market their services and the products they recommend. Also the 5 products I mentioned are things some designers hate, but this view isn't going to be shared by all designers of course. Some designers recommend dupes for example so they can fit the clients budget, but there are plenty of designers that won't recommend dupes because they are morally against them, because they want to preserve their reputation as a luxury designer or other reasons.
1) I'm loving your hair cousin Nick. 2) I love this video for it's relatability. 3) Now I'm going to go love on my girl Alexandra Gater
Nick,
Please redo Ben from Meidas Touch Network's mantel, please!😅😅😅😅❤
@@graffic13 OMG, that's such an eyesore 🙃 And the one thing I liked, the plant, disappeared a long time ago!
Hi Nick! I am your average person who could only afford to hire designer to help pick paint colours for my new house 22 years ago and it was the best money I ever spent! I still love my colours and have not changed them! Every room is a different colour or different tone of the previous colour (like the front hall is yellow and the living room is a darker yellow for example). The colours compliment each other as you go through my house, if you know what I mean. Anyway they do come in handy for some things, if you can’t afford to hire them for a big project! Love your snarky sense of humour…keep it up! 🇨🇦
Very well stated, Nick.
You are the perfect mix of snark, self-deprecation, and self-awareness. So refreshing.
Well said.
I bet the Germans have one word for that.
Love your comment
Thanks for summing it up! Couldn't put my finger on why I'm addicted to Nick's videos. 😅
Truth
As an Interior Designer, I believe you’re a BETTER designer if you can design for the average family and home. It requires more creativity because it’s easier to throw a million dollars at a project.
So true. When I worked with an architect, she encouraged me and helped me find good dupes, nice ikea pieces and budget friendly solutions, saying that good design does not have to be too expensive and is most livable when it is a mix of more high quality new main pieces, budget friendly pieces and old existing pieces. That also makes your home unique and attractive.
Fact!
Great point!
Exactly!
I think that is SO true, give me $1M to throw at anything. It would be fun or not. Maybe more not than yes.
My personal thoughts on this as if anyone cares:
When a person is thinking through their core style, and you are an old as dirt broad as I am (74 I think), you can look back at old photos of you and the surroundings within that hoot you will have 1 response.
A). If you smile in your heart and laugh at X, you might realize you have a variation on a theme you have carried forward for forever and is in your core style now…
B). if the photos show sadness/hurt with the deer in headlights forced smile that screamed, “Sweet Jesus please get me out of here now’ look.. I guarantee that you will NEVER want any of what you had then in your now. It’s ok to recreate the wheel..but not the busted wheel.
So if your first apartment or just getting out from underneath the wings of parents generally sends us to a thrift shop to buy our first piece of needed something… And don’t forget the stuff mom and dad said to take from your new past…It can be great or omg. It starts your brain engine as to a style of what gives you joy. And as you grow older and you can replace and grow with the current times of decorating and styles, you can easily reject something that is so stupid or embrace something that is so stupid. But in each instance, it strikes a chord within your core understanding of you…
Speaking of cores .., I used to eat apples all the time while using my typewriter. …I still eat apples .. but while using my iPad or iPhone. Life is good …
Vote 💙 Gail 5/2/2024 USA mg.
I believe the reason designers are snobs is because they are spending other people’s money.
Don’t let some pricy designers fool you. I worked at the Service Desk at Home Depot. A LOT of expensive designers bought there because they can get, say, tile cheap and mark it up.
Oh now that is true.
I doubt that is true. Probably designers charge for services separate from expenses.
Actually what they do is charge you for materials and then whatever they don’t use they return because Home Depot takes everything back and then they pocket the return. They don’t use receipts so they get it back as store credit which they put it towards whatever they want to use it for thus you the consumer is getting charged twice. If you don’t believe me, ask any service desk representative.
@@ros8986 I'm an interior designer myself, though I only spent a few months on residential design, as I worked like crazy and people expected everything for free. Yes, designers will purchase inexpensive items and mark them up. It depends upon the designer and the contract drawn up with the client.
Which is why you write into your contract that receipts must be provided and you put a limit on what needs to be approved by you. It might be a beautiful thing you really like, but if it's six figures, the answer is no.
It's like a masterclass in diplomacy watching you Nick. You tell it as it is but somehow, I just can't be offended or mad at you 😂
Yes, I’ve never felt so offended by someone’s words, yet so unbothered 😂
The issue I've seen with Interior designers is, too often their work seems more a reflection of their own taste being adopted by the client than the designer presenting work reflective of the customer's taste. A home I've always felt should tell you a lot about the people living there...and should upon being seen paint a picture of what they like personally, and is unique. Most decorators and designers seem to miss the mark much of the time.
I've actually thought a lot about this over the years. I used to say that a good designer should understand the needs of the client and using their skills, create a beautiful design that reflects those needs. That is still true for a lot of designers. Now in an era where everything is branded (including content creators, designers, architects etc.) I see that so many are successful, simply by creating a sort of signature style and then clients come to them because they want it replicated in their own home. There might be some tweaks here an there but basically, if you are hiring the firm Olson Kundig or Kelly Wearstler or Studio Mcgee, you kinda know that you want THAT look. You don't hire Kelly Wearstler to design you a Modern Farmhouse and she would probably decline you as a client if you asked.... Both models can work but I find that the really big celebrity designers and starchitects are going with the latter.
@@Nick_Lewis Exactly, same applies to hotel interior designers. You shop the look that each designer specializes in. A fast research on each portfolio proves they do the same-ish concept again and again because it is their signature style. And this style, that they usually have mastered, is what they are sought after.
Makes sense to me it should be their signature style just like when you buy from an artist you are buying their style even in a commission piece
@@Nick_Lewisexactly what I was thinking. I heard a designer say exactly that to a client on some show, that the client had come to them because of their previous work, so they understood what their style was.
Most designers I've worked with are hired based on their personal aesthetic though. It's their brand.
as a child of architects I can confirm that they are very much snobs. One of parents' fave activities is to watch home makeover shows and roast the shit out of everyone's houses lol.
That's not being snobbish; that's just watching the uninitiated (and I'm talking about the "designers" here -- HGTV's so-called designers are just presenters and are not trained in the least) bumble on the public airwaves. Haven't you heard about the lawsuits brought by the victims of these TV shows? The "designs" start to fall apart almost immediately after the camera crews leave. There's a reason architects and designers go to school for 4-6 yrs. It takes that long to learn what you need to know!
@@dancingrl7350 we don't have HGTV in my country but if people are actually suing because of shitty the makeovers are, that's kind of hilarious
I do the opposite haha. I go on reddit and compliment what regular people do with their homes. Because they're doing a great job and it's fun to spread the love.
No Ikea in Middle Earth yet. Us poor Kiwis just have to froth at the mouth, and binge your recommendations, living vicariously xxx
They're building it though. It'll be ready in two years! (Just like the subway stations)
I live in Canada and proud to say that I own nothing from Ikea. Roaming around their huge stores is a waste of time and their products are of poor quality. You're not missing anything.
I did see some kiwis (identified by accent) joyfully taking selfies in front of IKEA the other day I guess this is why !!!
@JimmyCroscill1970 agreed. I'd much rather source authentic and unique vintage pieces from my local antique store.
@JimmyCroscill1970 where do you buy your stuff from then?
It’s refreshing to hear that laminate is fine. People ‘require’ high end cabinets and stone countertops and complain that they are priced out of their price range. My laminate countertops are 30 years old and still look great. Sure I want quartz but not the debt that goes with it. I still enjoy watching designers.
You are so right about debt & having what you can afford, plus it’s so much better for the environment too. My parents have 40 yr old laminate countertops still going strong in their farmhouse kitchen in their farmhouse. I’m wincing & laughing at Nick’s view on Farmhouse style! Classic styles never fail, are timeless & better for your finances.
My black contact paper (found 30” wide heavy gauge) counters have held up pretty well for 23 years.
We are building a house and found granite to be the more economical choice.
I agree. When I redid my kitchen, I wanted quartz countertops so bad. But when I figured out the cost of it, I just could not justify it. It did not fit in my budget at all. It did not fit into my house in my neighborhood if you get what I mean. So I got laminate countertops. They are fine. Do I still want courts? Of course I do. But it was literally gonna take me more years just to pay it off and that's just not worth it.
Replaced our 40-year-old laminate countertops with....laminate! Love it!
Alexandra Gater does mostly design for rentals. Her choices for peel and stick make perfect sense and she does a great job!
Affordability is also another reason why we love and seek vintage. Also, who wants the cookie cutter look. A curated home with pieces collected over years can be beautiful.
My daughter-in-law is an interior designer who works with a major builder. She specks out all of the fixtures, cabinets, lighting, flooring- even the amount and style of exterior trim. Paint colors, finishes all of it. She chooses how the model home will look and what options will be given to the potential buyers. She not only stays up on trends, but also the desires of the current buyers- which is NOT always the same thing, it turns out. Depending on the price of the homes, the average age of buyers in the market, etc, she says that often buyers of new homes are not looking for what is hot right now, but rather things that were big shifts a few years ago and have been adopted and incorporated into highly sought after homes of their peers. So the question isn’t always “what’s hot” as much as what is being abandoned. When it came time to build and decorate her own home, she used a combination of solid, traditional choices (black and white entry stone and hard wood floors,).. Her own furniture is a mixture of top end, budget and thrift/restore.
BECAUSE she is a designer, visitors look at her home differently than they would someone else’s home. Many of her decor pieces get changed out a bit more frequently than others. I helped her with sewing on one visit. I applied a 3 inch band of navy and white Greek key ribbon onto the leading edge of some floor length ikea linen colored curtains. Similar curtains were $600 PER PANEL on the Nordstrom web site! IKEA sold curtains in pairs for around $30, and she purchased the ribbon on Amazon. Since curtain trends change, it didn’t make sense for her to spend huge amounts of money for the original, so she copied the look and the end result was difficult to see any difference. In her mind, a designers BEST tool is finding the look for less. I think it is instructive to see what designers actually do in their own homes.
@@alla9916The build is not the designer's choice. The mega real estate bastards don't care if the closet is 2 feet wide aside from the fact that they're dining out on the saving and love it.
THANK YOU for using the word "custom" instead of "bespoke," which the use of makes my eyes roll so hard I can see my brain!
I think people who use this term have already realized how obnoxious it is. It seems to be fading out already.
is there a difference?
Bespoke is vey British.
@@AugustDeb Even the British show "Breeders" made fun of the term. A couple is shown around a house and the realtor goes on about designed this and bespoke that, and they mock him behind his back: "These stairs are designed". "Yes, but are they bespoke?"
Oh well - for some reason, I like it.@@kaasmeester5903
Restoration hardware looks like expensive made in India or Vietnam junk. For much less, you can have a real person in Canada or the USA make tables, cabinets or other furniture
They are snobs. I will never understand their disdain for ceiling fans. I live in the Southwest. Not having a ceiling fan from March to October is expensive and uncomfortable. I get this is not an issue for other regions, but IDs really have to get over the ceiling fan hate.
This--YES!!!!!
They come in many styles now for any decor.
I love my ceiling fans and have them in every room on the upstairs floor. You can buy some nice looking fans and they really help with the air conditioning bill 😉
I've lived in the south my whole life. Can't imagine not having a ceiling fan.
Happy to be an "average" person just out here trying to turn my house into a HOME that functions well and looks decent. Not likely to ever afford a designer or high-end materials, but ideas are free and I appreciate people like Nick who give their advice, opinions, and visual examples. If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, it can inspire a lot of creativity and ingenuity to achieve the look you want. That's more interesting and rewarding to me.
💯
I'm a Canadian living in New Zealand. We don't have an IKEA but they will be building one in Auckland which is to be open in 2025! I cannot wait for this - Swedish meatballs here I come 🎉
I wish we had our IKEA when our kids were young and we had less money🥲
@@dominaevillae28 Ah, the good old days when my mother made furniture out of wooden fruit crates.
I love how honest and down to earth you are. I am never going to buy a 22.000 dollar couch. If I had the money to easily pay it out of my back pocket I still wouldn't buy it. I want less stuff and I don't want expensive stuff anymore. I want decent serviceable beautiful stuff but I just don't want super expensive stuff anymore.
Especially a white couch. They couldn't bring it within a mile of my place and it would still 😊get dirty.
@@wolfe6220 I have a black dog. Who consideres the couch it's lawful place....
My couch is an IKEA Soderhamn I can take the covers off and wash them, and I might buy a new cover for it soon.
@@AafkeArt Years ago I was an interior designer & more recently , a house 'n pet sitter . Interesting how many clients' " high end " homes have chosen good quality & serviceable upholstery w/ their pets in mind . Also , almost a given that there will be a blanket or sheet ( color coordinated , of course ! ) on their pet's favorite nap chair / sofa ! 🐾🐾💙
Such a fascinating peak behind the curtain Nick! It never occurred to me that the design snobbery so prevalent in creative careers is really about signaling to their wealthy potential clients that "I have taste." By showing off designs full of expensive natural materials, bespoke objects, and famous designer products, these designers are using the inherent exclusivity and elitism of those pricey hard-to-get items as a shorthand for expertise. This reminds me of some articles I read a while ago about Kelly Wearstler, and how her design style is "so indescribable and hard to pin down". I remember thinking to myself "No, her design style is very easy to describe. She just gathers together the most fancy, rare, and famous designer products from every point in human history and calls it a day." I don't say that to dismiss her as someone with no skill, but simply to point out that when you get to be your own design client with essentially unlimited budgets (after all, most of her acclaimed work is for a luxury hotel chain her own husband owns) then of course you'll be able to put your best foot forwards. That's one reason why I admire and appreciate your work Nick! You see the potential in a laminate countertop or IKEA as-is section find and help your viewers create something beautiful from we have available in our own backyards!
Thanks for the great comment! Totally - in the end you have to follow the money. Who is the customer and paying your bills? If you are Kelly, yeah it's going to be very wealthy clients, so you have to act the part. If your me, well my customers are really the viewers. So I have a very different incentive.
Nick, really appreciate that you seem to actually read your comments here. That's nice.
I had a problem with an interior designer years ago. I worked for a nonprofit and she was called in to re-design a large lobby. She knew that we were spending donated funds on that lobby- and we were not a wealthy charity. She ordered nice stuff- cornice boards, chairs, wallpaper, etc. But she didn't ask her fabricators and workmen if the materials she picked would work with the designs she chose. The cornice boards were a total fail. The loosely woven fabric stretched out of shape on the padded cornice boards. The workmen apologized as they installed everything. We had to order more wallpaper- she didn't purchase enough. And she scolded us because the vendor sold it to us directly (he felt bad) and therefore she didn't get her markup. The chairs had holes in the vinyl covers in a week. It really put a bad taste in my mouth for interior designers. And yes, she was so snobby.
Sounds like she was unjustifiably snobby, because she wasn't professional, probably inexperienced, too. (How do you not take the right measurements for wallpaper? How do you not know your materials?) She was acting the part.
@@peztopher7297 exactly. I can sew- very well. And I've made window treatments, slipcovers, etc over the years. I knew the minute I saw the chosen fabric on the cornices why it wasn't working. If she had interfaced it or underlined it before using it, that might have worked. But I thought it was telling that the workmen didn't like her either and didn't share their expertise with her. If the people who work for you don't like you and help you- that is a bad sign!
@@patriciaferrito9245 Who even hired her?
@@peztopher7297 No me! I was just stuck cleaning up her messes.
I remember the snobby designer at work that insisted the 18 inch tall planter boxes had to be in the "corner" of the reception area to "define the space" completely ignoring that people tended to clip that corner as a shortcut to the door. After 4 other people tripped over it, I tripped over it and broke my wrist. When 2 more coworkers fell over it, they finally told the designer that reality had to win out.
I get a kick out of you (and a chuckle sometimes) but also I keep watching because you are SMART and I've learned a lot from you!! Thanks!
This is why I enjoy your videos. There's a sensibility that you provide for people who may feel a little lost about design, but also for those who just need a bit of guidance. Yours is a refreshing honesty that lacks the obnoxious attention grab I find cringe worthy from other channels. Your videos are relaxing and well thought and I often come to your channel when I need help when caught between choices. I really don't find interior designers or architects any more snobbish than others in the field of custom work.
Yes, that Design Daddy makes me cringe!
I love that you are aware that just because the average person cannot afford really expensive designer elements doesn’t mean that they can’t have a stylish beautiful home. It’s about smart shopping, investing in the best quality pieces you can afford and/or buying items that will stand the test of time. I feel like style trends go in and out but a timeless beautiful piece, especially in the larger more expensive items is wise, and you can add trends in small decor items without going over your budget.
You are so bang on.
Decor, clothing, dining, is all about good taste. If you dont have it, go to the people and places that do. People with good taste and sense can find beauty anywhere, even thrift stores and Wal-Mart. Most of us are a mix of knowledge & need, so we learn as we go. Thanks to Nick for having great taste and sensibility and sharing it with us.
Cheers did it best. Search for the episode where Norm ends up decorating Fraser and Lilith's house and recommends him to friends who are thrilled until they meet Norm, and Fraser has to encourage him to be more "stylish." Regarding laminate--I can easily afford stone but I couldn't care less about kitchens (after-dinner clean up was a a sibling-rotated chore as a kid) so when I remodeled it, I went laminate. And yes my decorator got snooty about it. (Probably partially as payback for my reaction to the suggestion that we "...take some walls down....") I live in an old house that is my forever house. Decent cook but not obsessed with it. I don't entertain in the kitchen, and the art on the wall between the dining room and kitchen (one of the walls the decorator wanted to remove) easily cost about 6 times what stone counter tops would have so I chose to allocate my resources there.
A long long time ago I worked for a Parsons trained [graduate] California designer in her satellite office in Canada.
Interestingly one of her dealios [and we marketed her based on this] was her saying , "any talented decorator can probably do an acceptable job of a project if they have an "open" budget [lots of money to throw at it]. But the real test of a designer is doing an exceptional job with a "tight" budget." At a minimum you will get more for your spend .. but you also will have a better result.
Stella did an amazing job on projects because she knew how to use "subs" and "dupes" and "finds" to accumulate savings that she could allocate to the "important", no compromise, spends in her projects and where it had the most impact.
Beware the decorator/ designer who has to have "all the best stuff" to do an acceptable job .. they may well be [inadvertently] telling you about their own limited levels of skill.
Like what you like! Who cares what others think. Its your space; you are the one that has to live in it!
I was in real estate for decades in SoCal, working with the most expensive zip codes so I had seen many top designs and excellent buildings. I had prejudice against Home Depot Wayfair Homegoods and Amazon. However when i remodeled my own place I learned to check for similar products at these places. I saved a lot of money and no uncertainty (during covid) because I got materials timely. 3 years later I still have no regret choosing alternative items from these places.
Snobs: Why be condescending about people wishing for beauty within the limitations of their lives?
Bc they believe that beauty in life is exclusive, unfortunately
BC they have nothing else going on for them except the ability to recognise when the marble is real
I was in the laminate budget realm and twice had beautiful laminate countertops. The kitchens were beautiful and functional and easy to care for. So, thanks for giving a thumbs up to doing what you have to do.
8:50 RH is "fine", but I have an issue with them when they sell stuff like framed art pieces that are basically Public Domain imagery that you can get for free from Museum archives around the world. The furniture, fine, they can sell that for whatever price they want. But when they're selling Public Domain framed prints for 1000$, I have a problem with that.
I found quite a few sellers on Etsy that sell the same prints for a fraction of the price, but they ironically call them "RH Dupes". How is it an RH dupe when RH is literally selling Public Domain stuff...?
100%!!!
Used items became my staple home decor - they stood their time and look timeless, so vintage decor is my go-to including quality.
This! 🎉Same goes for the early/mid 2000 granite. It’s natural stone, it’s beautiful! And for decades it’s all anyone wanted, how does a natural stone go out of style and frankly all this dramatic veined marble is going to be equally dated but it won’t matter because it’s gorgeous. I honestly think designers and content creators need to have something new to actually have a business but this new trend of influencers/designers leaning towards timeless and working with what you already have that’s high quality in spite of trends is absolutely refreshing.
I think the problem starts when a design becomes so affordable that anyone can get it. Designers want to appeal to the masses while selling "uniqueness". Once something becomes accessible to the masses, all of a sudden it becomes unfashionable.
I have Corian countertops. Love them, no stains, no treatments needed, can use any cleaning products...I installed it in my 1960s maple cabinet kitchen.
Its already dated, and in some cases its so overused its physically painful to look at (literally gives my husband a headache if he is surrounded by it, granted he is a TBI patient but still....). I've seen houses not be able to sell due to the overuse of it.
I agree, I don't think that natural materials should ever go out of style. I understand wanting a new coat of paint and things like that, but it's literally stone.
Don’t be fooled. Real never goes out of style. Real stone, real wood, real silk, real anything is timeless.
The latest on Ikea in NZ is that they're in the process of building and plan to open in 2025 (I'm very excited)
The homes I have seen that were designed by interior designers look like movie sets. They don't look like real people live there. My husband and I designed and built our house without an architect or a designer---although, to be fair, he had already built or renovated 3 other houses, and we talked for 14 years about what we wanted in this house. It had a gigantic pantry, little hidden garages for all the small appliances, a laundry room right off the kitchen, and it wasn't a open plan. We loved it. Nick, you are advising real people about living in real houses and apartments, and your comments (and snark) are right on the money.
A lot of DIYers think very short term, which I don't like. Designers tend to follow trends, which always has the risk of going out of style in five years. Both are wasteful. I like for things to last and have quality to a certain extent. Think propper wood furniture instead of IKEA but not designer brands. To quote you, Nick: It should be timeless.
Thinking about a DIY "accent table" I saw that was a bunch of plastic bowls hot glued together wrapped in sisal rope (also hot glued) with a plate on top 🤢
The one and only personal interaction I had with an interior designer, we told her we were open to ideas but no beige. The last stuff we had (which was destroyed by a Ford F150 that drove into our living room) was all beige and we were kinda sick of it. She took a few weeks to get back to us and literally everything she showed us was beige. She even showed us beige paint swatches. I wanted to ask if her brain was broken.
Wait, a Ford 150 drove into your living room? Sounds almost as crazy as the interior designer's recs. Jokes aside, really sorry that happened to you. How awful!
Yeah, I didn’t have that exact experience but it was clear the designer I spoke to had her own vision of things. She was optimizing for an interior that would give a “wow” effect when you walked in (it involved removing several walls), and she was going to paint over the exposed wood, etc. It didn’t align with my preferences or my needs; removing those walls might make things look cooler, but they’re the most functional walls in the house for me- where I put the TV so you don’t see it when you walk in, and where my main cabinet wall is in the kitchen/where the china cabinet is in the dining room. I understood perfectly what she was envisioning, but it wasn’t functional for how I live. Also, I need it to be possible to block off the kitchen entirely so I can keep the dogs out of it sometimes- like when I’m loading the dishwasher, or when I have food spread out on the countertop for guests. And I told her absolutely not; no open kitchen- but her description came back that way anyway. (She was recommended by a contractor.). Another designer wanted to paint the entire exterior of my house black- brick and all- and I do not want to come home to the horror movie house, tyvm. In contrast, I feel like I could actually work with Garrett LeChic because we have somewhat similar taste, and he spends a lot of time talking about emphasizing the functionality of your space and this being the point of interior design. But maybe not; in person maybe I’d throttle him. Who knows? He’s not local to me and idk about video consults; not really the level of service I need. Anyway, it seems like you need to shop for someone local with a portfolio aligning with your taste, and then see if you can mesh with them personally.
What part of "no beige" was confusing? Bless her heart. It's distressing to think about paying a designer only to have them ignore your wishes in order to serve their own "vision" of the space. If it's my money and my home, best believe I need to love the idea before anyone picks up a hammer.
@@whiteserpent6753 Yes, definitely work with local people. I tried a couple of online interior designers (not Garrett) and it's dodgy because it's very very very hard for them to understand the scale of the room and the pieces you are buying -even with floorplanner. They have to spend a lot of time thinking about those details, whereas if they were in person, they can simply *see* it, instantly. A LOT of information is conveyed immediately just by driving to your place and walking in that isn't conveyed easily via online consultations. I've spent a lot of money on online consultations and Ive gotten maybe one or two good suggestions with a lot of very bad ones.
@@gloriaalex11 Yeah. It was not great and we were in kind of a hurry so we didn't have time to do much shopping around. At least we were just hiring her for furniture and paint suggestions. We had no desire to change the structure of the house beyond repairing the damage done by the truck so we just needed someone to help us replace what had been destroyed. Still, I really did want to ask if she'd been dropped on her head as a baby or perhaps would benefit from the use of hearing aids.
Sometimes the creativity and design necessitated by lack of funds often comes up with the best ingenious ideas and re-purposed products.
*Average Joe Here* . If money were no object, I would definitely consider hiring an interior designer. Alas, I live in my humble 1300 sq.ft 1964 ranch style home in the suburbs for a reason. I love watching interior design content but what I find more helpful are those creators I would call "Interior Stylists". I do NOT want to watch another "LOOK what I got at Target" video, meh. I like the thrifters, flippers, diy'ers and dupe sharers. I've utilized many of the tips and tricks to elevate my space and I'm very grateful. I feel my home aesthetic suits me. My home is warm, cozy and inviting with a cohesive palette. At the end of the day, that's what brings me joy. *Question* . Have you seen Tan France's Utah home tour on A.D.? That was a vision that needed a designer and all the connections that go along with it.
I’m watching this currently as a person currently building my home. I have a hot take. So, interior designers want custom. I get it. It makes sense so it can be “exclusive” and “special” to the client. I live in a very poor community in Kentucky. Our people are poor here but we can build homes that are custom without spending a gazillion dollars. We utilize the Amish community where I live. They make everything from custom cabinetry to caskets, to furniture at a fraction of what you would find in a store. They can keep their prices low because they source their own wood, their overhead is low, and they don’t have a lot of operating costs since all the planning is done on paper and they don’t have electricity. My cabinets cost a fraction of what I was quoted elsewhere and the guy I worked with was an absolute joy to work with. Also, since I live in a poor, tight knit community, someone always knows someone who does a really good job at something at the best price. We’re also fans of “making do” and “making things ourselves” out of sourced materials and things we already have. We also take care of expensive things so they’ll last a long time. We use a lot of reclaimed barn lumber here for furniture and construction elements. I’ve seen some GORGEOUS homes that used a lot of reclaimed lumber for different design elements. I’ve also seen some gorgeous homes that have their Grandma’s Hoosier cabinet in the hallway, or their kitchen table from 20 years ago in the kitchen of a brand new home. I’m really proud to live in a community like this because even though you do see some trendy things here, there is always something very Kentucky like, and special about each Kentucky home for each family.
I am fortunate to have a brother who is a kitchen designer and what makes him cool is that he helped us when we built a house in a new subdivision and had no problem recommending laminate as it was in our budget. One of the most helpful things he did was bring 2 laminate options (from the almost 100 possibilities) for us to choose from that would look good with the cabinet ls, wall color, and flooring.
I love this comment!
I used peel and stick tiles for 7 years -- and no one could tell.. I picked the ones that are three dimensional : when you touch, they felt like subway tiles with grout between them. Problem was, they did not look real. So I painted over them with high gloss cloud white paint. It looked so good, people thought I had actual subway tiles and painted over them !
Thank you for speaking up in favor of laminate counters! I put them in our kitchen 10 years ago because we couldn’t afford stone, and they have held up beautifully. Sure, they aren’t trendy, but they are perfectly functional, look better than the previous dirty tile, and we didn’t go in debt for them!
I’ve worked in interior design for over 2 decades. People always worry I will judge their style and I have to explain that I feel it’s the designer’s job to be able to appreciate (not like) a lot of different styles. Those pieces that someone may find tacky can carry tremendous sentimental value to my client and my job is to make sure we can design the best space FOR YOU with YOUR style, not mine. I’ve designed multi-million dollar homes and I’ve designed a $500 room make over and I often find the budget jobs with average income people far more rewarding than buying the trendy items for people who don’t truly appreciate what they have.
Thanks for sharing your experience and expressing appreciation for people who are at the middle to lower end of the socioeconomic scale
There’s literally a moment in every video you make that I LOL!! “ chili in an instant pot in your bathroom” 😅😅😅
Thanks Nick. I did kitchen reno on limited budget w laminate benches + vinyl flooring & absolutely LOVE it. They’re hardwearing, no chipping/staining. 5 yrs on & still good as new. Vinyl flooring is softer, & nicer underfoot. If u drop a glass jar it usually survives without breakage. However, if you drop a knife it can leave a dent. The money I saved I splurged on Italian backsplash tiles that give me a lift every time I walk in the door.
I don't necessarily think interior designers are snobs, but I think a lot of them are too occupied with what's trendy, and that goes double for things that are big and/or expensive to replace. Few people can replace their sofa or repaint their walls once a year just because a trend ended, and just because something isn't trendy anymore doesn't mean it suddenly became ugly. If it's ugly and impractical in 2024, it was ugly and impractical in 2023 too.
So true! If you buy what you love it usually all fits together & brings you some joy when you walk in the door.
I'm a designer and not all of us subscribe to trends. If the trend is something you truly love, great. Do it. But if not, do not do something just because it is a trend.
Great video, Nick. Commenting as an iterior designer, I think you were accurate in your statements about design being budget driven. The one thing I would like to point out is regarding the use of big box stores. They sell a lot of product, but I don't use them for things like plumbing fixtures because many plumbing brands make an inferior big box store version of items that can also be purchased through plumbing supply vendors. They are sold under the same name, but the base materials contain plastic and are more prone to failing. I also can't get the same level of service if something goes wrong with a product during an installation.
We need to be clear on the difference between interior designers and interior decorators. Interior designers have at least a 4 year degree and are licensed professionals. They focus on space planning and structural work. Interior decorators may have a 2 year college diploma. Their specialty is finishes, materials, and furnishings. Designers can decorate. Decorators cannot do interior design as it involves structural issues.
Linoleum floors are easier on the legs than a hard surface. They give and are waterproof. I had one piece linoleum floor that looked good for fifty years. It was a subtle page pattern. Not beautiful but not ugly.
Also more forgiving when dropping things 👍🏼
I remember someone posting their ugly floor…probably from the 70s. Still in great shape and bonus: never showed dirt. Try a black and white floor sometime….looks great in photos immediately after scrubbing…but that’s a daily task….
You should watch Restored with Brett Waterman. He loves a good (real) linoleum floor.
@@loisbolton1800 Good point. Mine had a pine floor underneath, so forgiving both of my dropping plates and my cooking in one place for a long time.
Seriously, I would rather retire early than have an abundance of overpriced items in my home. Also, I think vintage items that are of good quality are a much better investment.
May I also add, that interior designers usually come from money from what I've seen. So they have always been around wealthy people, and obviously are going to cater to the wealthy. Basically, they're out of touch with the average person, so vinyl flooring and laminate countertops are perceived as very low end to them. Love your content.
I was in a design program with one professor hired by HGTV, one being the daughter of an interior designer and a meh tennis player (?) and one who has one of his kids possibly working for him.
Yes totally. There are tons of successful designers (clients are celebrities and athletes) in my area and turns out they all came from immense wealth and live in 5 million dollar homes lol. I learned this after I started my own small design business and felt so overwhelmed and intimidated by their access to resources.
@@dm96177 There it is. "Access to resources" That sums it up quite well. Hopefully, you are doing well in your design business.
Laminate countertops have come a long long way. All for it if you cant afford natural materials
Thank you for being practical! This was a helpful video for reframing what seems like snobbery as a focus on a specific customer set.
I used to watch a local TH-camr who seemed down-to-earth, but then she started focusing more on design work and suddenly was talking about going to expensive stores and agreeing with comments about how people are so cheap and don't value quality. That was such a turnoff for me, but now I understand that I was no longer within the customer base for that designer.
I write online content for software and one of the first rules is to write for your audience (which has sometimes been average people like myself, and other times has been people who, like designers, are working for the wealthy). So now I understand that "snobby" designers are just living in a wealth-focused world so they can do their jobs well.
I'm glad you can make a living talking to those of us who aren't wealthy. :)
Your comments are very realistic and acknowledges that designing a room at any price point is ok.
I do love and appreciate the accessibility point in Nick's videos. While here it's mainly about money, in others it's also about sitting down and standing up, falling and tripping hazards etc. I don't think I've ever seen a design magasine or AD take that aspect. That being said, my best customer service experience ever was when I was looking for a couch, and I spent like two hours in the store. The super amazing clerk even made international phone calls for me, for goodness sake. Anyway, among other things, he pointed out that one couch is heavier and harder to transform into a bed, while the other is lighter. He was right, and I appreciated that. I can pull mine out even when sick or super tired 😊
I appreciate you differentiating the business lines (creator vs professional services)
The moment we feel that our opinions matter more than anyone else's is a wonderful moment, when we stop trying to impress other people or get compliments, man it feels good, it's also when you will create something authenticity you, that is always beautiful and exactly what we need.
Nick, you won my heart. Finally someone who says it as it is. You really hit the nail by using the word "Snob". I want a nice home but I'm not a millionaire to keep on buying things for such high price tags. I rather go on a nice vacation and have the memories forever than a white 22K sofa that will be out of style in 5 years. People are fed so much luxury BS to the point that people who can't even afford, spend the money from their credit cards (30% interest rate) just to have it. Let's bring normal back PLEASE.
Laminate can be a really clean, modern look in a contemporary kitchen. And it’s super durable. I was fortunate enough to be able to get quartzite in my kitchen reno, but I had laminate for 20 years before that and really liked it.
my parents have laminate countertops from like the 70s or 80s that not only look cool but are also completely indestructible
@@breensprout What's not to love about it. Love it!
Design should be accessible to all. As someone who is studying to be an interior designer, I firmly believe in this. It is unfortunate that so often, design is seen as for the rich only, when it shouldn’t be. Designers really need to work with the client’s style. It’s about the client, not the designer. Some people may need help in finding their style, and I believe it is a designer’s job to help those who don’t know what they like to figure that out. Again, it’s about the clients, not the designer.
"Design should be accessible to all. "
Fantasy me often entertains the thought of being an interior decorator and organizer for the lower middle class (give or take), just to stick it to the design snobs! 😉 But then reality me doesnt like math, shopping that much, or dealing with ppl tbh 😅🙃🤷♀️ You've got a pretty sweet gig here on youtube! Fantasy me also entertains this aspect, but again, reality me says a big ol' NOPE! haha
I'm glad you gave a reasonable argument for laminate countertops. My sister did a kitchen renovation a few years ago, and could have afforded whatever stone she wished. Instead, she chose a really pretty laminate (against her designer's suggestions), and her kitchen looks great - even without a large slab of stone. :) I understand a designer's value, but I'm aware that most people cannot, or aren't willing to, always avail themselves of a professional's advice in material choices.
Hi Nick --
Your videos have been so helpful and entertaining. Long story short, on Nov. 16, 2021, the building where my husband and my condominium unit is located sustained an explosion and fire, destroying 12 of the 24 units. It was caused by a man who set himself on fire and turned up the gas from his stove. That was hard enough. Curt and I had only been married for 13 weeks and we had only lived in the fixer-upper unit for nine-and-a-half months. We were in the process of slowing renovating it and had finished the kitchen (Curt is very, very handy). Although our unit had no damage (it was the furthest away from the explosion and fire), the city mandated that all units still standing be stripped to the studs. Sadly, the master insurance policy only covers builder-grade materials and improvements that had been made before the incident. We were going to upgrade as we saved money. We expect to return to our restored unit either by the end of 2024 or start of 2025.
Because we didn't have the money to do everything we wanted by the time we met with the contractor, I decided to figure out how to make the most of what we had available to us (in terms of the contractor's material selection and adding a little to the pot with a couple of small upgrades). Your videos about what is timeless, what is budget-conscious, and what trends should be left behind have been a godsend for this doctoral student and semi-retiree couple (I'm the student, Curt is the semi-retired one). Your advice has helped us make sound choices that won't break the bank. Assuring people who don't have the deepest pockets that they, too, can create a welcoming and stylish home is a truly amazing gift. People should not feel limited income means limited style. You defy that notion and I for one am grateful. Thank you and keep being fabulous!
I have survived a kitchen renovation! Fortunately it was during the warmer months & was able to cook outside. Our neighbors thought that I really liked to barbecue. 😅
To add to your point about TH-camrs appealing to the masses with accessible, attainable, and Big Box recommendations and discussions, TH-camrs are also incentivized to discuss brands with affiliate links and sponsorship opportunities. No shame--it is the nature of the business and how you make money in the business where you produce free content, but I think in full transparency on the topic, it is worth a mention.
In addition to your very valid points about the need to create value and exclusivity, interior designers may also be snobby about "mass appeal" items because of these items' very association with TH-camrs and their need to differentiate themselves as designers vs. content creators.
Those of us with champagne taste and a beer budget aren't out to impress anyone with our name brand possessions. Fortunately, there are plenty of great companies out there who are happy to have our business. There is also clear difference between interior designers (degreed professionals who must be licensed, pass an exam, and have both design and architectural backgrounds) and interior decorators, who generally have no such requirements. Thank you for not being a snob, Nick!
Seriously!! My favorite designer came to our house...a "track house" in the suburbs. The horror! It was so clear that designing for a house that wasn't historical or a new build was so beneath her. She couldn't wait to tell us that we needed $75,000, minimum, for a new kitchen. And that was 3 years ago. She's still my favorite designer, aesthetically. But I'll never forget that she thought our house wasn't good enough.
Yes, sometimes their snobbery does themselves out of a job.
Not an interior designer, but my mother had a stylist brought in by her real estate agent. She turned her nose up and said that my mother should put all her art and furniture into storage and she would bring in her own.
Now my mother has quite the collection of real art, expensive art, and while I thought she needed to be more selective in how she displayed it, it was definitely more 'designer' than the work this stylist had displayed on her social media account.
In the end I saved my mother the $10 000 plus cost and styled her place using her furniture and art, and spent a small amount on linens etc that we could reuse ourselves.
People raved about the styling when they viewed the house, and she got a great offer.
@@sara_387 Nice! Well done!!
Yes! I love my laminate countertops. Are they a statement piece? No, but as long as they’re cleared off, they look great and are easy to care for.
Btw I live in a spot in the US where there is no IKEA within reasonable driving distance. It’s so sad. I don’t know why they put so many in clustered spots and then leave out some regions!
I don’t have an IKEA either. And the laminate countertops I had for 20 years were great!
Ikea is overrated to me. I have one close and i never need to visit it as I can find pretty much anything I need somewhere else, including remodeling supplies.
I have used a decorator in the past as well as decorating myself. One disadvantage of decorating by myself is the risk of bad choices. and purchases. A good decorator can provide a cohesive vision. A good decorator can also work within your budget. I've actually saved money with a good decorator.
Yes, that’s what a middle-class friend told me too. I love that!
My curtains truly transformed my space and when I heard a designer say that non custom curtains were a huge no or not the budget route you should go I was like…yeah, you’re clearly not the person for me to follow. That’s a very high bar, custom curtains and hardware are very expensive.
I have made my own curtains for years. The french pleats are just a matter of math. I bought decorative trim (from Tuesday Morning. I really miss them.) which gave them a very custom look.
I know a couple that decided to redo their home's interior with some inheritance money. It wasn't a huge amount, but it was enough to hire a local woman who did redecorating. She came over to find out what they liked and what they wanted. The man explained his vision for his office, which was in a spare bedroom. He told her how he wanted darker, jewel-toned walls, etc. She listened politely and then said, "Hm, no, that won't work." ! Lol! He was surprised, (and somewhat offended!) but he let her do her thing. I didn't care for some of the changes, but I kept that to myself, it didn't matter since it wasn't mine. This friend had "unusual" ideas about decor, anyway. He used brown shoe polish (yes!) to give the white painted window frames in his office a "distressed" look! You can guess what it looked like!
RE: Dupes
I loved Metropolitan Home magazine. I always looked forward to their HIGH/LOW photos when they would style a shoot with high end, authentic or more expensive items, and then, next page, have the same pix and design, but with lower priced and dupe versions. 👍 So much fun and inspiration. ❤️
I think that this is my favorite video you have made. We all have to make decisions based on our wishes and the reality of our budgets. I would love to have a beautiful tile floor in my laundry room, but I simply do not have the money. Guess what? The peel and stick vinyl I used looks great and is a whole lot more practical. Now I have the funds to visit my daughter in Seattle, Yeah!!😊
Two words: Thank you.
I watch some interior designers (I have one favorite just because I love his personality and he says what most of us are thinking) and one thing I keep hearing is the work ELEGANT. In my personal, old lady opinion, the vast majority of people aren't after elegant. We're after comfortable. Their kitchen counters have toasters and coffee pots and bunches of bananas and maybe a butcher block with knives on them. Their bathroom counters have toothbrushes, hair dryers, shaving things, a box of Kleenex - things we use every day. Elegant people have big fancy drawers or storage places for all of that stuff. I've seen home office photos that look NOTHING like mine, Finally - you said everyone has a local IKEA. No, they don't. I live two hours north of Las Vegas in a decent sized area. No IKEA here - yet. No Trader Joes' - yet. No Whole Foods - yet. I keep hoping though.
As an ex employee of IKEA, I saw so many people that came in with the most whack job plans from their designers. Like a tv bench hanging from the ceiling above their actual TV or a pax used as a storage. They’d mix Besta with Sektions, they’d make plans that don’t have the right dimensions. If you’re doing just a one-wall affordable Reno, *this is not paid* but just go see an IKEA interior designer. They’ll suggest something that actually works, and keep your weight limits of what you want in the shelf realistic, if you want a more affordable Reno. I saw a lady once that said she paid a designer to redo the design every two years and she’d always send her client to IKEA. The client was bragging about how familiar she was with our stock, and she said she paid the designer a hefty amount. I was not surprised she had to change it that often if she didn’t invest more into the change.
I laughed out loud about the kitchen renovation comments. We didn't make chili in an Instant Pot in the bathroom, thankfully, but close enough. I love the results but hope to never go through it again.
There seem to be high end, midrange, and budget designers. Each is so valuable. This channel spans it all. You look at the stars but keep your feet on the ground. This range is in housing and businesses. There is a need for all. Thank you for being you ❤
Copenhag-ian here, the fb marketplace here has so much good stuff like your examples in this video. It honestly makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop
I think its a chronic waste of money to spend huge amounts of money on decor. The challenge to me is getting a satifying, interesting representation of the clients lifestyle that works for them. Why would I spend $5000.00 on a light fixture when I can get one in a similar style and look for a fraction of the cost? Knowing your sources and having an eye for quality is key. If you are a “snob” about interior design you are just putting limits on your creativity.
I ignore trends and couldn't care less what is in style. The reason style and trends change is to push people into paint and furniture stores to buy the latest styles which if you take it seriously, will have you low on funds for your actual necessities until you have figured out the game.
Great video. Makes sense. If someone is paying big money they don’t want an IKEA kitchen.
As a designer, I agree with your perspective. I've encountered challenges in structuring my business because of this very reason. Despite studying the profession and gaining experience in other firms, I've noticed a trend where many designers aim solely for high-end clients, leaving a gap in catering to those with smaller budgets. However, it's important to recognize that people of all budgets value expertise and guidance. Many individuals prefer to handle the ordering and installation themselves to save money, which often leads to the perception of high costs associated with hiring a designer. This is why I've chosen to focus on guiding clients through the design process rather than solely pushing expensive products, as this approach aligns better with their needs and lifestyles. Refreshing perspective 🙌🏼
My first experience with Interior Designers was watching the TLC Show, Trading Spaces. Sometimes designers gave useable well thought out spaces, and sometimes they were ridiculous.
It did give me the freedom to try designing my home with what would work for me, conpletely constrained by a tight budget.
Thanks Nick for bringing us accessible design and concepts for us viewers on You Tube!
One thing I can’t stand is when designers tare down the kitchen cabinets when their fine just need a little paint or stain , new hardware. Love the video as always .
Yes, I cannot stand all the unnecessary waste.
@@vaderladyl fr ! It would save so much money too
Love seeing the "dupes." The majority of us cannot afford the designer version, nor do we necessarily want them. I feel better than I can buy some "real thing" small pieces and then use dupes on the bigger items. That way, I also don't feel bad when I get rid of the items after a couple of years! To each his/her own! I do love HomeGoods, as well! Ikea is great for some things, but if you're not doing Scandinavian or contemporary-ish in your home, it doesn't often work beyond glasses, plates and such.
We just did a kitchen renovation, took out a wall, I’ve never seen so much dust in my life. Our furnace filter was caked in it. One take away is that you can be happy and live with little. We lived in the basement for 4 months with no stove, dishwasher etc. Having said that. I love the new kitchen. If I had to do it again. I wouldn’t have hired a contractor and would have found the trades on my own. I think hiring a interior designer would have been money better spent.
A new-ish trend that’s taking off (again) within the design community is the concept of “redesign”. This is where the client doesn’t purchase much in the way of new pieces, but instead decorates by using what they have, simply in a new way. I think as more and more emphasis is placed on not being wasteful that we’ll see this idea being implemented more often. I know from my own experience that sometimes just properly placing furniture in a space, and really considering the placement of artwork for instance, that you can take a “meh” room, and turn it into a “wow!” This, is where a true designer shines.
My Architect cousin and their family's friends who are often say that Architects are more than likely to be eccentric and particular too, not only snobs.
I love your approach to decorating! In reference to your vintage finds as well as butcher block countertops, my brother bought the salvaged wood from a bowling alley being torn down. Solid, gorgeous maple. He sanded them down and cut to size for countertops-just gorgeous!
As an architect who has worked for both architecture and interior designer firms, I agree, we can be quite snobby, lol.
Love your content Nick. Most of us want homes that function well for us, and look good and lift our spirits. I think it takes more skill to do this on a limited budget. I appreciate your acknowledgment that people have different tastes and budgets, and we can all be content with our choices. Even if I could afford a $20,000 couch, I don't think I would buy it; it doesn't fit my idea of a good way to spend money. And marble countertops? are we really digging out hunks of Italian countryside, transporting heavy stone across the ocean, using it as a food prep surface, and then heaving it onto a landfill when we remodel? To each his own, but the supply is not unlimited. Getting off my soapbox now....
Soon, my "vintage reproductions" that I purchased in the 80's are going to be 'bonified antique's! 🤭
Yeah antique shops are now full of '70's and '80's stuff so you don't know what is an antique anymore.
I think you explained it well in the intro. On youtube, designers are personalities who are selling style and relatability to as many people as possible. In the meat-space, designers are selling a luxury service to a wealthy clientele. The audiences are completely different. Furthermore, interior design is much higher up in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. People who are worrying about whether their home style looks *cohesive* and are thinking of hiring a designer aren't also worrying about their upcoming water and electric bill. 🙃
Well said.
I have friends who built their own home. The man is a finished carpenter and built the kitchen cabinets from ash. They were fantastic. The cedar exterior was beautiful. They painted everything neutral and all their furnishings were neutral. They did sky blue laminate counter tops. They were fantastic!
Love that you understand most people have a more realistic budget. ❤
Literally just got a laminate countertop delivered from IKEA for a kitchen island I’m building, and now I feel much better knowing I have your approval. Still waiting for your line of glitter grout before doing the backsplash 😉
Glitter grout sounds amazing!! 😅✨✨
It’s interesting that you made this video because I’ve always referred to designers as having a stigma. I work for one of the higher end big box stores part time and almost all of the designers I’ve come in contact with have a holier than thou aura about them. I definitely agree that they are appealing to a different clientele, but that doesn’t excuse someone from being standoffish and rude.
I just love your perspective. So grounded, humble, practical and respectful to your audience.
Yup. You are the only interior designer that I can afford. Namely free on YT😊But I really do appreciate good design ideas and education, so thank you!