There have been many misguided conceptions about working with an interior designer. "They are too expensive" "They don't know my taste" "I don't have the time to meet with one" are just a few of the concerns a consumer may have. Our Designer on Call program will take away those fears and prove how simple it is to work with our Design Connection Below are a some guidelines about purchasing at the Arlington Design Center and working with a designer

Your home should be a reflection of who you are. It should be your daily sanctuary and a place of comfort, as well as functionality.

Using a design professional can, and should, be a good experience. And it doesn't have to go over your budget. Many people have found that working with a designer proved to be less expensive than trying to do it yourself.

Designers are trained in color, scale, lighting and space planning - eliminating costly mistakes. A designer will take your vision and needs and combine them with design principles to create a space unique to you!

Finding an interior designer is much easier once you have the right information. Many of our designers offer a free one hour consultation.

 

 

THE DESIGN CONNECTION PROGRAM and DESIGNER ON CALL

The Design Connection was created

1) To connect consumers & designers through our designer on call and our website.

2) To make consumers aware of the benefit of hiring a design professional.

3) To facilitate the sale of items at the ADC, typically available To The Trade only.

We have a designer on call (DOC) to work with you on projects and help you with purchases within the showrooms. There is a DOC available for a FREE one hour consultation Monday thru Friday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, located in the Building 2 atrium of the design center.

A calendar has been set up so that you can see who the designer on call will be on the day of your visit, or should you have a specific designer you would like to meet and work with, you can find when they will be at the design center.

All of the 29 members of the Design Connection can be found on our Find a Designer page. You can click on any designer to view a more detailed profile, along with a photo portfolio and fee structures.

 

LET'S GET STARTED

The ADC has come up with a cost efficient solution to help guide you in the right direction. Our creative and professional Design Connection members can assist you with the following packages to best suit your design needs. Not sure which package is best for you? Bring in your design dilemmas and/or color photographs to one of our Design Connection members Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm for a FREE one hour consultation. They will recommend what is best and help set up your appointment.

Packages should be payable to the designer and/or his/her firm. Any additional time needed with the designer should be discussed and will be based on the designer hourly fees and/or letter of agreement.

TIPS ON WORKING WITH A DESIGNER

Prepare yourself - Decide on a budget. Collect color swatches you like. Have pictures to illustrate what you like and what you don't like.
Think about the furniture pieces you hope to keep. Listen to all ideas, but never go against your heart.

Communicate with your Designer - Listen. Talk. Listen. That's it in a nutshell. The designer will tell you your concept of the project, and be frank about your budget limitations (everyone has them).

Finances - Which brings us to money. No one likes sticking to a budget, but everyone has one. Be conservative. Plan a project with goals and
phase-in purchases over a few months or years if necessary. Make sure you're very clear on exactly how you'll be charged, when your designer needs deposits, how you'll be billed, what you get, and when the work should be complete. Will you be charged for phone calls, shopping trips, or in-home consultations? Are purchases marked up or discounted?

Each designer has a different way of working and various fee structures, whether a flat fee, hourly fee, or percentage of purchases. Even if you don't want to spend a fortune, there are many ways to use a designer on a very tight budget. Start small if you wish, using a designer for a short time on an hourly basis for a specific project.

Getting the Design You Want - The more information you can give to your designer the better. Your needs, your preferences, and your hopes can be conveyed in both words and pictures. Collect photos from magazines of rooms, furniture, and color schemes you like, and use these to illustrate your ideas. This will give your designer a place to start in creating a design specifically for you. (Make an extra set of color copies if needed.

 

PURCHASING AT THE ADC

Upon entering the ADC, please visit any one of our showrooms to complete a simple registration form and obtain a visitor badge and outline of our 3 buildings.

Sample sale items may be purchased direct from the showrooms at the price indicated on the tag (see tag image below). All sales from a showroom floor are final.
Custom ordered pieces must be purchased through a designer or architect. Consumers may purchase floor samples at a 20% discount off retail, through a design professional. Should you have questions about an item in one of our showrooms, or wish to purchase an item, simply visit the designer on call to process the order for you.

Look for this tag throughout our showrooms indicating floor sample sales available to purchase.