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According to Judy Sheridan, in her book, "How to Work with an Interior Designer" there are seven common problems found in today’s interiors. In her book she also talks about what a designer should bring into a project, and what a designer offers that goes above and beyond the call of duty and how it can save you money and add value to your home:

1. The seven most common problems found in today’s interiors:

• Awkward floor plan
• Out of date kitchen and/or bathroom
• Problem windows
• Lack of space or storage
• Inadequate electricity and electrical conveniences
• Low light and/or poor light
• Lack of or poor architectural details

2. What a designer brings to the project:

• Most designers can help you lower the cost of materials or resolve the situation in an economical way to lower the cost but still get a great result, so whatever is done to the property looks like it belongs to the design instead of being fixed in in an uncomfortable space. This is the secret.
• A designer gives you a professional assessment of your situation.
• Helps you develop a solid plan of action.
• A designer helps you to work with an architect, homebuilder or contractor, knows how to read and make blueprints, and can actually advise you on whether whatever the architect is proposing will work with the furniture arrangement.
• A designer transforms your living space.

3. A designer offers the following that has no price tag, such as:

• Many practical suggestions
• Years of knowledge that lead to informed insightful observations
• The ability to see and envision what you cant
• Ideas that come forth that wow you
• The expertise of knowing where to go to find things
• The necessary guidance.
• A trained eye that knows when something is not right, even if you don´t
• A discreet listening ear for you to wish-list your desired lifestyle
• If planning on selling or renting your property, a designer helps you create a space that will appeal to a potential buyer and add value to your home.

4. A designer can save you money

• “When a designer saves you money, its the kind of number that includes the time, aggravation, and worry. It is hard to put a price tag on not having stress”
• A designer can and will provide you with discounts you would normally not get, depending on your contract; it can be between 10 and 15%.
• “You make sound informed decisions with a designer at the helm. This always saves you money” .

Why do you need an interior designer´s firm such as Design Matters in Panama City?

• Design Matters will provide a service by going all over town to find what's necessary (there is not a Home Expo Depot here or anything of the sort). It is difficult without experience to find products not only at the right prices but at the right places where you can locate what is needed. Resources are spread throughout the city and are hard to get to.
• Design Matters has a crew who has worked with the company for some years and they are good and reliable. Many places will sell you materials such as granite for the kitchen counter top, but will not install it. Then, you will need to have a good installer to do the job. Finding such a person it is not that easy, many times the installer will disappear once you have given them their first deposit. By working with us you will not have that problem.
• The language barrier will make it difficult to communicate your wishes as well. Workers do not speak English, store owners do, but subcontractors do not as well as the majority of people in Panama.
• With Design Matters you will guarantee that whatever you spend depending on your budget will be well spent. Have you ever bought things and when you come home they are either too big, not appropriate or for some reason you do not feel comfortable with them? Panama is not like the US where they take things back. Many stores will give you a credit and if there is nothing you like in that store you are stuck with a credit to be spent who knows when. DM will also guarantee that the stores you buy from will deliver furniture to your door step and are responsible for their delivery. Not all stores do that.
• Design Matters will provide you with a discount between 10 to 15% on almost everything you need.
• Design Matters will take you to different furniture stores to select the style you are looking for after the project has been defined and your goals have been clarified on a proposal.

How Design Matters sets its fees:

There are different ways Design Matters works such as:

• Consultation fee: A charge of 50.00 dollars per hour will be assessed for the initial meeting. Design Matters will provide you with advice to help you focus on determining your needs.
• Flat fee: Depending on the scope of the project from creating a design concept, to supervising and finishing all installations you will be charged for the service a predetermined amount of money. Usually for jobs where the total budget is less than $20,000.00 a flat fee is the way to go. The amount will be calculated depending on the quantity of job hours involved as well as the amount of supervision involved. If the budget goes over this amount, then a percentage of the over expenditure will be added. If project is located outside of Panama City, travel time as well as expenses will be charged.
• Hourly rate: This is the best way to work if you only need a consultation where you will either get advice or just want to choose fabrics or tile etc. Where there is not going to be any supervision involved otherwise, it will be too expensive. Hourly rates are expected to be paid right after the consultation.
• Percentage fee: Based on a percentage of the cost of the entire job or the construction costs. In addition and as a separate issue, a percentage fee will also be charged on all purchases. The designer will acquire with or without client all purchases with its approval. This will be applied for jobs that exceed $20,000.00 dollars.

What should the client provide to Design Matters to rapidly pinpoint the client’s lifestyle and needs?

• Have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish.
• If possible make a list.
• Decide on the amount of money you can allocate for this project, “budget”.
• Provide pictures from magazines or photos of the things and style you like.

What should the client expect to get from Design Matters?
Apart from the best design work and a professional attitude:

• A letter of agreement that defines scope of job, payment schedule and depending on the way chosen to work the following plans will be provided:

1. Drawing of two dimensional sketches to fully understand what is being done to the space.
2. Furniture floor plan.
3. Electrical floor plan.
4. A three dimensional render, as an additional service.
5. Supervision of sub-contractors and installations.

Please contact us for an appointment at (507) 6617-0868.

Because good design is just okay… but great DESIGN MATTERS.

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How to work with an interior designer: Judy Sheridan, ASID, Cid.Gibbs Smith Publisher p 52
How to work with an interior designer: Judy Sheridan, ASID, Cid.Gibbs Smith Publisher p 53
How to work with an interior designer: Judy Sheridan, ASID, Cid.Gibbs Smith Publisher p 52