How Do I Find a Reputable Interior Design Firm for a Home Remodel?
Remodeling your home is a big investment. Whether you're updating a kitchen, renovating a bathroom, finishing a basement, adding onto your home, or completely transforming your space, the interior design firm you choose can have a significant impact on both the finished project and the experience of getting there.
So, how do you find a reputable interior design firm for a home remodel?
Start by looking beyond beautiful portfolio photos.
At Lake Hazel Design, we believe a successful remodel requires more than good taste. Your designer needs to understand how design decisions translate into construction, how materials work together, how to communicate with contractors and trades, and how to guide hundreds of decisions from the initial concept through the finished space.
Here's what to look for when choosing an interior design firm for your remodel.
Look for a Firm With Remodeling Experience
Not every interior designer specializes in remodeling.
Some designers primarily focus on furnishings and decorating. Others work extensively with construction, renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole-home remodels.
Neither is inherently better—they're simply different skill sets.
For a remodeling project, look for a design firm with experience working with things like:
Space planning
Kitchens and bathrooms
Cabinetry
Flooring
Tile
Countertops
Plumbing fixtures
Lighting
Electrical locations
Finish selections
Construction drawings
Contractor coordination
Site conditions
Installation details
A remodel involves interconnected decisions.
Moving one wall can affect flooring, cabinetry, electrical, lighting, plumbing, furniture placement, and the construction budget.
Your designer should understand how those decisions relate to one another—not just how the finished room should look.
Review Their Portfolio—but Don't Assume It's Their Entire Experience
A designer's portfolio is a great place to start.
It can help you understand their aesthetic, see the quality of their work, and determine whether they've worked on projects similar to yours.
But there's something important homeowners should know:
A designer's online portfolio doesn't necessarily represent their entire body of work or professional experience.
There are many reasons a project might never appear on a designer's website or social media.
A designer may have completed projects while working for another firm. A client may have requested privacy. A project may never have been professionally photographed. Older work may no longer reflect the designer's current brand. Some projects may have involved extensive space planning and construction work but weren't ideal for portfolio photography.
And sometimes designers are simply busy working on projects rather than photographing and publishing every one of them.
So if you don't see your exact type of project on a designer's website, don't automatically assume they haven't done it. Ask.
If you're planning a whole-home remodel, kitchen renovation, addition, basement, or another specific type of project, ask:
“I don't see many projects like mine on your website. Have you worked on something similar?”
A reputable designer should be able to explain their relevant experience, the role they played on those projects, and how that experience applies to yours.
At the same time, portfolios are still valuable.
Instead of only asking:
“Do I like these rooms?”
also ask:
“Can this designer solve the type of problems my project will involve?”
Look for evidence of thoughtful layouts, cohesive materials, attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and spaces that feel intentional.
Before-and-after photos can be particularly useful because they demonstrate how a designer transformed an existing space rather than simply styled a completed one.
Use the portfolio as one piece of your decision—not the designer's entire résumé.
Ask About Their Design Process
One of the strongest indicators of a professional interior design firm is a clear process.
A reputable firm should be able to explain what happens from the first conversation through project completion.
Depending on the scope of your remodel, a design process may include:
Consultation → Existing Conditions → Space Planning → Design Development → Material Selections → Drawings & Documentation → Contractor Coordination → Construction Support → Installation & Styling
Your project may not require every phase, but there should be a defined path.
At Lake Hazel Design, we believe clients should understand where they are in the process, what decisions need to be made, and what happens next.
You shouldn't have to sign a contract and then wonder what you're supposed to do.
Find Out Exactly What Is Included
Interior design services vary significantly from firm to firm.
One designer's “full-service remodel” may be very different from another's.
Before hiring a firm, make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for.
Depending on your project, services could include:
Floor plans
Space planning
Furniture layouts
Cabinetry design
Finish selections
Tile selections and layouts
Countertops
Plumbing fixtures
Lighting selections
Paint colors
Hardware
3D renderings
Construction drawings
Product sourcing
Contractor meetings
Site visits
Project management
Procurement
Installation
Styling
You don't necessarily need every service.
You simply need to know what is—and isn't—included before the project begins.
Ask How They Work With Contractors
This is especially important for remodeling projects.
Your interior designer and contractor have different responsibilities, but their work overlaps constantly.
The designer may establish what the space should look like and how it should function, while the contractor determines how the construction will be executed.
Strong communication between design and construction can prevent a lot of unnecessary problems.
Ask potential design firms:
Do you work directly with contractors?
Can you work with my existing contractor?
Do you have contractors or trades you regularly work with?
Who answers design questions during construction?
Are site visits available?
How are changes handled once construction begins?
The answers will tell you a lot about how involved the design firm will be after the initial selections are complete.
Pay Attention to Communication
You're probably going to communicate with your designer a lot.
Remodels involve questions.
Lots of them.
Some are exciting:
Which countertop do you like?
Others are considerably less glamorous:
The contractor opened the wall and found something nobody expected. Now what?
You need a design team that communicates when the project becomes complicated—not just when everything is going according to plan.
During your initial conversations, notice whether the firm:
Explains things clearly
Asks thoughtful questions
Listens to your concerns
Sets realistic expectations
Clearly explains fees and scope
Has an organized communication process
Is willing to tell you when an idea may not work
A good designer isn't there to agree with everything you say.
Sometimes one of the most valuable things a designer can tell you is:
“I wouldn't spend your money there.”
Read Reviews and Ask for Referrals
Online reviews can provide valuable insight into the client experience.
But don't look only at the star rating.
Read what previous clients actually say.
Look for comments about:
Communication, organization, problem-solving, professionalism, construction knowledge, responsiveness, budget expectations, and the finished result.
You can also ask contractors, builders, real estate professionals, cabinet companies, flooring specialists, and other home-industry professionals for recommendations.
People who regularly work alongside designers often know who is organized, collaborative, responsive, and knowledgeable about construction.
Make Sure You Understand How the Firm Charges
Interior designers use several different fee structures.
You may encounter:
Hourly design fees
Flat design fees
Design packages
Retainers
Purchasing fees or markups
Project management fees
Percentage-based fees
A combination of several methods
There isn't one universally correct pricing model.
What's important is that the firm's pricing structure is clearly explained.
Ask what is included, what may result in additional fees, how revisions work, and how changes in scope are handled.
A reputable interior design firm should be comfortable discussing money before the project begins.
Don't Choose an Interior Designer Based on Price Alone
It's completely reasonable to compare pricing.
But remodeling is one area where the lowest design fee isn't necessarily the least expensive decision.
Design affects some of the most expensive parts of your project:
Cabinetry. Countertops. Flooring. Tile. Plumbing. Lighting. Construction labor.
A poorly planned decision can cost significantly more to correct than professional design guidance would have cost in the first place.
Instead of simply asking:
“Who has the lowest design fee?”
ask:
“Who is going to help me make better decisions with the money I'm already investing in this remodel?”
That's a much more useful comparison.
Look for Someone Who Designs for You
You should hire a designer because you value their expertise and aesthetic perspective.
But at the end of the project, your home should still feel like your home.
At Lake Hazel Design, our goal isn't to make every client's house look exactly the same.
We want to understand how you live.
What do you love?
What frustrates you about your current home?
What needs to function differently?
What are you willing to invest in?
Where should we save?
Where does it make sense to spend more?
And most importantly:
How do you want your home to feel when you walk through the door?
Good interior design brings professional expertise to your priorities, rather than forcing you into someone else's version of a beautiful home.
Bring Your Designer in Early
One of the best things you can do for a remodeling project is involve your designer before construction begins.
Waiting until your contractor needs immediate selections can create unnecessary pressure—and potentially expensive mistakes.
By that point, decisions about cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, lighting, tile, flooring, and other materials may already be affecting the construction schedule.
Bringing the design team in earlier allows time to think through the project as a whole.
Design first. Build second.
It's considerably easier—and usually less expensive—to move something on a drawing than after it's been installed.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Interior Design Firm
Before choosing your designer, ask:
Have you worked on remodels similar to mine?
Do you have relevant experience that may not be represented in your online portfolio?
What does your design process look like?
What services are included?
How do you charge?
How are revisions handled?
Do you work directly with contractors?
Who will be my main point of contact?
How often will we communicate?
Are site visits included or available?
What happens if something changes during construction?
What do you need from me as the homeowner?
You're not trying to interrogate the designer.
You're determining whether their experience, process, communication style, expertise, and level of service are the right fit for your project.
What Is the Lake Hazel Design Remodel Process?
At Lake Hazel Design, we start by understanding the project before jumping into selections.
We want to know what's working, what isn't, what you're hoping to change, how you use your home, and what you're trying to accomplish with the remodel.
For many homeowners, the first step is a design consultation.
During the consultation, we can walk through your home, discuss the project, talk through ideas and challenges, and begin determining what level of design support you'll need.
From there, we develop the appropriate scope for your project.
Depending on the remodel, Lake Hazel may assist with:
Space planning, finish selections, cabinetry, lighting, plumbing fixtures, flooring, tile, paint, furnishings, drawings, contractor coordination, site visits, and other design decisions required to move the project forward.
Our goal isn't simply to create a beautiful concept.
We want to create a design that works for your life, works with your home, and can actually be built.
Looking for an Interior Design Firm for Your Remodel?
You don't need to have every detail figured out before contacting a designer.
In fact, we'd rather you contact us before you've made all the decisions.
At Lake Hazel Design, we help homeowners take their projects from:
“We know we want to change this…”
to:
“We know exactly where we're going and how we're going to get there.”
Whether you're remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, basement, several rooms, or your entire home, we'll help you understand your options and determine the right next step.
Planning a remodel? Start with Lake Hazel Design. Tell us about your project, and let's figure out what's possible.