Am I able to browse through the design buildings in New York without a designer? –KC, Portland ME

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

Yes…and no. When you say “browse” do you really mean “buy?” Is this the question you’re truly asking? If so, you’re not alone.

New York City has several design buildings dedicated to finely crafted and custom-produced furniture, lighting, carpets and textiles that are TO THE TRADE. This means you need a decorator, designer or architect to place your order. One of these same professionals is also your key to accessing NET pricing (the Trade or discounted price). In addition, there are also a plethora of workrooms, retail shops and furniture galleries liberally scattered across the City that cater to the buying public at large.

In the old days (and by that I mean as little as 20 years ago) Trade showrooms were anywhere from cool to outwardly hostile to the casual shopper. You needed a card-carrying industry professional, or a letter of introduction from that person to be admitted to the hushed hallways full of Henredon and Hinson that comprise the Design and Decoration Building and The New York Design Center. Rather quaint by today’s “Checking in on Four Square” standard.

In a more modern world, one affected by changing trends as well as a down economy, many showrooms now allow a broader spectrum of buyers to peruse their wares. In a few cases, the rules are bent and deals are struck for “partial” discounts, up to 20%.

Don’t be fooled however. While this may sound like a good deal, your interior practitioner is likely to be entitled to something more like 40%. And on a large order, perhaps more. You may also want to consider the value of having someone standing behind the order, protecting YOUR interests (not the manufacturers) and making sure that you get exactly what you’ve paid for, or even troubleshooting on your behalf in case of damage. Not knowing the rules can cost you.

Another pitfall of going-it-alone is the sheer volume of choice. One fabric showroom may have 30,000 samples on offer (not kidding). Where do you start? How do you choose? Like being turned loose in a candy store after closing, one too many oompah-loompahs may give you a stomach ache! Eye fatigue is also a factor. At some point it all begins to run together because you’re not shopping from a preconceived plan…you’re just “browsing.”

So while you can roam free through the trinkets and treasures of greater designdom, do your homework in advance, make a plan, and limit your experience to 4-6 showrooms, tempting as it may be.

You may also want to consider that the larger design buildings provide a purchase-only service that you may want to look into, usually at no cost or a nominal fee. You work with a “in house” designer or decorator for that purchase, combining the best of both worlds. Further, designer referrals can be obtained for larger projects.

Have fun…and caveat emptor!

Is all this paperwork necessary? My decorator is constantly sending me things to sign. –LB, Sparta NJ

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by askkentandco in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Sorry, but have to chuckle here! 🙂 If you think your decorator sends you a lot of paperwork, all I can say is be aware that what you receive is only about 1/3 of what he/she gets in the design office “in” box!

Despite the continuing march of the digital age, paper still proliferates in design offices in the form of catalogs, brochures, mailers, personal notes from vendors and constant (minute-to-minute) offers for new products and materials. The designer (or decorator) has to boil all this information down, keeping the relevant and jettisoning the undesirable.

The next step in distilling the “fine wine of design” is to isolate and present individual elements to the appropriate client/project. When that doesn’t satisfy, the designer/decorator goes out into the field and takes pictures or tear sheets from the various vendors. Out of those choices She/he narrows it down to between 1 and 3 selections for the client to review.

Once the client makes a selection, the real fun begins. The designer/decorator contacts the vendor and requests a formal quote for that item. This can run to several pages that covers -in part- the terms and conditions of the sale, how long the quote is good for (usually 30 days), how much the item costs, any up-charges for optional finishes, leather vs. fabric and/or white glove delivery service and the like.

The designer/decorator then reduces these points down to “the basics” for the client in a “Proposal.” In addition to the nuts and bolts details, the designer/decorator may have their own conditions or recommendations to add. For example, if the item is not recommended by the designer (due to poor construction, long lead time or is inappropriate for the design) and the client insists on making the purchase, the designer/decorator may include a clause that states they did not select the item and, in fact, they specifically recommended against the item, thereby excusing the designer/decorator from any responsibility for damage, delay or personal disappointment. Another example would be to confirm that YOU, the client, saw and approved fabrics or items of merchandise previous to this communication.

And here’s where the signing comes in…

Designers and decorators want you to pause, at this moment of greatest desicion, and understand that what you’re about to sign confirms a “custom” order (where fabric is cut or furniture is built to choices YOU’VE made); an order that will be 100% non-refundable; that you are aware of where your money is going; that you confirm you’ve seen the particular item and that you approve it wholeheartedly and without reservation.

This is a serious commitment.

Often a photograph of the item is included so you can visually confirm the purchase. Sometimes the designer/decorator will have you sign that as well. And sometimes even the back of a piece of fabric or the back of a carpet sample.

Why?

Our memory can sometimes convince itself of something we’ve seen…a color…a pattern…a cabinetry finish and that this memory is true. We get caught up in the excitement. When the item arrives, we’re sure it’s wrong because we “remember” it as being darker, shinier, furrier, more contemporary or more antique.

So the purpose of having you sign these various documents (or sample items) is multi-fold: it provides and protects YOU with visual clues so that there are no mistakes; it insures that you get EXACTLY what you want….whether or not you remember between the time of purchase and the time of delivery; and it gives you something to compare to when the item arrives, should there be a question.

Multiply this process by 10, 30 or 100 items over the course of a project…and yes…you may find yourself under a Tsunami of paper. Just remember, these documents are there to insure that you are charged for, and that you receive specifically what you’ve asked for. They call it “specification” for a reason!

Happy shopping!!