The thought of designing and furnishing a new residence or renovating an existing home strikes fear in the hearts of the uninitiated. Help is available with a skilled and trained interior designer, a professional who can furnish expertise in space planning to improve a room's function, provide knowledgeable furniture selection and arrangement, and offer experience in the use of color, texture and pattern, providing interest in textiles, wall and window treatments and floor coverings for your home.

An interior designer can call upon the custom talents of skilled drapery and upholstery workrooms, installers, contractors and registered architects with whom they collaborate on a regular basis. A good designer will evaluate the interior space and assess the client's needs, before providing an appropriate design solution in keeping with the project's goals and budget, not just for a particular style or trend.

The designer will ask questions and gather pertinent information about the home's interior spaces, architectural features or restrictions, the homeowner's preferences and personal requirements. Keep in mind that the more information you provide, the more successful the designer will be in meeting your expectations. An inventory may also be taken of furnishings and room areas will be measured for the production of scaled floorplans and elevations. The designer will then evaluate the information, consider the budget and time allowance, and provide the client with a space and design plan for the project.

For a professional design, the designer will prepare drawings and furniture space plans, perhaps also providing lighting plans and details for non-structural renovations. The designer's talent, training and skills will be evident in the interior design, the

selection of appropriate furnishings and fixtures, hard and soft surfaces and materials coordinated to custom window treatments, floor coverings, art and accessories. The designer will discuss the plan with the client, adjusting and adapting to changing situations until a final design plan is agreed upon.

When discussing your project with a professional interior designer, be forthcoming with your budget requirements and inquire about the designer's fees for services. Any permanent renovations you may consider, such as kitchen or bathroom remodeling, should also be included in your budget. An experienced designer will tell you if your budget expectations are realistic and what can be accomplished with your anticipated project budget, including furnishings and fixtures, window and wall coverings, new flooring materials or rugs, lighting, accessories and art. Most designers will also order many of the residential furnishings and products they specify, often passing along courtesy discounts to their clients whenever they are available.

The duration of the design project depends upon the requirements of the design and the lead time for the manufacture, delivery and installation of furnishings and materials. Expect everything to take a bit longer than you first anticipated, from the preliminary sketches to the final placement of the art and accessories. Typically, a total residential interior project will take from three to six months, provided there is no construction or remodeling required.

Remember the interior designer will lead you through the interior design process, as your advisor, advocate and liaison with the design and installation team. You and the designer will become partners in the execution and completion of the interior design in your home. The major goal of any design project is a happy and contented client.