The Ultimate Guide to Interior Design & COVID

We’ve written blog posts in the past about why you should hire a designer, and how to budget for your next project, but we have yet to write about doing all of these things in the age of COVID. The interior design industry has changed so much over the past year; from a huge spike in demand, to major supply chain issues, to material shortages and project delays – it has been a challenging 12 months to say the least. And it’s not just a problem here at GreyHunt, it’s an industry-wide global issue that will likely be affecting us all for the next 20+ months. So we wanted to break-down some of the issues and potential concerns that our clients (and many others) have had lately, to help you better understand the current situation and what to do moving forward.

First off: Why are you hiring a designer during COVID? and What do you get when you do? As always, you hire a designer for their talent, their team, and their experience. Interior designers provide you with their unique ability to not just see the room as a whole but to see the house as a whole, creating a space for you that is truly cohesive. Designers also often bring a team of people with them to help navigate and orchestrate behind the scenes. Homeowners don’t often realize that these teams spend hours considering, planning, gathering and managing project details & logistics every day. Interior Designers also bring to the table their years of experience and expertise. This way we can offer you guidance throughout your project, and help you to avoid costly mistakes and issues. Hiring a designer for your project is just the first step, but there’s so much more to consider due to COVID.

Though vaccines are making normal life feel like it’s just on the horizon, issues regarding supplies, manufacturing and construction are likely to plague our industry for the foreseeable future. Here’s what you need to know right now.

We’ve got ‘em like crazy. From supply chain issues (such as the lumber shortage, foam shortage, and shipping container shortage) to various state mandates regarding manufacturing & construction regulations – we are struggling to get everything we need in a timely manner. Whether you’re doing a large remodel or just purchasing new furnishings, these delays are going to affect you.

Here’s how we’re handling it: When we make selections for our clients we’re now including additional options, so that we can quickly pivot in case of lengthy delays or stock issues. We’re also working closely with our trade partners to stay as up-to-date as possible on their current lead times (though this information changes constantly).

All of these unforeseeable delays, can also cause major havoc for project timelines. Design projects (especially renovations and remodels) follow a specific order of operation (i.e. demolition, framing & plumbing, dry wall, fixtures & finish work, etc.) so if one area of the project is delayed it will cascade across the entire project timeline. This ripple effect is unavoidable and can be very frustrating for homeowners.

Here’s how we’re handling it: Just know that we are doing our best to source materials and labor that we feel are reliable and will be available on-time, though it’s incredibly unpredictable at the moment.

This constant state of change has led to us spending 2-3x the normal amount of time supporting a design. Now, what does that mean? Well, when you hire us you pay a “Design Fee” that covers the time & effort it takes for us to create your initial design. But what about all of the things that come after that? Design fees JUST cover the design, not any of the follow up. From placing orders to tracking invoices, scheduling deliveries, handling damage/defective claims, sourcing alternative selections, answering client questions …etc. all of these thing cost us time and money. Pre-COVID, our “Design Support” fees were covered in part by the small markup we charge on trade product purchases. But thanks to COVID, we’re now spending double to triple the amount of time we used to providing our design support services.

Here’s how we’re handling it: Since the Pandemic began we’ve increased the hours of our talented staff, and have even added a new member to our team. We’ve also moved into a larger space to provide us with our own in-house sample library that we can access directly for our clients. Not to mention we’re working on our calendar, spacing out our new projects to ensure that each gets the time it needs (all while padding time for some potential delays too).

As we stated above, we (and all interior designers) make a small commission off of purchases our clients make through us with our trade partners. Some trade brands are now selling their products through third-party retailers, allowing consumers to purchase them directly…but you should be wary of this. These products are being sold at MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) which is often MUCH HIGHER than the prices we can source the products for (even with our small built-in markup). We pass along our trade discounts to our clients whenever possible on case goods (this means standard, not custom products), and save them money even with our small markup. Whenever we can we don’t let our clients pay MSRP! This means that if you’re purchasing product yourself then you’re likely paying more, and getting to deal with all of the challenging logistics associated with your order… by yourself.

In the day-and-age of COVID these logistical headaches have been made even worse. We’re constantly dealing with products being delayed, backordered, arriving damaged, needing a receiver scheduled, and so much more. Leave it to us. We’re professionals at managing these kinds of issues, and we have long-term relationships with our vendors and trade partners to help us easily navigate these issues on your behalf. So we’re not only saving you money on the purchase price, but we’re also saving you time and money when it comes to dealing with the headaches of this logistical hell on your own. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Though the situation is constantly changing, and there are many factors to consider, it still can be a good time to start that long-awaited design project of yours. We just ask that you have patience and understand that there will likely be some hiccups (and delays) along the way. That’s just how it is at the moment, and 99% of the time it’s totally out of our control. But do know that we’re working hard to resolve any issues that arise, and to get our clients the best possible end-product as quickly as possible. We love working for you, and won’t let a little challenge stop us!

Want to start your next design project? Click here to contact us!