How An Interior Designer Shops

Jul 21

Have you ever wondered how interior designers shop? You see all those fabulous pieces and accessories on Instagram and Pinterest, and you might wonder how we find all those fantastic treasures. Do we have a map or book we follow? As an interior design professional, I can tell you we wish it were as easy as following a map or guidebook! So, let's jump right in and talk about how we choose our vendors, showrooms, and stores for those gorgeous pieces.

Selecting Where to Shop

As an interior designer, it's crucial to carefully select vendors and shops when sourcing products for our clients. Firstly, our firm does not source from or shop at Homegoods. This is not a reflection on Homegoods; instead, we require a specific level of conscientiousness in the products we order to complete a design. Secondly, we prioritize working with vendors and shops that have a strong history and whose quality and artistry we trust. Finally, we also collaborate with artists and artisans for custom, one-of-a-kind pieces.

It's all About the Edit when Shopping

When we visit design shops or select furniture, we always seek out the latest styles. Recently, we presented several options in our designer showrooms to our clients and worked with them to select the perfect accent chairs for their newly constructed homes. The client asked me, "How can we distinguish between different versions of the same style chair from various manufacturers?" Our solution was simple: we personally have sit-test each chair for comfort. In short, we are constantly in the market, searching for and testing furniture. Therefore, we know exactly which chair to recommend based on the client's desired level of comfort.