10 questions to ask before you hire an interior designer for your new Perth home
- Deanna
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Choosing who designs your home is one of the most consequential decisions of the entire build. The right studio doesn't just make your home more beautiful - they make the whole process better. Here's what to ask before you commit.
Most people spend more time researching their kitchen appliances than they do evaluating the designer who will shape their entire home. That's understandable - the design industry can feel opaque, portfolios all look beautiful at first glance, and it's not always obvious what questions to ask.
These ten questions will help you cut through and find the studio that's genuinely right for your project - not just the one with the best Instagram feed.
QUESTION 01
When do you typically get involved in a project - and when do you recommend getting in touch?
This tells you immediately whether the studio thinks about design spatially or just aesthetically. A studio that waits until the build is underway is a very different proposition to one that wants to be in the room before the slab is poured. Neither is wrong - but you need to know which you're getting.
AT ESTETICA
We ideally engage before architectural documentation is finalised - when spatial changes are still possible and every decision can be made as part of a whole. The sooner, the better.
QUESTION 02
What is your background - specifically your architectural and construction experience?
There's a significant difference between a designer with formal architectural training and construction experience, and one who has developed their eye through styling and decoration. Both can produce beautiful results - but only one can have a meaningful conversation with your architect about spatial planning and structural changes.
AT ESTETICA
Founder Deanna Caccamo holds a formal architectural qualification and has over ten years of experience working across design and construction on luxury Perth homes - including award-winning projects.
QUESTION 03
Can you show me examples where you've influenced the spatial design of a home - not just the finishes?
Any designer can show you a beautiful finished room. Ask to see the floor plan. Ask what changed between the original architect's drawings and the final build. Ask what they contributed at a spatial level. The answers will tell you the depth of their involvement.
AT ESTETICA
On every full-scope project, we review and contribute to the floor plan as part of our process. We're happy to walk you through specific spatial changes we've made on past projects and the impact they had.
QUESTION 04
How do you work alongside my architect and builder?
The best outcomes happen when the design team functions as a genuine collaboration - not when different parties are working in isolation. Find out whether the designer has existing relationships with builders and architects in Perth, and how they communicate during the construction phase.
AT ESTETICA
We work alongside architects and builders as peers - communicating directly, attending site when needed, and staying across the project through to handover. Many of our projects come through builder and architect referrals.
QUESTION 05
What does your full scope of service actually include - and what isn't included?
Be specific. Does the fee include 3D visualisations? Construction documentation? Onsite visits? Styling at handover? The scope of services varies enormously between studios, and what sounds comprehensive on a website may have significant gaps in practice.
AT ESTETICA
Every proposal we provide is specific to your project and scope - we don't do vague packages and equally, we don't do generic packages. Before you sign anything, you'll know exactly what is and isn't included.
"The right designer won't just answer these questions well - they'll have already been thinking about them before you asked."
QUESTION 06
How do you handle the build phase - are you still involved once construction starts?
Some studios do the design work and then step back. Others stay actively involved through the build - attending site visits, resolving issues as they arise, ensuring the design intent is being executed correctly. For a complex luxury home, the latter is significantly more valuable.
AT ESTETICA
We like to be involved as much as you and your builder will allow us. While we do not project manage, onsite consultation is available as part of our contract - because issues arise in every build, and having the designer available to solve them protects both the outcome and your budget.
QUESTION 07
How do you approach furniture - and when should that conversation start?
Furniture with long lead times needs to be ordered well in advance of handover - sometimes 8 months or more. A designer who doesn't flag this early can leave clients scrambling, or worse, forced into off-the-shelf compromises because the timeline didn't allow for anything better.
AT ESTETICA
We advise starting the furniture conversation at least eight months before expected handover. We manage the entire process - curation, budgeting, ordering and delivery - so that the right pieces arrive at the right time.
QUESTION 09
Can I speak with a previous client?
Any good studio should be willing - and able - to connect you with a past client who can speak to what the process was actually like. Not just the result, but the experience of working with them over the months of a build.
AT ESTETICA
We're always happy to facilitate this conversation. Our clients are our greatest advocates - and the process of working together is something we're proud of, not just the finished homes.
QUESTION 10
Does their aesthetic and approach feel genuinely right for your home?
This one isn't a question to ask the designer - it's a question to ask yourself. You'll be working closely with this studio for months. Their aesthetic sensibility will be all over your home. Trust your instincts about whether the fit feels right - because technical competence matters, but so does genuine creative alignment.
AT ESTETICA
We know we're not the right fit for every project - and we'd rather say that early than take on a brief we can't serve well. The first conversation is as much about us understanding your vision as it is about you understanding ours.
Take these questions into every conversation you have with a design studio. The ones worth working with will welcome them - because a client who asks good questions is exactly the kind of client who ends up with an extraordinary home.
Ready to ask us these questions?
We'd love to hear about your project and answer anything you'd like to know about how we work. The first conversation is always just a conversation - no pressure, no obligation.
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