The desire to craft a space that defines a family lifestyle is leading families to turn to interior designers to make it happen. Kara Kersten Design is a trusted boutique interior architectural design studio making headlines in Kansas City and is breaking down the do’s and don’ts of hiring an interior designer.
“Most of our clients love where they live, it's usually not a location issue, but they're struggling with spaces that don't function well for their families,” said founder Kara Kersten, “We specialize in giving them homes that let them experience life with people in a new and better way.”
For years Kersten and her team have been helping Kansas City families customize their homes, and she knows firsthand how interior designers help reduce stress. According to Kersten, each studio is different and if customers want to remodel an entire room which includes the removal of walls and floors, interior designers can be a homeowner’s biggest advocate. For example, Kersten has a degree in Interior Architecture and Product Design from Kansas State University. Her background led her to bring an architectural component to her company helping them effectively collaborate with industry leaders in construction, engineering, contractors and other trades to meet their client’s unique style. She can help clients walk through contracts, timelines, and have companies vetted for them. It’s a step that clients fail to realize and often are left with negotiations and terms that leave them overwhelmed.
"I'm usually translating for and supporting clients throughout the whole process,” said Kersten, "They learn things they didn't know and realize how much they need to have a hand to hold through the whole process.”
DIY projects can also quickly become overwhelming and costly. While each project varies, remodeling projects involving extensive work can be an intricate process. Homeowner’s could end up buying parts or materials that fail to work with their current design or space.
“It’s almost like paying for insurance because a lot of times people will try to do it on their own, and they underestimate how many decisions are needed throughout the whole project,” said Kersten. "I've just heard so many stories of friends who wished they had started with a designer the whole time, because they did end up spending more money in the end on fixing things or redoing things.”
For more information visit karakerstendesign.com
“Most of our clients love where they live, it's usually not a location issue, but they're struggling with spaces that don't function well, so we specialize in giving them homes that let them experience life in a new and better way.”