Will I Be Ripped Off?

Q. Irwin and Nicola, everyone tells me that contractors and interior designers will rip me off. True? (Chriss in Minneapolis, MN)

A. Not surprisingly, we say false. Chriss, there is a time and a place to hire a professional and stop all those do-it-yourself urges you get whenever you see magical overnight results on all the DIY shows on television. Many create a public disservice because teams of carpenters and busy worker bees behind the cameras are helping homeowners put up something quick and easy that probably doesn't look good in real life (but the styling is perfect for TV).

If you want to tackle a weekend project, we say knock yourself out! By all means proceed. But we're not big believers in DIY for large-scale tasks. We will say "We told you so!" if you try to tackle alone, and only on weekends or evenings after work, a project that will take a contractor and a team of workers over two months to complete.

Hiring a good, honest, hardworking, and fair contractor or interior designer is the same as hiring a reputable doctor or lawyer. Get personal referrals, check into their licensing and their standing with your chamber of commerce and Better Business Bureau. Go to kitchen and design showrooms and get their recommendations for professionals who can help you complete your jobs. Ask friends who were satisfied by their professional hires. Ask for customer testimonials and tour projects from any contractor or designer you are considering hiring. There are good and bad apples in every profession, including the world of home interiors. But it's rubbish to tar and feather the whole lot because you've heard some bad-luck stories. Search out the good ones, watch our Design2Share Q&A podcasts for tips on how to work well with the pros, and tackle those bigger-than-DIY projects with greater confidence.

Thank you, Chriss, for bringing up a common concern we've been hearing from many of our viewers.

What If Interior Design Magazines Intimidate Me?

Q. Nicola and Irwin, all interior design magazines scare me to death! How can I find the best look for decorating my new living room? (Rita in Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania)

A. Good question. Our advice is to pick a design magazine that doesn't intimidate you (or intimidates you less than all the rest). First, decide on what you're looking for and where you live. Then hone in on magazines that deliver inspiration specifically tailored to your lifestyle and tastes. Looking for a high-end interior? Then go to Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, or House & Garden. If you're looking for decorating that's quirky, fun, and stylish, find imports like our favorite British mag The World of Interiors. Urban homeowners and renters should check out Metropolitan Home. If your style runs to formal, period, and classic interiors, examples abound in This Old House, Traditional Home, and Cottage Home. Southern Accents and Veranda will give you more sophisticated country and traditional looks. More mass market magazines like Oprah Home, Better Homes and Gardens, and Women's Day are perfect sources for fresh, casual, family-friendly interiors.

Don't feel intimidated by any magazine. Open it up in the middle and start browsing. Don't read anything! Just look at the pictures and see what appeals to you. Start tearing out pages and cut out specific pictures that attract your attention. After awhile, you'll start to see some themes forming. Use these magazine pictures as springboards to your decorating project. Use photo spreads to help you focus on your tastes in furnishings, wallpaper and paint treatments, rugs and accessories, artwork, and overall room arrangements.

Supplement magazine research with some online resources, too. Many of the magazines we mentioned above have their own websites, so please check them out. We also recommend House & Garden Television's www.hgtv.com website and Better Homes and Gardens' www.bhg.com site for design inspiration, DIY videos, and home projects that fit all budgets and tastes. We highly recommend www.DesignSponge.blogspot.com as one of the best sites for researching different decorating looks, styles, and design resources. Rita, you are on your way!