Any Interior Design Firms to recommend?

[LordDeathZ]

Yup, search the name of your designer who is assigned to you to be safe. Even for a reputable firm like Starry once in a while they do have some bad apples. Good that Hometrust have a feature to search keywords in the company's page review section.. Everything can be searched online so better search.

I shortlisted 2 ID firms. But both their ID that correspond to me, I can't find any reviews on them online. Nothing good, nothing bad. Any advise?

 

[albertchan659]

I shortlisted 2 ID firms. But both their ID that correspond to me, I can't find any reviews on them online. Nothing good, nothing bad. Any advise?

What firms? Even Hometrust doesn't have their reviews? If too little/no reviews I personally would see it as a red flag. Any reputable company should have some feedback from customers. Unless you are one of the first of a new company.

 

[albertchan659]

Anyone engage Casa Interior Design before?

Average ratings here: https://www.hometrust.sg/interior-designers/casa-interior-design-pte-ltd Might need to do more research on them prior to engaging.

 

[LordDeathZ]

What firms? Even Hometrust doesn't have their reviews? If too little/no reviews I personally would see it as a red flag. Any reputable company should have some feedback from customers. Unless you are one of the first of a new company.

Have the firm. But under the many many reviews under if search by the ID name, cannot find.
Firm is reputable, but hard to say for the ID already.
Is this a big issue?

 

[BTGoh87]

We have spoken to a few IDs with good reviews on Qanvast. Quite disappointed that few did not get back after we briefed them on our requirements.

ID Co that got back to us promptly:
1. rezt & relax
2. The Interior Lab
3. Interior Maison

ID Co (highly raved designers) who did not get back to us at all:
1. honeycomb (met in early June)
2. Weiken (met in early May)
3. Forefront (met in late May)
The IDs I spoke to have really good reviews so I cannot believe how poor they are at following up and I really doubt their sense of responsibility when it comes to project mgmt. If they are not keen to quote or do not have the capacity to do so they shouldn’t have arranged meeting to go through our floor plan and hear our requirements or at the very least they should have the courtesy to reply to us to inform that they can’t quote due to any reasons. This is seriously a waste of all of our time and it makes me wonder how they earned the good reviews and probably a reminder to us all that designers who got good reviews online does not mean they can really deliver their job well.

Any of you met IDs who MIA after meeting? I’m ranting cuz i expected so much better from these more popular IDs especially after I put in so much effort to select the more reputable ones to approach...

 

[darcbleu]

Anyone has any personal great experience with IDs and can recommend me? will appreciate a PM.

We are getting a resale HDB 3 Rm flat in 6 months and will be now sourcing for an ID.

currently i had shortlisted 3 and meeting them soon, anyone has any experience with them can share too? thanks.

1. M2 Decor
2. Quirky Haus
3. The interior Lab

haven arrange meet up but in my list

4. Starry Homestead
5. Design 4 Space

 

[mp4005 help]

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...gn=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
always do research and background check

last time did well, doesn't mean now won't have issues.

 

[itchying]

List of blacklisted id contractors

https://www.renotalk.com/forum/topi...or-designers-to-avoid-in-singapore-june-2019/

 

[Darkraid]

Average ratings here: https://www.hometrust.sg/interior-designers/casa-interior-design-pte-ltd Might need to do more research on them prior to engaging.

but their google and FB reivews are not bad. their fb can also see their work which is ok

 

[shin7829]

Normally when can start engaging id? Say TOP 2022 june

 

[albertchan659]

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...gn=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
always do research and background check

last time did well, doesn't mean now won't have issues.

Yup, important to know the designers come and go and jump between firms. If you are close to engaging a designer and if they don't have any reviews from their current firm, good to check with them if they have any reviews from previous firms at least. Personally i don't like to be the first to "test" the designer. Like if a new product comes out wont want to be the first to spend money to try first, especially since we talking tens of thousands here on a job that can't be redo.

 

[albertchan659]

but their google and FB reivews are not bad. their fb can also see their work which is ok

Google reviews can be fake one, register some gmail accounts then can write already. Some firms kena bad reviews then hire lots of students to write 5 star reviews for them. Seen so many fake reviews across google from restaurants to other services too. FB reviews slightly better, but some homeowners even if kena bad job done also don't dare to write directly on FB, probably because their names and identity are identified easily on FB. Heard news of some firms threatening homeowners when the homeowner want to claim for defects despite they did a bad job on the project.

 

[leungchunghong]

I don't know about renovation, don't know market price. IDs can quote $25000 to $45000 for a piece of same design. But it seems like striking a lottery when selecting ID. Big company can also have thorns among roses. Once selected, either u forfeit ur 10% deposit if u don't like, or tolerate until completion.

I am now very confused and scare who to choose... Just like selecting a marriage for 3 months.

 

[dilphinus]

I don't know about renovation, don't know market price. IDs can quote $25000 to $45000 for a piece of same design. But it seems like striking a lottery when selecting ID. Big company can also have thorns among roses. Once selected, either u forfeit ur 10% deposit if u don't like, or tolerate until completion.

I am now very confused and scare who to choose... Just like selecting a marriage for 3 months.

Workmanship. Materials cost. You can get laminate with marble patterns or get a real piece of
marble.

How can 2 IDs come out with the same design? Similar design, yes. Same? No way.

 

[iCubes]

Workmanship. Materials cost. You can get laminate with marble patterns or get a real piece of
marble.

How can 2 IDs come out with the same design? Similar design, yes. Same? No way.

You can take a design done by another agency and ask another agency to quote what

 

[dilphinus]

You can take a design done by another agency and ask another agency to quote what

You think so easy to quote base on that? Besides that's extremely unethical. Unless you have paid for the design done by the agency/designer. Anyway, I doubt the designer would have completed a full design and give you the details unless you have paid for it.

 

[iCubes]

You think so easy to quote base on that? Besides that's extremely unethical. Unless you have paid for the design done by the agency/designer. Anyway, I doubt the designer would have completed a full design and give you the details unless you have paid for it.

The discussion wasn't about easy or not. You were saying its impossible for 2 agencies to quote the same design. i just provided a possible scenario. They also said the titanic will never sink. It sank.

 

[dilphinus]

The discussion wasn't about easy or not. You were saying its impossible for 2 agencies to quote the same design. i just provided a possible scenario. They also said the titanic will never sink. It sank.

Fair point.

 

[albertchan659]

The discussion wasn't about easy or not. You were saying its impossible for 2 agencies to quote the same design. i just provided a possible scenario. They also said the titanic will never sink. It sank.

Most IDs will be quite willing to provide quotes to you. It doesn't take them much time as its is just inputting measurements of your project to generate the quote. However always bear in mind that ID and renovation is still a service, its is not like buying computers or bags which the product is already made and ready. Being a service, and a customised and personalised one there are a lot of intrinsic factors in deciding the outcome of the final product. These includes the chemistry with you and the designer allocated to you, the communication and listening ability of the design to understand what you want, the designer's creativity to execute it, the designer's ability to present it visually for you to review, the relationship between the designer and his contractors for good workmanship and good post-hand over follow up.... a lot of factors. I would say the "human element" often is the biggest make or break in a well delivered renovation project.

 

[darcbleu]

agreed. the ID can promise you this and that but he is ultimately not the one doing the work.

the contractor might be the one who cork up and this is usually where the problems happens esp the workmanship.