When you hire an electrician, a plumber, or even a contractor, you know what you're getting yourself into. Trade professionals, often brought in to solve a problem or consult on a project, aren't a mystery. But for some reason, the day-to-day of working with an interior designer is a bit more confusing to understand, especially if you've never been through the process firsthand. Going far beyond the tasks of choosing paint colors and upholstery fabrics, interior designers are tasked with the daunting endeavor of turning a space into a dream home. Whether you're seeking expert help with a simple room refresh or a gut renovation, an interior designer tackles everything from furniture choices to floorplans to hardwired fixtures. That's what they dobut how do they do it? In other words, what is it like to actually work with an interior designer? We tapped interior designer Amanda Khouri to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the job and walk us through the design process, from the initial consultation to the marathon installation day. Read on to discover what it's like to work with an interior designer from start to finish.Related StoriesThe ConsultationOnce you determine the right interior designer for you and have them signed onto the project, the next step is a design consultation. This initial meeting will determine the project's scope and budget, get you started with the aesthetic direction, and outline any major non-negotiables. "We want all parties to come into the first meeting with confidence about the project and excitement to get started," says Khouri. "We also try to lay out a realistic timeline for the design process and what the client can expect at each point along the way."Caroline SharpnackAmanda Khouris home.Khouri also explains that this meeting is where the team and the clients will hash out the preferred method (and frequency) of communication. They'll also take a more granular look at their overall preferencesmood boards or 3D-renderings, text messages or emailsand go over bigger picture adetails. "We want to hear about how they plan to use the spaces we're working on in detail and if there are any special considerations we need to be aware of as we begin the design process, says Khouri. "We are here to listen, so we are bringing a notebook and many follow-up questions."The Design ProcessThe overall design process varies greatly depending on the scope of the project. If it's a simple redesign with no construction needed, Khouri finds that most clients work well with floorplans and mood boards. The more extensive the project, the more back and forth there will be with materials and renderings. "In general, there is an initial research phase where we are gathering inspiration images, pulling colors favored by the client, and brainstorming ideas to put together a very broad stroke of a mood board," says Khouri. "We like to begin with floorplans to establish the way a space or house will flow. We decide what the furniture layouts will be, the locations of built-ins, and provide initial ideas about wall and floor treatments, lighting locations etc."From here, there is a bit of back and forth as you, the client, will provide feedback and guide your designer in the direction of the final result. "There are literally thousands of seemingly small decisions and details to take into consideration at this stage," says Khouri. "For example, it's not just the tile selection, but how it will transition to the flooring or over a shower curbwill the tile be mitered as it transitions into the shower niche, or will we utilize slab stone to line the niche?" She explains, "every decision made leads to another, and typically there are multiple trades and vendors involved in each of these decisions, so this part of the process can be quite lengthy." A good designer, like Khouri, will try and think through as many of these details as possible prior to presenting the design in order to limit the number of decisions needed, but there will always be details to further consider, especially once the site visits occur. Design FinalizationCaroline SharpnackAmanda Khouris office.Ideally, the design concept, including all furnishings and fixtures, will be decided upon prior to the items being ordered and arriving at your home. But if measurements are incorrect, or your use of the space changes, there can continue to be blank spots, or placeholders, in the design. For Khouri, the design is often complete and fixed after the client provides feedback. However, if the plan calls for vintage pieces that may not have been found yet or one-of-a-kind items, she'll offer a hold on the floorplan and on the renderings. "Many times we will leave placeholders in a furniture plan for items that may not turn up on the exact timeline we'd prefer," she says. "For custom pieces and renovation plans, we do everything we can to finalize those at the presentation and limit changes after that."Site VisitsKhouri prefers to spend as much time on site as possible. After the initial day spent measuring and discussing layouts, further site visits are useful for seeing paint samples and textile swatches in the exact light they'll be placed in. "There may be an occasional dimension that needs double checking, visits with vendors and tradespeople for their parts in a project, and visits with contractors to talk through details as they're being executed onsite," she says.Historically, Khouri preferred to have compiled the proposed materials as flat lays for client presentations, but it's becoming more important for clients to be offered better visualization, often in the form of 3D or CAD renderings. "It allows clients to move forward with confidence and gives them something to refer back to when we are months and months post-presentation but not yet to install day," she says.Related StoryInstallation DayKate LeichhardtA dining room by Amanda KhouriIn the design industry, the day everything comes together is commonly known as 'install day'. Although hard furnishings like paint, wallpaper, hardware, and cabinetry will already be complete in your home, this is the day when all the furniture and finishing touches arrive. Today, though, install day might stretch out beyond a 24-hour period."I think it's rare in the post-COVID era to have an entire install happen fully on one single day," Khouri says. "I like to line up wallpaper, curtains, and rugs to be installed a week or two leading up to the furniture delivery so that on the day the furniture arrives we have fewer traffic jams, and furniture placement and accessorizing can be the focus. An install day is fun, often nerve-wracking, and rewarding!"Of course, no matter the amount of preparation or level of detail attended to, errors can occur. Khouri notes that it's important for clients to be prepared for all possibilities on the day. Think of install day as being like moving into a home; it's a stressful endeavor, but the outcome is worth any hassle. "We try to prepare ourselves and our clients for this reality and go into an install day hoping for the best, but prepared to find solutions where they may be needed," she says. Project Conclusion and Follow-Up"I find that with most projects, even once they are 'complete' we are still asked to advise on art acquisitions or a client is moving on to another project they'd like to tackle," says Khouri. "It's always fulfilling to work with repeat clients!" Interior designers make themselves available for quick consultations or advice on new layouts or rooms you may want to tackle, especially if you've worked with them previously and already built up a rapport. Khouri bills hourly, which makes this level of outreach easy for former clients to navigate as they move onto their next design project.Related StoryFollow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.