b'Choose well Happy customers Aick through the classi eds will not give you much sense of whetherBe sure all the people who will have to live in the a particular designer will suit you. Personal recommendations are aspace feel included. Your partner or children may better way to go. Ask around friends or colleagues who have had workprefer not to discuss every paint chip, but might done. If you like something you seeat a showhome, in a store, at yourlike to have anal OK. A good consultant is skilled hairdressers or in a cafask the owner who did it. And when youathearingeveryoneand asatisfactorynding look through local magazines, make a note of designers whose workmiddle ground. (or own home) appeals.Before you call the consultant, ask your contact not just about how happy they were with thenished job, but also about how they worked together, how well they felt listened to, and whether they would work with the person again. For colour ideas view the inspiration Gallery at Resene ColorShops or the Using Colour section at www.resene.Working style co.nz/homeown/use-colour/usecolour.htm; the Decorating inspiration Gallery at www.resene.co.nz/When you call your consultant for therst time, ask about how theyhomeown/decorating-inspirations/index.htm or previous operate. How do they charge? Some do an initial introduction or anHabitat stories www.resene.co.nz/homeown/habitat/habitat.htm on the Resene website.in-store consultation for free, then charge to come to your house; some charge a one-off fee; others an open-ended hourly rate; others aFabric supplied by:percentage on materials or tradespeople. Will they present more thanJames Dunlopone idea for you to choose from? How much back and forth do theyTextiliaexpect? How long does this generally take? InstyleIconSmart briefConsultants dont work well in a vacuum. The clearer you are aboutResene Escapeyour brief, the better they can meet your needs. Start a scrapbook of ideas that appeal to youmagazine clippings, favourite pieces of china, a shell, a leaf, a garment you love. Be explicit about your budget. DoFabric supplied by:you want to prepare a whole house scheme, but will be undertakingJames Dunlopit in stages as money allows? Do you want to look just at a particularTextiliaroom, or do you want help with an exterior look? Be clear about whatInstylecannot be changed (existingooring or furniture, for example), aboutReseneIconyour likes and dislikes and about your timeframe. SpirulinaColour is too scary, I think Ill just stick to white. Roll your sleeves up Resene After brie ng, a consultant will come back to you with a scheme orHouse Whitetwo. This may include swatches of paints,ooring, cabinets and other The Resene website lists materials, with pieces in approximate proportion to the way they willhundreds of trade be used in your homebig pieces ofooring, for example, with tinyprofessionals, including colour consultants. Visit chips for an accent pillow. This is partnership time. Be very clear aboutresene.co.nz and click on what you like and dont like, and listen to how this might be resolved.the Do It Yourself then the Your consultant has seen what works and doesnt work, but they shouldFind-A-Professional links.also be taking your thoughts on board. Resene Spit re| 117'