ID Speed Dating: Rating 5 IDs from 0/10 to 10/10 💸
Finding the right ID is honestly like speed dating. After a few consultations, all the floor plans and design ideas start blurring together.
To keep our sanity, we created a 3-point checklist to rate every designer we met. Here is our honest review of the 5 IDs we crossed paths with, based on what actually matters to us! 👇
🚨Context: We already had our 3D renders ready at this point! So we weren’t looking for someone to design from scratch, but rather an expert who could successfully execute our vision into reality.
📍ID A
💬 Responsiveness: 8/10
💡 Design advice: 0/10
✨ Vibe check: 0/10
💰 Price: NA
☁️Our experience: They were super quick to reply to texts, but totally fell short during the meetup. They didn't seem prepared at all and asked zero questions about our design. Instead, they just kept awkwardly asking if we had questions for them 🤨 They told us a quote would take 3 weeks. Spoiler alert — we literally signed with our ID before ID A even managed to send their quotation over
📍ID B
💬 Responsiveness: 6/10
💡 Design advice: 6/10
✨ Vibe check: 8/10
💰 Price: $52k
☁️Our experience: Our first meeting was via Zoom and they spent the time to understand our lifestyles and design. They shared best practices from past projects and had the quote ready by our second meeting. Super nice vibe, but ultimately fell short because they just came across as a bit less experienced than the others we met.
📍ID C
💬 Responsiveness: 10/10
💡 Design advice: 7/10
✨ Vibe check: 6/10
💰 Price: $49k
☁️Our experience: Price-wise, they were the cheapest. They gave decent design advice, but their quotation lacked a lot of itemized details (like specific carpentry measurements). This felt like a trap for future hidden costs or misinterpretations. They felt too much like a "yes man." Since we already had renders, we wanted an expert who wasn't afraid to give constructive input, not just nod along.
📍ID D
💬 Responsiveness: 10/10
💡 Design advice: 3/10
✨ Vibe check: 2/10
💰 Price: $54k
☁️Our experience: Price was fairly competitive and they were efficient at replying, but the chemistry was just non-existent. You're going to work with your ID for months — if the vibe check fails, it's a hard pass.
📍ID E
💬 Responsiveness: 10/10
💡 Design advice: 10/10
✨ Vibe check: 9/10
💰 Price: $63k
☁️Our experience: No surprises here, this is the one! 😅 They came so prepared for our 1st meeting and instantly pointed out things in our existing 3D design that wouldn't actually work structurally. By our 2nd meeting, they already had a revised floor plan, design tweaks, and a full quote ready. Their quotation was by far the most detailed and transparent, covering almost everything. No hidden costs!
Lmk if you want to know the name of the ID firms that we met with!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are my own
Choosing the right interior designer can feel overwhelming, especially when you already have a vision and 3D renders ready. Based on my personal experience going through multiple consultations, I realized the importance of evaluating designers not just on their portfolio or price but also on responsiveness, design insight, and personal chemistry. Responsiveness is critical—quick replies signal professionalism and respect for your time. However, responsiveness alone isn't enough if the designer doesn’t engage deeply with your project or offer valuable design advice. From interacting with different IDs, I learned that a good designer doesn’t just execute your plans; they challenge and refine your ideas with constructive feedback. For example, one designer spotted structural issues in my existing design very early on, saving potential headaches later. This level of insight and preparedness turned out to be a game changer. Vibe is also underrated but crucial—since you’ll be working closely with your designer for months, mutual understanding and chemistry make the process enjoyable rather than stressful. I passed on designers who, despite competitive pricing and responsiveness, didn’t click on a personal level. When it comes to quotations, transparency is key. Beware of vague quotes lacking clear details or itemized costs, which might mask hidden expenses down the road. The best designers provide detailed, transparent quotes that cover almost everything with no surprises, giving peace of mind. In hindsight, having a structured checklist covering responsiveness, design advice, vibe, and pricing helped keep sanity amid the blur of options. If you’re about to engage interior designers, take time to meet multiple professionals, prepare your criteria and expectations upfront, and don’t settle for someone who just nods along without offering expert input. Your home deserves a designer who can elevate your vision while making the journey smooth and transparent.
Hi! Did you have to pay before meeting them and which stage did you guys make payment? Thanks !!!!