Redecorating on a budget? Christine Zampaglione, Partner, NY Design Pod tells us why you should hire an interior designer and what she’s doing to make sure you’re getting the most design for your buck.

LIP: You recently opened the NY Design Pod showroom in Patchogue. Tell me a little bit about your services.

CZ: Sure! In November, my business partners Diane Gallipoli and Debra Krawczyk—both interior designers—and I opened NY Design Pod, a multi-line showroom and resource center for interior designers. In addition to providing a well-stocked array of great accessories, fabrics and other furnishings at competitive prices, we also offer marketing services and seminars to help designers grow their business.

LIP: How is your showroom helping to boost the industry?

CZ: Providing local designers with the resources they need so close to home helps them not only save money but also time. Also, because of our combined experience in the industry, we can provide designers with competitive pricing that will, in turn, make their clients happy.

LIP: Tell me about the seminars and marketing services that you offer. How do these services also help clients?

CZ: A designer’s biggest competition right now is the web. Consumers are trying to save every penny they can and often that means challenging designers on pricing. Through our educational seminars and marketing services, we’re helping designers navigate this new dynamic, helping them advance their expertise and education to meet these new demands.

LIP: Why is it important to hire a designer?

CZ: I think just as with any other service profession, designers are trained professionals and without their experience, knowledge and resources, a project can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars in mistakes. Remember, a designer is not only there to guide aesthetic choices, but also weigh in on the functionality and safety of those choices as well. A good designer’s ultimate goal is to listen to what their client wants and make solid recommendation on what will and won’t work.

LIP: How can a homeowner be sure a designer will fit and work within their budget?

CZ: Good design can be attainable for all different budgets and just like hiring a contractor to make important building decisions, it is important to hire a designer to make good design choices.