CHRISTEN DANIELS INTERIORS LLC

They are very professional and punctual. However, they do not maintain their web site with updated photos. They do not keep a current portfolio of before and after progress on project--they did not bring one with them or offer to show me one...Ann McDaniels told me she knew that they are remiss on keeping these up to date. Makes it hard to assess their expertise in advance. (Their firm had come recommended to me by a neighbor; the work of another person in their firm.) I had never hired a decorator before. I wanted input on a plan for our living room makeover I had envisioned. I also wanted access to design elements that are only available 'to the trade'. Ann and Carol left after our initial consult and promised to look at my Pinterest board--actually thanked me for having one. They agreed that I should get the 2 area rugs first. They recommended a place to go but did not offer to go with me. They took measurements and said they would do a room layout plan. We found the rugs ourselves within 4 days. I phoned them to ask them to stop by and see the 2 very expensive rugs which we had brought home on approval; I wanted professional design input. Carol did stop by and said the rugs were great. My expectations in this whole process were to at least get an email once a week with an update. Not unreasonable. Christen Daniels Interiors charges at the high end of the going hourly rate--$150.00 per hour/fraction. I had thought they would contact a new customer with an initial plan soon after the first visit. We are located only about 6 miles from their 'office'. I had thought this would happen within a week. Pinterest posts all contacts/views/followers to any board; Christen Daniels Interiors never looked at my board. Not once. This was very disappointing to me. They were very aware from our initial discussions and would have been more certain if they had bothered to review my Pinterest board, that they would indeed earn nice commissions from sales. On top of their hourly charges. If a design company does not think there is a good fit, are too busy or does not want to work on your project, they should speak up. They did invoice me by email for the initial visit and the consult on the rugs--$225.00. I emailed them back immediately that I would bring the check by and pick up my pillow and fabric. They did not respond except to say that they would be there for only 1/2 hour on the day--I would have to abide by this. No mention that they ever had any work product for me. At all. No mention that they had a plan for me and did I want to schedule a time to meet. No 'we need to keep the fabric and pillow because we are working on your plan'. I saw red flags. I felt we had been dismissed without even a word. If they had been working on our plan, they would have said they needed to keep the pillow and fabric. They also did not communicate that they were busy and not yet able to get our plan started but they would be in contact and set up a time to get together etc. Nothing. We decided to enclose a note with the check thanking them for their time and that we would continue on our own. We took the initiative to end the relationship. $225.00 for 2 visits with no work product. We did not feel Christen Daniels Interiors was going to work for us. In summary, if an updated interior design web site and current project portfolio with before and after photos as well as weekly, timely updates on the plan and progress of your design project are important to you, Christen Daniels Interiors, LLC, Ellicott City, Md may not be the right fit for you.