Whether hiring an interior designer is worth the cost depends on your budget, the scope of the project, and your own design and project management skills. For larger projects or those beyond your DIY skills, an interior designer is often a worthwhile investment. The benefits include realizing the best layout, functionality, and decor for your lifestyle and taste; managing the project to keep it on track and within budget; serving as a point of contact for contractors; accessing discounts from suppliers; and assisting with home staging for a sale.

One downside of installing a soffit above your kitchen cabinets is that it may make your kitchen appear smaller. This visual illusion occurs because the soffit may make the cabinetry and ceiling appear shorter. However, the benefit of being able to hide unsightly wires or plumbing or HVAC fixtures may be worth the disadvantage of a smaller-seeming kitchen. Consider making your kitchen appear larger by finding ways to add more light and visual appeal to the high spots in the room.

British architect John Nash is credited with creating the Italianate style of architecture. The style was further popularized in the U.S. by landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing and architect Calvert Vaux. The style spread across the U.S. due to Downing’s popular book on the style and the availability of plans and materials due to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution.

Decorating a tree yourself will only take between one and two hours, but a professional designer may take more time to create their vision. When hiring a pro, assume the work will take a minimum of three to four hours.