AMANDA AUSTIN INTERIORS

We hired Sadie who worked for this company to help us design our 5'x8' 3-piece hall bathroom. She originally stated she would charge us $125/hr and that this type of room would probably cost maximum 12 hours of design work. She met us at the tile store and seemed knowledgeable about the products. After this meeting, she sent us a contract that stated a design fee of over $2k plus the hourly rate. When asked about the fees she stated that the contract was standard but she would revise it according to what she originally had stated. Based on this, we wrote her a check for $700 to keep her as a retainer. Unfortunately, the "revised" contract wasn't really revised and only changed from $1250 design fee plus hourly rate. This was for our first home remodeling project and we've learned the hard way not to be so naive and free with our checkbook! Still needing help with our bathroom design but minus $700.

The person I worked with was very helpful. The mirror we originally decided on was not available so she charged me for finding a different mirror. When I asked about it though, they agreed to credit me and do the work at no charge.

When we first contacted Amanda we liked her and and still do like her but we are disappointed in her service and cost management. Amanda estimated 75 design hours for our entire 3 bedroom 3 bath 3000 sq foot home including scale drawings. Since we were on we were on a budget we decided to go piece meal and start with the family room, a lighting plan in the family room, living room, and master bedroom, and some cabinets in the bathrooms. Amanda doubled every budget we gave her and more than doubled her estimates. Moreover, she bills her administrative staff at her design rate. We were left with a design book of nothing but stock photos, no manufacturers, no scales, nothing we could actually use to enact her design without paying her more money, etc... She did produce the drawings but if you do not have a architects ruler you can not use them. She purchased a rug for us but she has not delivered it and has not contacted us since we paid her in full in advance at her insistence. We asked numerous times where she was at with regard to the budget and she could never tell us exactly but every bill was for double or more than double her estimate. We like her designs but her cost management and business ethics are very questionable. We did not find her services made our life easier in any way and created stress over what she would ask us for next in terms of payment. I would not deal with her again except under a fixed price agreement where her deliverable is clearly spelled out.