Shopping in Your Jammies by guest designer Christopher Lowell

We are so excited to have Christopher Lowell back on Fresh Nest sharing more fun tips with us.  Today he is talking about shopping online and how to do it right and safely.

You can find Christopher most recently on Work That Room - where he takes a person/family's design dilemma and breaks down the solution step by step for us.  He has amazing design problem solving skills and I'm always amazed at what he can do!  Just look at some of the before and afters from the show here.   Amazing, huh?

 

By Christopher Lowell




It used to be that shopping for the home required a full, dedicated day. Fighting crowds, wasting gas and getting into emotional overload.  ---All while trying to make critical decisions on the spot and under pressure and if you’ve got kids in tow, forgetaboutit.

Today, because of the Internet, you can now shop in your jammies, with your mouse instead of your Mapquest.  The Internet gives you time to compare and investigate, from the comfort of your own home.  Recently for my show, Work That Room on the Fine Living Network, we did a segment on this with a focus on window treatments. Custom looking drapery used to be overly expensive especially in rooms with multiple windows. But online, with the middle retailer out of the way, you actually can get amazing custom quality for almost designer cost, made specifically for your windows.  First, when shopping via the net, always use a credit card in a secure and protected provider like PayPal.  If everything goes south, it’s the credit card company (especially AMEX) that will do the fighting for you.  If you pay by check or debit card, the money’s gone, and it’s all up to you to get it back.

Next, with anything that involves fabric, it needs to be touched, and examined for real before you place your final order. Ask for a swatch to be sent.  Often photos do not represent true color values and every computer screen is calibrated differently. So if your mail order catalog doesn’t offer fabric swatches for free, then move on.  Don’t be afraid to ask for as many as you think you need.  If the swatch is too small for you to visualize, take it to a fabric shop and match it with something similar and bigger to get the effect.  An online store like Joann Fabrics & Crafts will also allow you to purchase a yard of fabric and return it if it doesn’t suit your style.  There should be a representative on the phone who works directly for the catalog company.

Smith and Noble Window Coverings has great customer service and their selection is vast. On special orders, some guy across seas won’t cut it no matter how informed the person might be.  So ask if whom you’re talking to is on the premise.  If your order is late or wrong, you have a representative that can walk you or your late order through the process.  Finally, read all that annoying fine print.  If the really important stuff is buried there, then the company’s hiding something.  But if things like return policies and financial terms are actually spelled out in full view as part of the normal type, that usually means the company actually has nothing to hide and are proud of their service procedure.   If you’re still nervous, ask for customer references.  Many good catalog companies will give you email addresses for you to talk candidly with other customers.  Start with one room.  If all goes well, you’re good to go!  You can do it!

For more about Christopher log on to christopherlowell.com and follow him on twitter at twitter.com/clowell.