Frequently Asked Questions
Why hire a designer?
Letting the Designer know what you can afford will help achieve what you want to meet your budget for furnishing a new (empty) house or condominium you should calculate about 25% of its total purchase price.
For an addition, you seriously need to consider what you can afford before you even start the design process. New construction costs are $80-$100 a square foot and remodels can be more expensive.
What is your fee schedule?
Our fees are charged as a Value Based Fee. We consider as much of the project as possible and create a one-time fee that our clients can create a budget around. We charge a Purchasing Management Fee for any purchasing of furniture, fixtures, or equipment (FF&E). If the list or Scope of Work changes at any time, we then go on to charge a flat hourly rate. The Designer bills at one rate and the Design Assistant bills at a lower rate.
What are the next steps after hiring an Interior Designer?
Once you have made the decision to hire an interior designer, the following steps usually take place:
As soon as we have your approval, we prepare purchase orders for required items and services. We select the best price from a variety of reputable sources. Although your interior was designed for construction efficiency, it is no secret that building projects can be time - consuming and stressful. As your concept comes to life, count on us to assist you in managing contractors, architects, and building officials. On your behalf, we will work with all parties to ensure that your design is executed with the least amount of stress and hassle.
- Avoid making unwise decisions and chaos when it comes to purchasing materials, furniture, lights etc.
- BIG picture, whereas owners/renters more often than not, merely focus on individual issues, materials, colors, etc.
- Appropriate scheme to suit your lifestyle and budget.
- Owners may feel the pinch when incurring cost on the professional fee. However, just imagine for a moment how much more you will have lost (in terms of money and time) when you make the wrong commitments due to inexperience of choosing fixtures and inaccurate measurements.
- For a fraction of the cost of your property, is it not wise to leverage the knowledge and experience of those who know best and to free yourself to do the thinks that you do best?
- Collect clippings from magazines and photos of items and decors that appeal to you.
- Think about colors, styles and effects you like.
- Know what you want to accomplish, what the room of house should do for you when finished.
- Should it be formal or casual, traditional or contemporary?
- Know your objective and lifestyle needs.
- Establish a time frame in which you would like to work
- When you are contemplating buying or building a new house...
- When you plan a major addition to your home...
- When you want to renovate or remodel your living space...
- Whenever you need to relate interior design considerations to an existing or as yet to be formulated architectural plan.
- When you lifestyle is about to change, such as working from your home...
- When your residence will be used for occasional social functions...
- When your expanding family needs to "reorganize" space allocations...
- Whenever you need full project coordination.
- When you like a variety of styles but are not sure how to group them together...
- Whenever you feel that you need professional guidance
- Because their knowledge, expertise, and guidance can help prevent costly mistakes.
- Because they know how to work with contractors.
- They have established contact with skilled trades people.
- They supervise your project to completion, smoothly and on time.
- Because a professional will save you countless hours of shopping, after all they have access to a wide range of domestic and foreign resources.
- They can help you define and enhance your own distinctive style.
- They are trained to make the most of available spaces and to create the traffic patterns and furniture arrangements that make daily living functional, safe, comfortable, and easy.
- For Residential Design, New Construction or Renovations a Designer will offer better cost efficient alternatives to create your plans
Letting the Designer know what you can afford will help achieve what you want to meet your budget for furnishing a new (empty) house or condominium you should calculate about 25% of its total purchase price.
For an addition, you seriously need to consider what you can afford before you even start the design process. New construction costs are $80-$100 a square foot and remodels can be more expensive.
What is your fee schedule?
Our fees are charged as a Value Based Fee. We consider as much of the project as possible and create a one-time fee that our clients can create a budget around. We charge a Purchasing Management Fee for any purchasing of furniture, fixtures, or equipment (FF&E). If the list or Scope of Work changes at any time, we then go on to charge a flat hourly rate. The Designer bills at one rate and the Design Assistant bills at a lower rate.
What are the next steps after hiring an Interior Designer?
Once you have made the decision to hire an interior designer, the following steps usually take place:
- Letter of agreement: A contract is signed between the interior designer and the client stating what is to be completed and the fee schedule.
- In-depth interview by interior designer with the client to determine lifestyle needs.
- Room by room list of items to be completed both for furniture and construction. Approval of list.
- Measure and photograph the room (or rooms).
- Design and drawing of floor plans showing new furniture with sizes; design custom pieces. Approval of plans
- Design and drawing of new cabinets for kitchen, bathroom, entertainment, closet, construction plans. Approval of plans.
- Lighting plan showing new lighting with specifications for contractor.
- If construction is a part of the plan, selection of all items that will be needed- floors, counters, faucets, fixtures, lights, doors, etc.
- Give construction plans to contractors for bids, if needed.
- Review bids and assist in choosing a contractor.
- Begin construction.
- Observation of construction.
- Interior designer shops for non-construction items- furniture, fabrics, rugs, wall coverings, and any other items that need to be purchased for the project.
- Presentation of furniture ideas, fabrics, and accessories to client.
- Paint selection to go with the floorings and fabrics that have been selected.
- Approval of furniture, fabric, wallpaper, draperies, blinds, and prices, etc.
- Purchase items agreed upon
- Completion of work by contractors
- Carpet, furniture delivery, drapery installations, etc.
- Accessories added with approvals.
As soon as we have your approval, we prepare purchase orders for required items and services. We select the best price from a variety of reputable sources. Although your interior was designed for construction efficiency, it is no secret that building projects can be time - consuming and stressful. As your concept comes to life, count on us to assist you in managing contractors, architects, and building officials. On your behalf, we will work with all parties to ensure that your design is executed with the least amount of stress and hassle.