What is a typical project like?
We are commonly asked this question; however, there is not an easy answer. Once a project begins, you will be in constant communication with us. We do a lot of work by email and phone since it is an incredibly efficient form of communication, and allows quicker turn-around time. Typically, we send project plans, product selections, and bounce ideas off of each other by email. We will also have periodic conference calls. Often times, about once or twice during a project, a designer will come to your project site and review the project. It is amazing how much can be accomplished in an hour on-site meeting.
Can you help me pick paint colors and nothing else?
Yes, we can! We believe that wall color (and lighting) is one of the most important aspects of a beautiful space; however, picking paint colors is a task that is more difficult than many would like to admit. During the paint selection process, a designer from our team will arrive at your home for an intense paint selection session that typically lasts 1 – 2 hours. At the end of the meeting, you will have a list of all of the paint colors, sheen, and surfaces that we think would look great in your home. We work with all of the major brands of paints, so you can either hire a painter to perform the actual painting, or roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.
How is an interior designer assigned to my project?
One of the company’s best attributes is that you get the entire design team (Kathryn, Bill, etc.) to work on your project. For all projects, you will have one lead designer who is your main point of contact; however, all team members are involved in the final design of your project, leading to a more creative solution with faster turn-around times.
Do I get a cool 3D rendering like I see on HGTV?
Since we are always trying to be smart with design hours, we typically do not make 3D renderings, physical furniture boards, or other time consuming documentation unless absolutely essential. A rendering can take 1-2 days, while a design board can take hours to cut and glue together. It’s typically not a great use of time, especially if the ideas presented were off-base. If a layout or selection doesn’t make sense, please let us know, we can quickly sketch it up, walk you through it, or make a 2D computer drawing of how it will look in a space (cabinetry is the only area where a 3-d drawing has proven worthwhile). We find that walking through the design or putting blue tape on walls/floors is the best approach for communicating what to expect, often in conjunction with a sketch for general decoration.
Will we drive around to different stores to pick out furniture in person?
Typically we do not go store-to-store to shop for individual pieces. Shopping for furniture in person greatly reduces the number of pieces available to you, it takes much longer to travel between stores, and many times the piece you want may not be on the showroom floor anyways. To recreate the shopping experience at home, we try to gather as many photos, specifications, and product samples as possible to help you make an informed decision. All of this information is presented in our design sheets.
How do you make your money?
We make our money by charging a flat hourly rate for any work that a designer performs on your project. Unlike other firms in the industry, we do not charge for minor expenses like postage, phone calls, mileage, faxes, etc. mainly because it is a pain to track all of these small incidentals, and nobody likes to feel that they are being nickel and dimed.