Frequently Asked Questions
See below for details about our interior decorating process.
Getting the Creative Process Started
Every potential interior decorating project begins with a discovery consultation and questionnaire. It is important that you communicate what you are looking for in as much detail as possible. But rest assured, many clients fine-tune their décor favorites as the interior decorating process develops, so it’s okay if you don’t know exactly what to tell us in the beginning! If you aren’t sure where to start, look at what you have in your home for inspiration. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have a color that keeps repeating in your clothing choices?
- Do you gravitate towards a particular style of art or dishware pattern?
- Do you feel most at peace in a room full of color or one with soft neutrals?
- If you could decorate for just you, what would that look like?
Pictures always help too! The more you can tell us about your vision, the smoother the decorating process will go.
How We Work: Step-by-Step Process with Regular Communication
Our team will guide you through the interior decorating process step-by-step to ensure that your experience is both fun and rewarding! We provide specific deliverables for each part of the process, so you know what to expect and will have ample opportunity for discussion. You will also receive regular updates on your project’s status so you will know what’s going on.
Our team approaches every space with an organized set of project milestones. This helps keep your project and budget on track. Here is how it works:
Phase 1 Introduction: We visit with potential clients to view their space and talk about your vision and expectations. We will chat about the creative fit, review our availability with you, and discuss pricing options. During a follow-up visit, one of our team members will fully measure your space, take pictures, and create a measured layout for us to work from.
Phase 2 Concept Design: This “ideas” phase consists of a fully conceptualized plan for your space. Phase 2 includes proposed 3D space plans, a list of suggested items needed in the room, budget ranges, and mood boards for inspiration.
Phase 3 Design Buildout: Taking your budget and the concepts we developed in Phase 2, we’ll make selections for every detail in your space…furnishings, fabrics, finishes, lighting, draperies, trim, etc. Together, we will fine-tune the selections for your room and create a list for purchase.
Phase 4 Purchasing: We place orders for your items, communicate with vendors and manufacturers, and manage the shipping, delivery, and receiving process as well as any issues that may arise.
Part 5 Installation Day! We will install all the items we ordered for you and style your space. It’s an exciting day to see it all come together!
We will provide a design proposal for designers hours after meeting with you and reviewing your project. We assess each project individually and propose an estimate of hours needed to decorate a space like yours, based on your project needs. We require a 50% retainer for our fees, or a minimum of 8 hours ($1200) based on your project, for work to begin. All hours worked thereafter will be billed monthly at our hourly rate of $150/h.
We will also discuss a range for the cost of goods and vendor services for your space based on your budget. If you do not know what your budget will be (this is common!), please share with us where you like to shop, your favorite store, designers you may follow, room ideals, and inspiration. We use quotes and an approval + invoice process as your project progresses for items needed to complete your space. During the revision and quote process, you may wish to make changes to these items and we will advise if there is a difference in cost.
The cost for project goods is separate from our design fees.
Your retainer will be based on the estimated hours for your individual project and must be paid before any work begins. Please understand that our hours estimates are based on a “best case scenario” project like yours. Unforeseen circumstances and vendor availability, slow decision making or disagreements in your home, slow responses to your decorator, the need to see multiple options or go shopping, change requests in design or space plan, etc., could and likely will delay your project and cost more of our time. We understand the creative process in a personal space such as home is not always a fast, or even easy, process. Decorating often takes time and we know that well! We do our best to guide your project at an efficient pace and will be honest with you when we see issues arise and if additional hours will be needed.
Our proposals provide an estimate of hours that we generally spend on a room like yours, and we require a retainer to get started. Your retainer is applied towards all work done on your project until the retainer is exhausted. Hours needed thereafter to complete the work will be billed monthly at the hourly rate of $150/h. All time spent on your project is billable. This includes emails, texts, calls, visits to your home or any vendor involved in your project, all creative planning and processing time, and any changes to your project.
For all items we have selected for your space, you will receive a quote(s) with a request for your approval prior to any purchase. Pre-payment for purchasing is required. Please talk to your decorator about your budget and payments, as needed.
What if I need to pause my project?
We understand that life happens and projects may need to take a breather. If you wish to pause or cancel your project prior to completion, you are responsible for payment in full of all billable hours worked until the cessation of your project. Your failure to communicate during the creative parts of the process for more than 30 days will automatically result in a project pause.
It is important to note that any request to renew a paused, inexcusably delayed, or canceled project after 30 calendar days will incur a $450 fee. This is because we have to reorient ourselves to your project, re-review all notes and drawings, and request updates from vendors on quotes we received prior to cessation. It’s a bit of work on our end to get re-started.
What if I want to change the work we decided on?
Change happens! Please discuss with your decorator your requests to change the scope of work that was previously decided on. We are flexible and willing to modify your designs and add or subtract items. Your space needs to be what you want so please communicate all requests and concerns. Billable hours will apply.
Tip: Indecision can get expensive. During each part of our interior decorating process, you will be asked for your input and approval – use those opportunities to decide on exactly what you want. You may find that during the decorating process, you further develop your taste and style, and we encourage that! It is our job to help you develop your vision and design a space within your budget. But multiple changes, requests, and indecision can delay a project and cost you additional billable hours that take your project over budget.