From start to finish, we’re YOUR support. Throughout the project, we’re Team YOU. We chat with you through the project discovery phase, we learn about you, we understand YOUR needs and wants. Only then do we get to work—

We measure the spaces, we design, we create presentations and walk you through design options and approaches, we collaborate with you, incorporate your feedback into revisions, finalize the design to meet your needs and our vision, and finally we execute.

As a result, the final design is more a reflection of you than of us, as it should be.

see also “what we do”

We are transparent. Not just in the steps we take through the design process, but in the costs associated with this type of undertaking. We acknowledge that there are unexpected expenses when it comes to opening walls and tearing apart your home. It can be messy at best, but the “figuring out the design budget part” doesn’t have to be.

For all project scopes, we bill hourly at a singular rate of $195 per hour for all design related work including CAD, sourcing, client communications, vendor communications, and installation of items. Additionally, we charge a 25% markup on our discounted, designer costs to be applied to all materials, tile, fixtures, furnishings, etc, that we source. Licensed designers get industry professional discounts in order to accommodate markups. You aren’t paying more for your items simply because you’re working with us. The opposite is true. And because of the product markup, we do not bill hourly while completing tasks such as client invoicing, product purchasing, and coordinating storage/delivery of items.

Costs for shipping, receiving, and warehousing are billed to the client directly without markup or additional fees. We typically have all furnishings shipped directly to a receiving company set up to work with our specific interior design needs.

We’re an open book and are always happy to talk through anything that might not be covered in this breakneck FAQ! So please REACH OUT.

We work for you, the client. Period. Remember, we’re Team YOU.

That means, our job is also to advocate for our design intentions on YOUR behalf. Whether we’re interfacing with vendors you hired or that we hired, the ultimate objective is to be an extension of you and represent your best interests at all times.

There are vendors that we will hire, manage, and pay directly for services such as window treatments and wall covering installations. Then there are the vendors we work in tandem with that are hired either by you or your contractor such as electricians and plumbers. You or the contractor will pay them directly. Our role is to provide these kinds of vendors with our design documents and recommendations if applicable, including all details and specifications.

We are in constant communication with your hired team, and YOU, to troubleshoot, problem solve, and to ensure design goals are met.

No two projects are alike, but if you’re coming to the table without any idea what to expect, just use this handy budget hack that works 100% of the time. Choose a number greater than zero, double it, divide by two and then throw your hands up and send us an email so we can give you a non-joke estimate based on your rough needs!

Joking aside, here are some recent project stats that might be helpful. These numbers include the design portion of these projects and do not include construction costs and contractor fees if applicable.

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Full Bathroom Renovation Material Costs: includes decorative plumbing fixtures (like faucets and toilets and tubs), decorative lighting (like sconces over the vanity), and tile/stone (think flooring and countertop materials).

65 sq ft: $30,000

90 sq ft: $25,000

250 sq ft: $70,000

Bedroom Furnishings Material Costs: includes a bed, nightstands, dresser, and rug. The larger space allowed for more furnishings like a chaise, cocktail table, sconces, mirrors, and we added wall covering to that space as well.

175 sq ft: $15,000

200 sq ft: $24,000

400 sq ft: $80,000

Time Billing: Each month’s billing will be different based on the scope and stage of your project. Some months there will be little to no billable hours while others may be quite consuming such as at the beginning of a project when we’re heavy in design mode or towards the end when the execution of the design is wrapping up. On average, 15-20 hours per month is a great estimate to use for budgeting.

Some common pitfalls, misconceptions and general watch-outs we’ve picked up over many years and many projects.

-Custom doesn’t have to mean costly. It means we have control over sizing and scale, fabrics, materials, and creative flow to tailor whatever it is to our specific needs.

-There will be additional construction costs so budget for the unknowns in advance. We can’t see through walls so if you’re planning to open them up, plan to be surprised.

-We can help you control your budget in a lot of ways without compromising design or quality. Choosing between things like natural stone or man-made stone, custom cabinetry or pre-fab cabinetry, finished by hand or manufactured pieces, etc. can move the needle of your budget based on your preferences.

-Based on the scope of work in a residential project and the city you reside in, a permit may be required or it may not.

-Moving out during a full-scale renovation is freeing. You will thank us later.

-A project without a timeline is like a driver without directions. You will veer off course if a timeline isn’t established at the beginning of a project and reassessed throughout. There will be forks in the road and rerouting, however your project won’t be derailed as a result of it.

-Interior Designers do not manage contractors or their subs. Our job is to represent you and the approved design. We convey design intent and work with them so that our goals, both aesthetically and functionally, are met.

-You need to love your team. This is a very personal process. Are you doing a bathroom remodel? We will discuss the best toilet for your needs! A bedroom remodel? We will need to know what kinds of things you hide in your bedside tables! But not in a gross way. In a “how can we improve this person’s home to meet their needs” kind of way. When choosing who you want to work with, consider who you will be comfortable getting personal with as well.