If you ask me, a great Interior Designer is determined by three factors: realistic designs, how they handle the unforeseen and how they care for you in the process.

A fantastic, over-the-top design can be really impressive, yet if it is not reasonable to build or achievable within the space or budget, what good is it?  I take pride in accepting the constraints of each project and working with them to deliver unique solutions that can be implemented.

Every project will have a few surprises.  Experience, creativity and decisiveness allow me to be able to pivot quickly to guide you over these speed bumps feeling informed and in control of the choices available.

Finally, the process of undertaking an Interior Design project WILL stir up strong opinions, be stressful and cause you and your family inconveniences – this is simply a fact.  Ideally, these feelings are minimized by my leadership and the final product brings great enjoyment that these are quickly forgotten.  By slowing down the process, properly educating you on choices, cost and implications and looking out for your family every step of the way I’ll deliver as smooth an experience as possible.

This varies.  Does your project require construction of any kind? If so, the selection of your Interior Designer comes first.  They will help you identify and convey accurate conceptual drawings which the General Contractor will use to develop an initial project estimate.   No drawings or scope information means no bid.  These are required.  I can aid you in the selection of your General Contractor and will work with any licensed General Contractor you choose.

Maybe you just need to switch out furniture, art, window treatments or perhaps refreshing materials such as paint or lighting?  In this case we will kick things off with a phone call.  From there you can ask questions of me and my process and in turn I can learn more about your space, needs, timeframe, location, etc.  We’ll determine the next best steps based on this introductory call.

There is no one size fits all with Construction or Interior Design.  Each project is bid out individually based on a thorough understanding of the site, intended focus, scope, materials, budget estimates, timeline, location etc.  Once a letter of agreement is sent and signed, a 50% Interior Design retainer is collected up front.  When this payment has been met by Interior Design services rendered we roll over into a monthly payments.  These reflect Interior Design service hours that have been delivered the previous month and you have a 30 day window to submit payment.  I accept payments via ACH transfer, check or credit card with an administrative fee.  All materials and furnishings invoices are due in full to initiate a purchase.

No problem.  It is quite common for a Consultation to be an eye opening experience.  Sometimes a focus will shift in order to get to the root problem, sometimes the education leads Clients to a better understanding of the scope and skill required and they decide not to go it alone.  At this point in time, based on the type of project you are considering (Construction or Furnishings related) we can discuss how to move forward as a team.

Yes, eDesign is simply defined as electronic design where concepts, layouts and materials are conveyed using technology.  It is inherent in every project regardless of location, however when a project is remote (be it a few hours away or out of state) there are plenty of great tools to succinctly and efficiently move through the design process with minimal to no site visits.  

No, I do not accompany Clients to shop at furniture stores. However, many of my Client’s have scheduled a 2 hour Consultation and used that time to develop their “shopping list”.  This can include furniture (noting layout options, dimensions, materials & features to look for etc.), case goods, lighting and even art so you can have a plan in advance.

Even the Magic 8 Ball cannot answer this one!  My rule is this, “Prior Proper Planning Prevents a Poor Product”.  Simply put, most of the work is front loaded with construction and design.  With great communication, documentation and a team mentality between the Clients, General Contractor and Designer you can iron out a lot of the questions and costly factors up front.  Ideally, you’ve got everything queued up (drawings, materials, appliances and equipment) ready to go from the start so once construction begins it can proceed with minimal interruption.

That said, we must always evaluate a property’s age and condition to be realistic. Past experience with historic properties teaches us that demo is an interesting time, often requiring reassessment and pivots to the design and budget based on what we find behind the walls.  New(er) construction is often more straightforward, however if corners are cut or unknown issues arise we must face these equipped with professional recommendations and pricing so you can make informed decisions.

Ultimately, I will aim to strike a balance between efficiency and quality.   Offering the trades and manufacturers the time they need to execute their work while honoring your home life experience during the Interior Design process.

Depending on the number of rooms and number of items to be sourced this can vary.  In general, a furnishings project will begin with identifying the desired aesthetic, then the plan development and approval, followed by sourcing and presentation of final budget and materials, ordering product and finally shipping, receiving and installation.  For an average living room this could take around 4-6 months depending on the responsiveness of team communication, manufacturers lead times, product stock and seasonality.