So what’s it like Working with an Interior Designer? If you’ve never worked with an Interior Designer before it can be a bit of a mystery. This blog is going to break down the 10 Step Process we use at our firm and our approach to a new design project. In the hopes to clear up the mystery of the design process from start to finish.
The 10 Step Process for Working with an Interior Designer
The design process starts with a discovery call, the designer will ask you a lot of questions, about you and the project area. We need this information to better understand the scope and scale of your project. We’ll also be emailing you a design questionnaire. This is to better understand your design and style preferences.
1. The Design Consultation
The design consultation is for you and the designer to discuss your project. During the design consultation, the designer will review and discuss your design questionnaire with you. The focus of working with an interior designer is to achieve your design goals. Therefore, the more information we have about your likes and dislikes the better we can advise you in the right direction. We charge a fee for the design consultation. At the meeting, she will answer any of your design questions and help with color suggestions, offer lighting suggestions, window treatment suggestions, styling, and furniture suggestions. Also, she will give you her thoughts on ways to improve the layout, flow, and function of your home.
2. The Contract and Working with an Interior Designer
Your design goals will be outlined, then our firm will present you with a design contract outlining the complete scope and scale of the project as we know it. A Design Fee is required at this time for the designer to start working on the conceptual design for your project.
3. Trade Day
We meet with the tradespeople in your project area and get all the quotes for your project. The project area is measured and /or we get plan floor plans drawn up by an architect. However, it would depend on how involved and large the renovation is. By bringing in the tradespeople we get the cost estimates and quotes for your project.
4. The Design plan and Working with an Interior Designer
The designer will then start laying out the Design plan, with mood boards, samples, a completed budget, and prepare the floor plans and/or other renderings. By the way, we work with inspiration from your Pinterest boards to create your custom design. We begin sourcing all the items needed for your project. The list can sometimes be in the thousands!
5. Presentation Day
Meeting with you for presentation day is when you will see all the selections, the full design plan, mood boards, a completed budget, and the floor plans and/or other renderings. The designer will go over every detail of your project. This could take a few hours to review everything. You will be asked for your approval on all items on the budget and we will talk about any revisions at this time. However, if there are revisions the designer will schedule a second meeting with you to confirm the revisions.
6. Purchasing, Ordering and Customizing
Once all the selections, the design plan, mood boards, and a completed budget are signed off on. We start the purchasing of all items for your project. The design firm will need full payment for items selected. We work with top-notch vendors so you don’t have to worry about finding them on your own since we purchase from trade-only vendors, they need payment in full before any orders are placed.
7. Calendar with the Time Frame
As soon as we have a schedule confirmed with our tradespeople for the work to be started, deliveries confirmed, and installers in place. A calendar with the time frame for your project will be sent.
8. Installation Days
Next, all the trades do their installations. The designer will oversee the installation of all materials agreed upon for the design project unless prior arrangements are made with the client. There is a schedule, the construction, the painting, an electrician, etc. Sometimes the schedule could change but we try to stay on course.
9. Window Treatments Installed
The Window Treatments will be installed before the furniture and finishing touches are added. In other words, the furniture, plants, and accessories will not be in the way.
10. Installation Day
On the day of installation, the room should be empty of any of your old furniture that is not staying. The delivery for the furniture, table lamps, rug, accessories, bedding, etc. we will have many people on site. Therefore, it would be better if you leave for the day and let us do our magic.
Ready to start your next Interior Design project? Working with an Interior Designer will make the whole project run smoother, save you time and money. This way, you will never have to second guess your choices again. Schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery phone call.
Q & A on Working with an Interior Designer
The design process starts with a discovery call, the designer will ask you a lot of questions, about you and the project area. We’ll also be emailing you a design questionnaire. This is to better understand your design and style preferences.
The design consultation is for you and the designer to discuss your project. During the design consultation, the designer will review and discuss your design goals with you. We charge a $375 fee for the design consultation.
The designer will start laying out the Design plan, with mood boards, samples, a completed budget, and prepare the floor plans and/or other renderings. We begin sourcing all the items needed for your project. This can take a few weeks to pull together.
Once all the selections, the design plan, mood boards, and a completed budget are signed off on. We start the purchasing of all items for your project. We work with top-notch vendors so you don’t have to worry about finding them on your own since we purchase from trade-only vendors, they need payment in full before any orders are placed.