Our Process

Interior Design is not some magic wizardry of pulling wonderful amazing things out of the big mysterious sleeve of inspiration. On the contrary, it is a very deliberate and thoughtful process. And although this process follows a systematic set of steps it is also very different with each individual project.

Phase 1

Pre-Design

Starting point is always a discussion around the question where you, the client, want to take the project, what your goals are, and what is important to you. For example, in a kitchen, how important is it to you to have all the latest bells and whistles when it comes to fixtures, appliances and technology? How much green design do you want to incorporate? As for your living room, dining and bedroom, do you want for them to look on trend, or are you more of a timeless person? Do you have pieces of art, or heirloom pieces of furniture that you want to incorporate? Are you a techie who wants all things smart? Also, where are you budget-wise? This initial phase is all about getting to know you. We survey your home, measure and take photos, and look at pictures.

Phase 2

Design Development

The next step lays the foundation of the design: We produce drawings of the floor plan, furniture layout, kitchen and bath layout, lighting and ceiling plan, elevations of custom cabinetry, custom architectural detailing like a fireplace surround or a custom staircase railing, and so on.

Phase 3

Specification

Then, for a remodel or new construction project, we select the finishes and materials, and create schedules for everything that is needed: flooring, bathroom and kitchen tile, countertops, plumbing fixtures, cabinet finishes, decorative wall finishes, wall paper and paint colors, doors, hardware, trim, light fixtures etc. etc. 

Or, if it is a furniture and fixtures type of project, we select the required pieces of furniture, chairs, sofas, tables, beds, fabrics, lamps, chandeliers, area rugs, specify window treatments or create draperies, and again specify wall finishes – among many other things.

Of course, every step of the process involves meetings with you, during which we present our ideas and design proposals, with the goal to get your feed-back, to see if we are on the right track, or if we need to tweak the design.  

 Phase 4

Budgeting and Bidding

Along the way you will also want to know what all this costs. If we are only doing furniture and fixtures we will have ballpark pricing of most items at the meeting. If it is a remodel or new construction project, we will involve qualified contractors, submit our drawings and specification schedules to them, and get quotes from them.

 Phase 5

Design and Implementation

Finally, the design transfers from paper, pictures and samples to a tangible reality in your home! This is when we issue proposals for each item for you to sign, following which we do the purchasing and procurement. We take care of order expediting, receiving and warehousing. We schedule deliveries and supervise installations. During the actual construction phase, we show up for on-site-meetings with contractors and tradespeople to discuss details and to ensure adherence to the proposed design.

 Phase 6

Decorating and Accessorizing

Last, we get to the fun stuff and put the frosting on the cake: The selection of rugs, plants, art and accessories, etc. We hunt down the right floor lamp to provide mood lighting, a stunning piece of wall décor, a statement center piece for your dining table. Anything to finish off the design! And since you, the client, are a constant part of the process, you will most certainly love the end result! and be proud of your home!