Yes, when we meet for the first time, it is a working appointment and you will get as much value as I can provide. I do not give away my design expertise and I want to share all I know with you. When I am paid, I happily give you all the design advice I can within our 1.5-hour window.
The consultation is personalized for your needs. Here are some ideas of what can be accomplished:
- We can select paint colors for the interior or exterior of your house.
- We can rearrange your furniture, place your accessories, hang your art, and I can provide advice on how to fill in any missing pieces or what pieces should be replaced.
- If you are contemplating a remodel, I can provide my ideas on how best to proceed and if I think you can/should remove or relocate walls, or how to make existing spaces more functional.
- If you have no idea how much it will cost to furnish a specific room, or a whole-home, I can help you create a furniture budget.
- You have your paint, tile, cabinets, etc. selected but, want professional advice so that you don’t make expensive mistakes, I’ll review your selections.
- You need help making finish or fixture selections. We can schedule our time at a showroom and I’ll help you put everything together.
Book your free 20-minute Design Consultation phone call. We’ll discuss your needs and I can tailor our first appointment to meet them.
I charge a fixed fee based on the scope of the project.
Instead of never-ending hourly billing, I find my clients prefer to know exactly how much the design for their project costs before they start. When you pay a flat fee, you know exactly how much and when payments are required so you can budget your funds accordingly.
If I have a special relationship with a vendor who provides a substantial discount, I will share it. Otherwise, I sell products at Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP).
I used to share my discount 50/50 with my clients. When doing so, the clients paid all additional expenses such as freight, receiving, and storage. Now that I do not share my discount, I do not charge for these expenses. This simplifies the process for both parties. Since expenses are covered (up to defined maximums) final payments are known at the time pricing is presented to the client. In the end, my clients pay just about the same as when I shared my discounts.
You get “white glove” service. It is not atypical for products to arrive damaged. Because I work with trusted vendors, with whom I regularly order, they provide me much better service than you would get from a company from which you might order products directly. Plus you do not have to use your precious time, resolving the issues yourself.
Once the products for your design are proposed, you have one week to pay requested deposits. The timeline is short in order to:
- Avoid price increases – most companies raise the cost of merchandise at least once a year, sometimes more depending on economic factors.
- Eliminates stocking issues – before I present products for your design, I check stock to make sure the products are available. However, until I receive payment and submit orders, there is no guarantee that the items will not be sold to another.
- If, when orders are placed, and the item is then out-of-stock, I must charge additional fees to reselect