THE DESIGN PROCESS

From our first meeting to the final reveal, I partner with you every step of the way to bring your vision to life. With a focus on detail and a commitment to quality, my goal is to create a beautiful space that reflects your unique style and enhances your everyday living.

Before our First Meeting

In order to establish a vision for your project, I like to assign “design homework”. This will help me get to know you better, understand your needs and guide the design process.

 Please collect 20-30 images of spaces that inspire you from sources such as Pinterest, Instagram. You might also pull together some photos from your travels or life experiences that might translate to your design aesthetic.

 Create a list of words that describe your desired style and feel of your space (traditional, classic, bohemian, modern, glamorous, relaxed, rustic, comfortable, inviting, relaxing, collected, tailored, casual). This can really help establish your vision and goals. 

 Be familiar with your needs, make a list of goals, priorities and consider a budget you are comfortable with. Establishing your budget upfront is essential to ensure the project runs smoothly. 

First Appointment & Design Consultation

A complementary in-home consultation. This is my chance to listen to your expectations, concerns, and to see design challenges. As we walk through your home, I will ask general design questions to narrow the scope of design solutions. I will take pictures of your home and any furnishings you wish to incorporate into design. We will chat about what you hope to change, your timeline, and your priorities. If you are building a new home, please provide floor plans and elevations.

Contract & Retainer

After our first appointment, I will provide a contract outlining project billing details. Interior design is a luxury service, and my aim is to maximize the value of your investment while maintaining a sustainable business. The goal is for everyone involved to feel respected and treated fairly throughout the process.

Design Concept

After we have agreed on the terms of project fees, established a budget, and your retainer has been paid, I will begin work on a design concept for your project. This includes preliminary space planning, furniture plans, and mood boards to help visualize scale and to define the types of material, finishes and furniture for concept.  I will also begin to pull fabrics, finishes, paint samples, etc. that reflect the style of your project.

Design Presentation

I will present a collection of mood boards, furniture plans, product images, fabrics, and samples during an informal design presentation in your home (or virtually). The purpose of this meeting is to give you a conceptual vision of the project, for your approval. We will select the types of items and materials that you want to move forward with and discuss any revisions that need to be made to the design plan.

Design Development & Documentation

After the design concept is approved, the project details are refined and finalized before goods are purchased or vendor services rendered. This process includes any edits and revisions to the design concept, detailed drawings required for builders/contractors, workrooms, vendors, as well as the selection of specific finishes, furniture, fabrics, lighting, flooring, window and wall treatments.

Proposals

Procurement

The procurement phase of a design project can be very complex, and my goal is to make the process easy for you. All merchandise and materials purchased through GCI (i.e. furniture, window treatments, accessories, artwork, wallcovering, lighting, specialty finishes, and other similar items) will be completely managed by GCI. This includes all correspondence with vendors such as requesting quotes, preparing purchase orders, follow up with suppliers to check progress, workroom visits, and scheduling deliveries. My commission for this service (cost plus 20%) is included in the prices quoted to you. 

GCI is not responsible for the order management of materials or furnishings to be purchased directly by Client or Contractor, but is able to assist in the process by request. Time billing will apply.

Final Installation & Styling

The final stage of the design process is when furniture deliveries are scheduled, flooring, lighting, art and window treatments are installed, etc. Designer may bring an assortment of decorative objects and accessories to an installation, as this is important to pulling a room together. Designer will “style” these accessories into the room for you to see, but you are not committed to buy them unless you wish. Additional installation/styling services are available during installations at the request of clients, i.e. bookcases, art placement, tablescapes, floral arrangements, holiday decor and special events. Depending on the scope of your project, there may be one large installation or several mini-installations.

Installation and styling services are offered per Client request. If you prefer to oversee the installation process yourself, that is completely fine as well. 

Please note that additional services may be required for installations (for example: white glove movers and specialty installers for window treatments and artwork)