Full-Service FAQs

·  Full-service interior design
·  Additions and renovations consulting
·  New-construction consulting
·  Project management
·  Kitchens and bathrooms
·  Furniture and accessories
·  Space planning
·  Custom cabinetry
·  Fabrics and upholstery
·  Floor coverings and rug design
·  Wall coverings
·  Window treatments
·  Lighting design
·  Corporate offices
·  Hospitality and restaurants
·  Showhouses
·  Public spaces and lobbies
·  Sustainable design
·  A network of contractors, electricians, plumbers, drapery treatment fabricators, faux finishers, painters, wallpaper installers, tile installers, custom glass crafters, movers, demo crews, wood finishers, lighting experts, cabinet makers, stone fabricators, custom concrete artists, architects, landscape architects, art consultants, upholsterers, bedding and pillow fabricators and much, much more.

Full-service interior design consists of three major phases:

• Conceptual Design
• Detailed Design
• Purchasing and Execution

Our full-service approach enables us to manage projects from initial concept through to completion, designing your home down to the final detail. It is our job to take care of the major and minute design details that turn a house into a home.

The Conceptual Design Phase takes approximately eight weeks and includes the following design services:

· We assess the current project space, take measurements and photos, and document any items that will be staying.
· Design the ideal floor plan to ensure the best possible layout for the project.
· Create inspiration board(s) to communicate what we envision for the project.
· Determine initial selections to confirm the design direction.
· Create a investment estimate to capture the elements that will be needed to make the project a reality, from furnishings to trades.
· Conduct “Trade Day” at your home. This is where we consult with our trades and vendors on site to review the project concepts and take detailed measurements in order to receive accurate quotes. (It is imperative to be on site with the vendors to discuss obstacles and options at the outset).

Conceptual Design includes the following:
· Floor plan(s)
· Inspiration board(s)
· Limited Initial selections
· Updated investment estimate for approval
During this phase, we will confirm the design direction, layout, and investment estimate of the project, with one revision offered. The one allowed revision will add time onto this phase depending on the scale of the revision.

The Detailed Design Phase takes approximately eight weeks, and consists of the following design services:

· Selection of each item according to design direction, investment estimate, and floor plan(s)
· Procurement of written quotes from all trades and vendors
· Completion of selections in accordance with approved inspiration boards and initial selections
· Finalizing the approved floor plan(s) with actual selections
· Drawing relevant elevations of the space
· Completing any custom piece drawings as needed
· Presentation preparation to communicate the design
· Confirming the actual numbers against the approved investment estimate

Detailed Design includes the following:
· Inspiration board(s)
· Floor plan(s), elevation(s), and relevant custom drawings
· Proposal of each item for your approval, with all details to confirm orders and the coordinating samples
· Investment estimate updated with actual costs

The Purchasing and Execution Phase is time dependent on scope of project and the contractor’s schedule.

Purchasing and Implementation Phase:
· Placing orders & assessing delivery times
· Complete the purchasing of goods on your behalf
· Clarify and communicate estimated delivery times
· Manage open orders by efficiently tracking goods
· Prepare the construction & installation timeline

Construction
· Oversee the construction and installation timeline
· Coordinate project logistics with contractors and vendors
· Provide site checks for project accuracy

Installation
· Coordinate deliveries and installations
· On site presence during deliveries and installations, where applicable

Furniture Installation and Styling
· Provide turnkey furniture installation, which means that all of the furnishings are delivered at one time, once any construction is complete
· Plan and execute the styling process
· Style and photograph the completed project, where applicable

The Reveal
· Provide documentation that supports the care and maintenance of your newly completed project
· Identify any deficiencies that we’ve noted during installation in the format of a project punch list
· Present the styling price list for each item installed, where applicable
· Confirm what you want to keep or return from the styling price list, where applicable
· Pick up and return any items identified to be returned, where applicable

Identify & Resolve Deficiencies
· Identify and resolve all deficiencies identified on the project punch list

The Conceptual Design Phase typically takes approximately eight weeks and the Detailed Design Phase takes approximately eight weeks. The Purchasing and Execution Phase is time dependent on scope of work and the contractor’s schedule.

As every project is different, Sandra will meet with you and access the scope of work, then determine the design fee accordingly. Full-service interior design is a flat design fee per project.

All purchasing and execution goes through us.

Your purchase of interior design items (i.e. furniture, tile, fixtures, fabrics and other design materials) through us will serve as payment for our services during the Purchasing and Execution Phase. We charge commercially reasonable “retail” prices.

We have developed and refined our process over the last 12 years and are not willing to deviate from it. We do not offer options in design presentations, as we find that when we provide options, we end up with a very “vanilla” design. Meaning, everything has to be interchangeable, which is not how we develop layered, thoughtful, and detailed designs. Our true value is in putting together the mix. Options greatly detract from that.

In addition, full-service interior design features to-the-trade pieces purchased through House of Funk. Although it may seem obvious in hindsight to swap out a few items for less expensive options, that isn’t how full-service interior design works. Our agreement is that we set a investment estimate together, then furnishings are purchased through House of Funk. This is the business model that we have to stick to make our flat fees functional as a business.

We require 100% deposit on all orders for many reasons. One of our favorite responses (loosely quoted by Tobi Fairley) is: “If, after placing an order, you decide you don’t want that sofa, I can assure you that I don’t want it either.”

Once a custom order is placed, it is non-refundable.

We’ve had clients go through tough times that pulled them away from the project. While it is completely understandable that someone dealing with a personal crisis can’t focus on the design project, the custom orders already set into motion cannot be paused or cancelled, which means production will conclude and balances will be due. Basically, we’re a design firm, not a bank.

Those examples aside, there are many benefits to paying 100% up front:

·  It cuts paperwork in half (instead of billing for a deposit and final invoice).
·  Since we do turn-key project installations (where we do one delivery after all of the orders are in at our local receiver’s warehouse), you would still be required to pay for items in full prior to receiving them.
·  Projects move more quickly this way, as it makes the entire order process more efficient and allows us to complete your project quicker.

Here’s an example to illustrate our point:
 Our vendors won’t ship your items until they are paid in full, so in the case of a 50% deposit, we would then pay our vendors 50%. They would send us an invoice when the item is ready to ship. We then send you a balance-due invoice. We process your payment, then pay our vendor. Some vendors still send paper invoices and only take checks, so this can add a week or two to the lead time.

There’s no need for you to sift through interviewing contractors and hoping that the team you put together gets along.

Our greatest resource is our team of designers, project managers, vendors, makers, craftspeople, artisans, installers, and contractors. We manage the entire design and renovation process; from conceiving the design, to project managing the renovation, down to placing the last pillow. This assures that our design is executed with the utmost quality and efficiency.

Our team is extremely talented. You’ll see.

We invite you to talk with our clients about their experience. Please reach out for a list of references.

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