What is online interior design?
The online version of my interior design service takes the best of traditional, full-service design—attention to detail and the resources needed to create your dream space—and distills the turnaround time and budget into a more accessible product, no matter where you live. Why?
Because great design shouldn’t have to be location specific.
Unlike matchmaker sites like Laurel & Wolf, Decorist, Havenly, or Homepolish, my online interior design service offers you the benefit of the full House of Funk team, all via online communication. The online interior design service takes your input and translates it to exciting design deliverables landing in your inbox. You choose the pace at which you purchase, install, and update your space. You have the power to transform your space with the click of your mouse. It’s truly that simple.
House of Funk is a true East Coast design firm, and working with me in any capacity means you get the full benefits of my team and process.
How does online interior design compare with full-service interior design?
At House of Funk, the full-service interior design is a classic, tried-and-true model. The full-service approach enables me to manage and execute design projects and renovations from the initial concept to the final touches. The process is hands-on, detail orientated, and driven by my on-site presence and project management.
It’s my job to take care of the major and minute design details that turn a house into a home. Full-service clients know that their residence will be a true expression of their lifestyle, be it luxurious, sophisticated, or laid-back and welcoming. Their ideal home is a place suited to their needs today, with room to grow into the future.
But what about online interior design? How does it work and what differentiates it from full-service design? No worries, you’ve come to the right place to figure all of this out.
Who is online interior design right for?
If you’re a go-getter, a doer, someone who appreciates design, has great style, and a desire to create a thoughtful, layered environment, then online interior design is for you.
If you’re new to the world of interior design, this is the right place to dip your toe in the water. If you’ve worked with a full-service designer before and are looking to tackle a new project on a faster timeline with more involvement on your end, online interior design is right up your alley.
My team of expert designers have a combined 40+ years of experience and will be there to guide you through the process. My design questionnaire helps the designers and I identify your style and budget, then the real fun begins. You receive a design pack filled with resources: floor plans, elevations, inspiration and selections for everything you need to create your dream space.
Where does online interior design work best?
The beauty of online design is that anyone from anywhere can access it. Whether you live in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, a sprawling mansion in Charlotte, or a cozy flat in New York City, you’ll receive the same level of expert design as local, full-service clients.
When should I consider using online interior design?
Online interior design is ideal for clients who want a streamlined process they can execute from the comfort of their own home, with the click of their mouse. Full-service projects often involve renovations or custom furnishings that require on-site visits and in-person meetings. Online interior design is best suited for individuals and families looking to elevate their space with decorating.
An early online interior design inspiration was a client with a new second home to furnish from top to bottom. She gave me the plans, and I designed and furnished the whole house without ever setting foot in it. It turned out great, and she loved every detail, down to the paint colors.
Why online interior design?
From my standpoint, great design is no longer location specific! For years, I heard “I wish you were in my town so you could do my house.” Now we can!
In addition, online interior design allows me to truly focus on design, the very best part of my every day. If I can help more people love their homes while doing the most fun part of my job? Score for everyone.
From a client standpoint, your to-do list is long enough. Get your house off of it and outsource to the pros. Speaking of pros, meet ours:
As the founder and principal designer, I draw on over fifteen years in design, with ten of those years in House of Funk. I am infamous fir creating thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and classical elements. It is imperative that interior designers embody big-picture thinking and strong visions, this is the winning combination that keeps clients coming back time and time again.
Finance Director Ashley Emala, Business Development Director Ranya Barrett, and Business Operations Coordinator Sarah Harris round out our office with finance, PR, admin, and HR covered.
Now that you’ve met the team, it’s time to take you through our online interior design process. Close your eyes. Imagine the space of your dreams conceived and delivered to your inbox. Sound too good to be true? It’s not (I promise). Read on to see how online interior design works.
A step-by-step example of how interior design works when done online:
House of Funk’s Finance Director, Ashley Emala, recently came to me about redoing her primary bedroom. When asked why she chose online interior design, she said
“Online interior design seemed like a convenient way to ensure that we had a room that looked put together from start to finish, but one that we could execute on our own timeline.”
Ashley’s style leans towards traditional, classic, preppy, and functional. But she was open to exploring accessories and furnishings that pushed the envelope on the true definition of a clean-lined traditionalist. I was eager to get started, and promised her a primary bedroom that would be comfortable and relaxing with a dose of chic mixed in. My design recommendations included a desk and chaise with additional lamps and end tables. This room works so much better now, and feels a whole lot more grown-up, sexy, cool, and refined.
As soon as I started working on Ashley’s room, I realized that most of her furniture was underscaled for the space. That made the space feel small and cluttered. Adding simple panels to her existing shades softens the space and draws the eye up.
Before
Ashley’s “before” furniture was purchased when they first got married twelve years ago.
“It was what we could afford at the time,” says Ashley. “It’s furniture that we own, but had placed in rental apartments. Thus it never really felt like ours. Now, we’re ready to improve the quality and look of our bedroom as a treat to us. Our budget has changed as our careers have evolved, and we’re excited to put some energy and investment towards a space that we spend a ton of time in.”
The beauty of online interior design is that you choose the pace at which you work. Even before Ashley had finished putting all of the final touches to her primary bedroom, the space already felt significantly different. Functional yet fashionable. “It’s comfortable yet chic, it’s ours, and we’re proud of it,” says Ashley.
One furnishing Ashley was especially excited for was the pink chaise lounge:
It will add a much-needed feminine touch to the room, and it’s something that I would never have considered without the help of an interior designer.
After
Says Ashley, “The space already feels bigger and brighter, and I definitely want to spend more time in there…without laundry piled in the corner! I would never have been able to realize a room like this without the input from talented designers. The ease of doing it all online was a major benefit.”
Ashley’s other favorite feature of working with a professional interior design team: Knowing where and how to hang artwork. “That skill is invaluable and has completely transformed the room. I have been able to highlight the existing art we already owned in places that are more appropriate for each piece’s specific size and color.”
What’s included in my design pack?
The design includes a floor plan, elevations, inspiration images, and a customized shopping list. Examples of Ashley’s design pack are shown below. The beautiful, detailed elevation expresses our team’s décor decisions, all of which were compiled into a convenient and easy shopping list, from which Ashley directly purchased products.
As outlined here, my detailed directions enable you to execute great design on your own.
Ashley’s key elevation and an inspiration image of how Ashley’s room will look with the new furnishings
If you’ve ever thought about working with an interior design firm, but weren’t sure about the details or the time it would take to get it all done, online interior design is for you. So many possibilities await, all with the click of your mouse.
In your article, you stated that if you’ve worked with a full-service designer before and are looking to tackle a new project on a faster timeline with more involvement on your end, online interior design is right up your alley. My wife has been wanting to remodel our living and dining rooms and someone suggested that online interior design would be helpful. I wonder if a person has to send in pictures of the room to someone to receive this type of help.
Hi Derek,
Thanks for reaching out. That’s a great question. If you go to our Services tab at the top of the page and click on eFunk online interior design, you’ll be directed to a page that outlines what our eFunk design package includes. Here, we talk about the input we’ll need from you in order to get started on your design. There’s also a link to our FAQ page, which goes into great detail about how our online interior design service works.
We’d love to learn more about your project, and look forward to hearing from you!
Warmly,
The House of Funk team