You’ve been browsing through Architectural Digest, Pinterest, or Instagram, and you’re finally ready to embark on a decorating process to create a home filled with beauty, joy, and pride. You have your inspiration board saved, but you know there are too many details for you to create the home yourself…
How do you choose between a thousand choices for a single item, like a lamp, a rug, or a table? How do you know which pieces of furniture are worth the investment? How do you create a cohesive design that really works together in style and color? How do you also make sure that your home is going to stand up to your day-to-day life?
Designing a home is not nearly as simple as it looks. There are so many details to factor in, including your unique personality and how you will use the space. This is where an interior designer comes in.
We can work together to bring you clarity and support to the design process — and ensure an end result that you will be thrilled to come home to every day. Today, I’m sharing my personal design process (and why it’s different!), along with what you can expect every step of the way.
Pour a glass of Malbec with me, sit back, and let’s get started...
Master bedroom redesign by yours truly
To create a space that works for your lifestyle, speaks to your style preferences, and fits your budgets, we have to get to know each other. Building a relationship of trust and understanding is how I help sift through all the design “noise” to zero in on the options that are right for you.
In our initial consultation, we will discuss your lifestyle, your space, your design preferences, your budget, and create a blueprint.
We start by discussing your design preferences. Do you learn toward modern design, contemporary, traditional...? These words can mean different things to different people, so we will explore inspirational images to narrow down the colors, textures, and patterns you love most. If you have design boards, I would love to see them!
We will also discuss incorporating on-trend and current elements and a few more classic pieces to bring a timeless feel to your home. If you’re investing in your home, you don’t want it to go out of style anytime soon. Updated and fresh is the goal!
One of the first questions my clients ask me is “How much is it going to cost me?” My answer is: “It’s all up to you!” (Not all designers work this way!) My goal is to bring your vision to life while staying within your budget to the best of my ability.
Yes, if you have a tight budget, there are certain things that are simply not possible. However, we can usually find a mid-market option with a similar look and feel. A great example? Porcelain tiles that are made to look like marble. Who can tell, really?
Another one of the great advantages of working with a designer is that we know how to balance a budget. I can advise you on where to save and where to splurge to maximize your investment, increase comfort, preserve the longevity of your home, and elevate your lifestyle.
Once we’ve covered all aspects of your design style and budget, we will create a rough sketch of the space so you can visualize an optimal furniture configuration. This blueprint — and how full you want your space to be — will help us determine the size, shape, and location of all the furniture. It will also help us consider the fixed elements of the space, like having lighting perfectly over your dining room table.
Once we have a set plan, we’re ready to move onto Step 2...
After our initial consultation, I will take all of my learnings back to my studio and start looking for the perfect pieces for your home. Believe it or not, this means sifting through thousands of options to find the perfect combination of items to suit your taste, lifestyle, and budget.
No, you won’t see this happening behind the scenes, but it is a massive undertaking. Once I’ve settled on the final contenders for your design, I will reach out to the vendors and suppliers for quotes. This takes more time (and back and forth communication with various parties), but once complete, I will have a list of furnishings and fixtures for your dream home and the quotes to go with them!
Once everything is prepared, you and I will meet for our Design Presentation. I will share these selections with you, show you how the whole design works together, and provide you with quotes so you can see how the pieces fit into your desired budget.
You will have a chance to share your feedback as we fine-tune the final selections and decide which to proceed with. Once we have the green light on your selections, my team and I will move ahead with ordering your items… another long and involved process! For us, at least. 🙂
Procuring your furnishings is another aspect of our work that is extremely important and very time-consuming but all takes place behind the scenes. You’re probably thinking, “Wait, just to place orders?” If only it were so simple.
Not only do orders need to be placed with exact dimensions (down to ⅛th of an inch) and specifications, but we also need to communicate with the vendors directly, track the orders’ progress, receive shipments, inspect them for quality, and remedy any errors or damages during shipping. This can last weeks, even months for custom items.
Although you won’t see much during this part of the process, your project is still fully in motion and we will keep you updated along the way. Be patient… magic is happening!
My favorite step! This is when it all comes together and you finally get to see the results. Once all the ordered items have been received and inspected, we schedule your Installation Day. Our team is in charge of installing everything and styling the space with the finishing touches that make the house feel like home. Then, you get to come home...
TA-DA! Expect excitement, hugs, and maybe even some happy tears and Champagne! Why not?!
After we gather all our emotions, I will walk through the home with you to create a “punch list” of any final items to address. We do our best to resolve loose ends promptly, so you can get on with living your amazing life in your new space. And now, the house is yours — enjoy it!
There you have it — my 4-step decorating process, designed to bring all of your home dreams to life with clarity, customization, and you at it’s center. Exciting, isn’t it?
If you’re ready to get started on your space, let’s chat!
Keti
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