Is there a minimum?
For each home visit or in-store consultation, there is a minimum charge of 1 hour. Some clients request an hour of time to simply have The Design House offer solutions to their design dilemmas or for in-home project demonstrations. Other clients commission several hours devoted to creating design plans for a more in-depth transformation from concept to completion.
How much does it cost for a design plan?
Every project has its own unique set of parameters that effect the amount of time it takes to put a plan together, such as: the square footage of the room(s), whether or not you are keeping existing furniture, inventory and selections available at time of shopping, and the number of functions each room requires.
Do you charge for the initial consultation?
Yes, as these meetings are extremely productive and informative. Payment is due at the end of each consultation.
What is your cancellation policy?
If we have 24 hours’ notice or more, no big deal. Less than that and there’s a $50 cancellation fee.
Do you do small projects, like selecting paint colors or flooring?
The Design House is happy to help you with any aspect of your interior design. We bring an extensive collection of paint chips to every consultation, and if you just want help choosing tile or flooring, we’re happy to run over to your local tile/flooring store to help you make selections following a brief meeting at your house.
Can you help me select exterior paint colors?
Yes! Of course we can, as we can help you with any selections you might need!
I’ve never used a designer before. What is the process like?
After scheduling your appointment for your initial consultation we send you an an in-depth questionnaire for you to fill out. This helps us to get familiar with your project and what your needs are so that we can design your home specifically for you. Then during your first meeting (avg. 1.5 hrs) if these items weren't already addressed in the questionnaire we’ll ask you a number of questions about your project, such as:
- What is your budget?
- What are you style and color preferences?
- What is staying in the room? What are you dying to change?
- How do you want the space to feel when we’re done?
- Do you need help selecting surface materials and/or furnishings and accessories, or would you like to just get our advice on style/color/retailers so you can shop on your own?
- Do you want to do home improvement projects yourself or will you require service professionals?
- Would you like us to oversee and/or coordinate contractors throughout the home improvement process?
- Do we need to keep children and/or pets in mind when designing the space?
During this first meeting, we will share creative ideas and make recommendations for next steps. We can also provide an estimate of hours for your project during this consultation. If we’re creating a design plan for you, we’ll begin your project by creating a space plan for your room(s). This is a basic layout of the furniture arrangement, which gives you an idea of the pieces and dimensions we would look for. Once that is approved, we’ll move on to making specific product recommendations and creating a design vision for your space. Many times this information is sent to you in an email with photos and web links, or you can take the information from the space plan and shop on your own with the confidence of knowing exactly what you’re looking for.
Does The Design House offer gift certificates?
Yes we do. Nothing says “I love you” like The Design House gift certificate!
