Frequently asked questions.
General Questions
What is your design philosophy?
We don’t believe in cookie cutter design or chasing specific looks. We do love original art and always include it if possible. We believe in purchasing high quality pieces that will stand the test of time and will give our clients a space that is uniquely theirs.
What sets your interior design services apart?
We really listen to our clients. Our objective is to create a space that speaks to our client on every level, not one that is aimed at showcasing our work for other people. We don’t have a particular “look” or style that we are curating, though we love classic contemporary design. We listen carefully to our clients to understand their vision for the space, how it is used, their style preferences and overall budget. To help them visualize their space with the new design, we create photo-realistic images and video of it before they approve the final design, décor and furnishings. The result is a high quality, personal and unique space that brings them joy each time they enter it.
The majority of our work is repeat engagements with existing clients and referrals from those clients. Our most successful projects involve several spaces within the same home. While this occasionally happens all at once, more often clients will complete different spaces within the same residence over time. A core focus of our design process is harmonizing the design of a specific space with the design, character and style of the other spaces within a residence. This harmony allows pieces (art, furniture, décor elements, etc.) to move between different spaces within the same residence as requirements and preferences change. Our clients view this aspect of our designs as a key return on their investment.
How do you charge clients for your services?
Every project starts with a $700 (plus HST) 2 hour consultation (more details below).
For a full service project, clients typically allocate 15% - 30% of their total budget for the design and procurement portions of the project, though every project is different. To help clients build a predictable budget, we provide a flat fee for the initial design services once the project scope and complexity is understood. Once the final design is approved, we bill hourly for procurement and project management through the implementation stages (with a budget estimate set at the beginning of the project). We have a full investment guide for prospective clients that is available here.
What's included in your 2 hour consultation?
Every project starts with a design consultation. This is the best way for us to understand our client's requirements. The consultation can be an onboarding to a bigger project or a stand-alone consultation to address more immediate issues. It is aimed at understanding and documenting a client's design challenges and objectives.
Before the consultation, we ask clients to complete a comprehensive online questionnaire to provide background to the consultation. The consultation itself can be completed on-site at the client’s home or remotely (through video conferencing). During the consultation, we like to see the entire home, no matter what the project focus is, so we have a full understanding of the client’s style and how the different areas of their house relate to each other. Our consultation provides clients with feedback and guidance on:
colours and fabrics
furniture selection and lay-out
space planning
timelines
process flow for optimizing project timelines
project scope
next steps
Every one of our engagements begins with a design consultation. If clients are unsure about whether to engage in a full service project, we encourage them to start with a design consultation to help refine their understanding of the issues they are facing and help determine the best path forward.
How do you incorporate sustainability and eco-friendly practices into your design approach?
We reduce the carbon footprint of our design process when we purchase from trusted, trade-only local manufacturers, vendors, and artisans. The finishes we select are carefully considered to ensure that they are sustainable where possible while also providing longevity. Where appropriate, we incorporate vintage or antique pieces that are dear to our clients. Timeless design means not pitching everything into landfill every few years and we work hard to ensure that our designs will last.
How do you stay up to date with the latest design trends and industry innovations?
We are constantly in learning mode, participating in trade-only webinars, podcasts, industry events and gathering new product information. Though we don’t subscribe to specific trends per se, it is important to know what’s out there to best meet our clients’ needs.
Full Service Projects
What is involved with a full service project?
Full service projects consist of three major phases and end with a final “reveal”:
Conceptual Design
Detailed Design
Procurement and Implementation
We have a well developed process that enables us to manage projects from initial concept through to completing the final details. It is our job to take care of all the design details that turn a house into a home. Depending on the requirements of the design, these details involve:
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
Sustainable design
Throughout the design process we work with a trusted network of contractors, electricians, plumbers, drapery treatment fabricators, painters, wallpaper installers, tile installers, custom glass crafters, movers, demo crews, wood finishers, lighting experts, cabinet makers, stone fabricators, art consultants, upholsterers, bedding and pillow fabricators and more.
Can we use our own trades?
We love using our trades but if you have someone you trust, we can work them too.
How do you handle revisions to the final design?
Because we have already gone through the conceptual design phase together, there are usually no revisions required after the final design presentation. However, if there is something that isn’t feeling quite right, clients have 24 hours to request up to two revisions. Once we both have signed off on the final design, then we place orders and start arranging trades right away. In our experience, changes after the final design sign-off are rare and when they do happen, are typically due to external factors such as supply chain issues.
I’m having trouble visualizing what the potential design of my space will look like. How do you help customers visualize your designs for their spaces?
Given the scale of the investment our clients are making in their design project, it is incredibly important for them to fully understand and appreciate the final vision for the project.
Often, especially when already living in a space, clients find it hard to imagine the final result of a design project. There are so many individual selections that go into creating a cohesive design, that it is hard to picture it on the basis of paint samples, fabric swatches, photos of décor items, flooring samples, etc. Our design presentation process ensures that the entire project is visualized from the beginning.
While we create and present mood boards (and actual flatlays) of the various design elements, they are primarily for our reference. For clients, floor plans and photo-realistic renders of their new design provide a much better picture of the project. We also offer rendered video and VR walk-throughs of the final design. These visualization tools provide clients with a very clear picture of the final design before the renovation begins and the first orders are placed.
How do I set a budget for my project?
Setting a proper budget for a design project is one of the most important elements for its success. As a rule of thumb, the total budget for a design project varies based on how much is changing with the foundation of a space (i.e. flooring, electrical, plumbing, walls and ceilings, built-in cabinetry, etc.) and to what extent the décor and finishes are customized to the client's preferences and requirements.
In a typical full service design project, 15 - 30% of the total budget is allocated directly to the design and procurement portions to ensure that the remaining 70 - 85% is spent wisely in achieving a great and lasting result.
For clients managing their own project, a design consultation or our Design Blueprint service can go a long way in ensuring their total spend achieves their desired outcome.
After a project starts, what if I want to add on to the scope of work?
We’re happy to add on to the scope of work. We will draw up a new contract for the new scope of work but we will finish the current project before starting the next. There is no greater compliment than when our clients want to keep working with us in other areas of their home.
Can you use my existing pieces in the new design?
We do our best to incorporate a client’s heirlooms and special items into our designs in a way that works with the overall aesthetic.
Our portfolio includes a great example of such a design here .
What is your approach to integrating technology and smart home features into your designs?
We have both the creative/design skills as well as the technology skills on our team. Not only in terms of smart home features, but also security features, we have you covered.
Do you offer full service design remotely (virtually)? If so, how is the process different from in-person?
Providing full service design remotely does require a modified process. For hiring a contractor who is local to the client, we typically work with a contractor who has already been selected by the client or guide the client through the hiring process. A grand reveal is also a bit more challenging. Depending on the budget, we either travel to the site to complete the reveal or we work with the client to finalize all the finishing touches together ahead of final photography.
Our portfolio includes a great example of a full service project that was completed entirely virtually (right down to the photography) here .
Where do you source products?
For our full service clients, we source from our trusted trade partners to ensure a high-quality and one-of-a-kind space that is tailored exactly to their requirements.
For our Design Blueprint clients, who want a design that they can implement on their own, we source through retail vendors.
What are the typical timelines for completing a full-service project?
Depending on the scope of a project, it could be 4 months up to 12 months, or longer. Starting in 2022 supply chain issues have sometimes meant that projects can take a bit longer to complete.
Do you offer post-project support or follow-up to ensure client satisfaction?
At the end of your project, you will receive a digital client binder that includes all of details of your project, including photos, warranties, paint colours, light bulb specifications, cleaning instructions, etc.
What if I need guidance but don't want full service?
Our Design Blueprint service offers you a design plan, sourced from retail partners instead of trade-only vendors. This allows you to take our design and implement it on your own. An investment guide for the Design Blueprint Service is available here.
Can you provide references?
We invite you to talk with our clients about their experience. Please reach out for a list of references.