What Actually Happens During an Interior Design Consultation?
If you're starting your search for a full-service interior design project, you've probably wondered: What actually happens during a design consultation? Great question! — and honestly, it’s where the magic begins.
What Happens Before Your Design Consultation
Before we meet in person, we’ll ask you to fill out a questionnaire, review our contract, and start gathering any documents or visuals you think might help. Write down any questions you have for us — no detail is too small!
Come Prepared: If you’re planning a full-scale project involving architecture and design, bring anything that helps tell your story.
That could be Pinterest inspiration boards, saved Instagram photos, a list of must-haves, or architectural choices you love. We want to make your home uniquely yours — within the laws of physics and your HOA, of course 😉 — so the more we understand your vision, the better.
Complete Any Forms + Prep Questions: Before we meet, we’ll send over a few forms and/or a short questionnaire to get us on the same page. This is also a great time to jot down any specific questions, wishlist items, or concerns so we can make the most of our time together.
What Happens During the Design Consultation
Getting to Know You (and Your Space): Before we even talk paint colors or floor plans, we want to get to know you. Your lifestyle, your aesthetic, your must-haves, and even your "absolutely nots."
See Your Space In-Person: We’ll walk through your home (or future home), assess your space — whether it's under construction or still a dirt lot — and talk about how you live day-to-day. This helps us design a home that feels both beautiful and functional. We'll ask questions, form initial ideas, and start mapping out the vision together.
Discussing Scope, Budget, and Timeline: We’ll have an open conversation about your ideal timeline, your budget, and our design fees. For full-service design, we typically offer two billing structures depending on the scope: a flat fee or an hourly rate.
“I always say to my clients: we have to like each other — because this is a long, personal journey we’re going on together. Designing a home can be emotional and even stressful at times, so it’s important that we enjoy the process and work well as a team.”
We’ll also walk you through what full-service design includes:
Construction oversight + architectural collaboration
Custom design development and detailed presentations
Revisions and final plans
Furniture sourcing, ordering, and storage
White-glove delivery and install day
Styling, photography (on select projects), and a final walkthrough + punch list
What Happens After the Design Consultation
After we wrap up our initial meeting, we’ll schedule our next touchpoint and outline what’s included in your custom design presentation or proposal.
Dreaming Big: Now for the fun part: your vision! Whether you’ve got a fully curated mood board or just a few ideas floating in your head, we’re here to help shape it. We’ll talk inspiration, priorities, and what a "dream home" really looks like for you.
The Game Plan: By the end of your consultation, you'll be able to look forward to:
The overall vision for your project
Next steps in the design process
How we work together moving forward
Then it’s time for us to get to work — creating a detailed design plan, clear timelines, and handling all the behind-the-scenes coordination that brings your space to life.
Ready to Start?
A design consultation isn’t just a meeting — it’s the beginning of something beautiful. If you’re ready to take the first step toward a full-service design experience, we’d love to meet you. Contact us to schedule your consultation!