How much will it cost for our custom decorating project?
Your home and your project are one of a kind, just like you! The size of your project, the scope of work and how much you would like us to be involved will be key factors in determining the investment amount needed.
For full custom furnishing projects, we tailor our design plans specifically to you and take care of every detail from start to finish. This means that we will procure items, place and track orders, arrange deliveries and be present for installations, to bring you a big reveal! On average, expect to invest 30% of the overall cost of the project. For example, if your estimated investment/budget is $100,000, design services are estimated to approximately $30,000. Which means $70,000 will go towards labor and material purchases. We sit down with you and really focus on what you are comfortable paying for items. Of course, it is all dependent on how swift you are at making decisions. It is also important to understand that each change or alteration may affect other aspects of the design, which in turn could increase the time needed to ensure the overall plans are not compromised. Clients who put their trust in us receive the best results at the most cost-effective price point vs those who are constantly finding additional options online such as Wayfair and Restoration Hardware. Let us do the work that you are paying us to do and things will flow more efficiently.
Do you have references?
We invite you to talk with our clients about their experience. Please reach out for a list of references.
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Hiring a decorator is expensive, it’s a luxury, right?
If you value your time and want to avoid compromising the final result in the hopes of saving a few bucks, our service is well worth the investment. As Red Adair said, “If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur.”
Do you have any advice for design project fininancing?
IA home equity or construction loan would be a great way to finance your dream project. This allows you to complete your project now, while paying for it over time.
You only make payments on what you actually borrow, not the entire loan.
If there is a large construction project happening, the bank will use the plans and budget for the home appraisal. They will base the loan amount on the future value, not the current home value. This allows you to use the future value of the home to pay for those improvements now.
Are we involved in the design process or is it out of our control once we hire you for the project?
Design projects are very much a collaborative process. The ‘getting to know you’ phase at the start of the project allows us to understand your needs, your lifestyle & your investment amount. We ask a lot of questions and discuss in depth your requirements for each space. Our goal is to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
While working together, we build a partnership with you & establish trust. Our working relationship with you is extremely important to us. We ask that you kindly allow us to do what we do best and let us curate a design based on our detailed assessment of your needs & wants. You have the final say on decisions before any orders are placed or any work by trades gets underway.
Please remind me how the retainer works.
We require a retainer for the entire investment amount. If your investment amount is $100K, you will provide a retainer in that amount, in addition to our design fee. Typically design fees for a $100K design project would be $30K. Design fees are non refundable. We will update the portal with paid invoices and return any unused potion where applicable. The retainer for investment amount allows us to make approved purchases for your home seamlessly. We only accept a limited number of projects at a time. It is our intention to use our time efficiently and effectively. Should your project require more time, meaning that we exhaust the initial agreed upon time to complete your project due to unforeseen circumstances, we will communicate that with you and upon agreement and receipt of a progress retainer we will proceed with a new timeline in place.
Is my job too small for you?
While we love our full service client projects with a budget of $300K or more, no job is too small.
We are happy to help you in any way that we can in helping you make your house a home that you fill will lasting memories. We offer virtual design services for DIY'ers who need a bit of guidance to help you with an individual space.
From one-time interior design consultations to comprehensive 3-D designs for full floors and custom-tailored one room designs, and for anything in between, including paint colour selections, if you’re seeking guidance on anything related to your décor, please make us your first call.
What do you get?
Full-service interior design consists of three major phases:
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Conceptual Design
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Detailed Design
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Purchasing and Execution
Our full-service approach enables us to manage projects from initial concept through to completion, designing your home down to the final detail. It is our job to take care of the major and minute design details that turn a house into a home.
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What is Detailed Design?
The Detailed Design Phase takes approximately eight weeks, and consists of the following design services:
· Selection of each item according to design direction, investment estimate, and floor plan(s)
· Procurement of written quotes from all trades and vendors
· Completion of selections in accordance with approved inspiration boards and initial selections
· Finalizing the approved floor plan(s) with actual selections
· Completing any custom item drawings as needed
· Presentation preparation to communicate the design concept.
· Confirming the actual numbers against the approved investment estimate.
Detailed Design includes the following:
· Inspiration board(s)
· Floor plan(s), and relevant custom drawings
· Proposal of each item for your approval, with all details to confirm orders and the coordinating samples.
· Investment estimate updated with actual costs.
What do you offer?
· Full-service interior design
· Additions and renovations consulting
· New-construction consulting
· 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
· Corporate offices
· Hospitality and restaurants
· Styling Realtor Listings
· Public spaces and lobbies
· Sustainable design
· A network of contractors, electricians, plumbers, drapery treatment fabricators, faux finishers, painters, wallpaper installers, tile installers, custom glass crafters, movers, demo crews, wood finishers, lighting experts, cabinet makers, stone fabricators, custom concrete artists, architects, landscape architects, art consultants, upholsterers, bedding and pillow fabricators and much, much more..
What is Conceptual Design?
The Conceptual Design Phase takes approximately eight weeks and includes the following design services:
· We assess the current project space, take measurements and photos, and document any items that will be staying.
· Design the ideal floor plan to ensure the best possible layout for the project.
· Create inspiration board(s) to communicate what we envision for the project.
· Determine initial selections to confirm the design direction.
· Create a investment estimate to capture the elements that will be needed to make the project a reality, from furnishings to trades.
· Conduct “Trade Day” at your home. This is where we consult with our trades and vendors on site to review the project concepts and take detailed measurements in order to receive accurate quotes. (It is imperative to be on site with the vendors to discuss obstacles and options at the outset).
Conceptual Design includes the following:
· Floor plan(s)
· Inspiration board(s)
· Limited Initial selections
· Updated investment estimate for approval
During this phase, we will confirm the design direction, layout, and investment estimate of the project, with one revision offered. The one allowed revision will add time onto this phase depending on the scale of the revision.
What is Purchasing and Execution?
The Purchasing and Execution Phase is time dependent on scope of project and the contractor’s schedule.
Purchasing and Implementation Phase:
· Placing orders & assessing delivery times
· Complete the purchasing of goods on your behalf.
· Clarify and communicate estimated delivery times.
· Manage open orders by efficiently tracking goods
· Prepare and oversee the installation timeline
Construction
· Coordinate project logistics with contractors and vendors
· Provide site checks for project accuracy
Installation
· Coordinate deliveries and installations
· On site presence during deliveries and installations, where applicable
Furniture Installation and Styling
· Provide turnkey furniture installation, which means that all of the furnishings are delivered at one time, once any construction is complete
· Plan and execute the styling process
· Style and photograph the completed project, where applicable
The Reveal
· Provide documentation that supports the care and maintenance of your newly completed project
· Identify any deficiencies that we’ve noted during installation in the format of a project punch list
· Present the styling price list for each item installed, where applicable
· Confirm what you want to keep or return from the styling price list, where applicable
· Pick up and return any items identified to be returned, where applicable
Identify & Resolve Deficiencies
· Identify and resolve all deficiencies identified on the project punch list
How do you handle purchasing?
All purchasing and execution goes through us.
Your purchase of interior design items (i.e. furniture, tile, fixtures, fabrics and other design materials) through us will serve as payment for our services during the Purchasing and Execution Phase. We charge commercially reasonable “retail” prices.
We have developed and refined our process over the years and are not willing to deviate from it. We do not offer options in design presentations, as we find that when we provide options, we end up with a very “vanilla” design. Meaning, everything has to be interchangeable, which is not how we develop layered, thoughtful, and detailed designs. Our true value is in putting together the mix. Options greatly detract from that.
In addition, full-service interior design features to-the-trade pieces purchased through DBP. Although it may seem obvious in hindsight to swap out a few items for less expensive options, that isn’t how full-service interior design works. Our agreement is that we set a investment estimate together, then furnishings are purchased through DBP. This is the business model that we have to stick to make our flat fees functional as a business.
Do you require full payment for purchasing?
Yes, we require 100% retainer on all orders for many reasons. One of our favorite responses (loosely quoted by Tobi Fairley) is: “If, after placing an order, you decide you don’t want that sofa, I can assure you that I don’t want it either.”
Once an order is placed, it is non-refundable.
We’ve had clients go through tough times that pulled them away from the project. While it is completely understandable that someone dealing with a personal crisis can’t focus on the design project, the orders already set into motion cannot be paused or cancelled, which means production will conclude and balances will be due. Basically, we’re a design firm, not a bank.
Those examples aside, there are many benefits to paying 100% up front:
· It cuts paperwork in half (instead of billing for a deposit and final invoice).
· Since we do turn-key project installations (where we do one delivery after all of the orders are in at our local receiver’s warehouse), you would still be required to pay for items in full prior to receiving them.
· Projects move more quickly this way, as it makes the entire order process more efficient and allows us to complete your project quicker.
Here’s an example to illustrate our point: Our vendors won’t ship your items until they are paid in full, so in the case of a 50% deposit, we would then pay our vendors 50%. They would send us an invoice when the item is ready to ship. We then send you a balance-due invoice. We process your payment, then pay our vendor. Some vendors still send paper invoices and only take checks, so this can add a week or two to the lead time.
I usually rely on trades to give me free advice, isn’t this good enough?
This ‘free advice’ can sometimes be the most costly. You wouldn't ask a dentist for advice with a plumbing issue. My trades prefer when we are on hand to make decisions pertaining to the design rather than advising on areas of a project that are not their area of expertise. Some trades may make a suggestion based on it being the easiest option for them to get the job done quicker, rather than actually having your best interests in mind. If you are really lucky, you may even get ‘leftovers’ from a previous project they worked on if you ask for suggestions of finishes and fixtures. (No we are not kidding, we have seen this happen!)
Virtual Design FAQ
How long will it take to receive my design?
8 weeks.
How will you know my budget?
Our questionnaire will guide us, you will receive a link to items and have complete control of when and what you purchase. By engaging bourse services you agree to make purchases within 90 days of signing your letter of agreement.
Do I have to submit inspirational images or can you simply give me direction?
The steps to our program were carefully crafted to ensure success. The inspiration images are a huge part of making sure we are on the same page. We cannot begin your design until all of your design components have been compiled and submitted. Houzz and Pinterest are great resources for starting that inspiration search.
Will the furniture fit in my space?
Properly measuring your room is crucial to our design process. The information you provide us helps us create your specific design. We recommend measuring everything twice to double check your numbers, taking extra care to measure door openings. We are not responsible for any incorrect measurements.
Can I make changes to my design, can I call someone?
We can stay in touch via the client portal. Our goal is to deliver a design that you are thrilled with. To this end, we are pleased to accommodate one change, be it one specification or substitution, per space. Any additional changes or phone calls will be assessed and paid for via an additional flat fee.
Do you retain my file, should we decide to purchase additional rooms in the future?
Yes
If I change my mind will a refund be issued?
While there are no refunds, should you have an urgent need to hold off, we will allow you to post-phone the design for up to 90 days.