Frequently asked questions & helpful information
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERIOR DESIGN & INTERIOR DECORATION?
wHEN SHOULD I HIRE AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
We suggest hiring an interior designer before or around the time of hiring an architect, builder or general contractor. Knowledgeable designers are able to enhance the project and ensure that you receive the end result that is in your dreams. It's best to have all contacts on board from the start. We’re here to guide you and be your advocate through the process. Think of us as your trusted advisors, acting on your behalf, to guide you through making all of the design decisions required to build or redesign your home. We draw upon the relationships we’ve fostered with multiple architects and builders over the years and help select the right team for your project.
WHAT’S THE REASON FOR BRINGING IN A DESIGNER EARLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR DESIGN PROCESS?
Let’s look at what happens when you don’t bring in a designer first--it’s like making a movie without a director; there’s no one holding the full vision and no one sharing information with the team in a way they are used to processing the information. With a designer on board, you will have someone taking charge of all the decisions, someone who knows exactly how all of the pieces in your very large project puzzle impacts the next, and someone who can, and will, take all those pieces and create a home that is breathtaking in every way.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY IN OUR PROJECT?
Our team is your unbiased expert resource - your advocate who is the liaison between all your various services: architect, builder, contractors, and trades people. We communicate the information on the who, what, where and how of your home to the appropriate parties.
HOW DO WE EXPRESS YOUR STYLE?
We dig deep before we start because we want to get to know you on a deep and intimate level. To get there, we set up meetings with the intention of establishing direction through inspirational elements. In those meetings, we ask many questions and listen deeply to your answers–because your answers tell us who you are, and what you care about. Your answers tell us what you love, what’s sentimental to you, and what you want to express about yourself. After we get to know you, and through detailed consideration, we integrate images that communicate our ideas into a new vision for your home.
CAN WE SHOP TOGETHER?
That’s generally not part of the equation when we work with clients. Our experience has shown us that the key idea of working with an interior designer is to have one person steering the ship. This lets the original design vision be executed seamlessly, effectively and in a way that is truly service oriented for the client.
WHAT IF I SEE SOMETHING ONLINE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SPECIFIED FOR LESS MONEY? CAN I BUY THAT MYSELF?
Imagine baking a cake and having someone else trying to add ingredients at the last minute or frosting it in a style that isn’t in keeping with the original intent. The cake won’t be as the baker, or in this case, the interior designer intended. It’s tempting to do your own shopping to save money, but in the end, we find that it costs our clients in scale and quality mistakes which means that they end up buying items twice and experiencing frustration from the extra costs. If you prefer to do your own purchasing, we may not be the right designer for you as we offer full interior design services.
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If you want to do your own purchasing, that is fine as long as we know that prior to beginning the project. We ask that you show us your selections before purchasing, and if we don’t believe the item fits, we’ll let you know. You are responsible for delivery, installation, freight damages and time spent coordinating all of the services.
NOW THAT I’M THINKING ABOUT RENOVATING, I OCCASIONALLY WATCH HGTV SHOW; DOES YOUR PROCESS OVERLAP WITH WHAT I’VE SEEN?
Calling it “Reality TV” is really a bit of a misnomer, because it’s not “reality.” You’re seeing results, not a process, and the process is a big part of any design practice. Reality shows are based on months and months of pre-planning, which is probably the only place where the processes do overlap, but they can’t show that prep work in thirty minutes. So, what you see is the big, flashy and fabulous reveal. But it’s not real-time and it’s not real life. For your home to have the big wonderful reveal certainly is possible, and it certainly is our goal but based in real-time, which is often six months out, or more. Someone else is paying the salaries, design fees, and materials used in the project.
HOW DO YOU SET A BUDGET?
The budget is where the realistic picture of your project begins, and we won’t start a project without one; budgets typically start at $150-350/ft for furnishings, accessories, and design fees. A budget is a map that shows us how we can do the best job for you. We will walk you through the process of budgeting based on our extensive experience with interior design. We find that our clients may know how much they want to invest, but may not know what is a reasonable budget for furnishings and fees for a project like yours. We guide you through this process. Here’s a link to a website that provides resources about interior design so that you can be more aware of typical budget guidelines. What you choose to invest in is your choice. Perhaps your comfort level is less than what Home Trust suggests. Our goal is to work within your investment range with a reasonable scope-of-work.
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION?
Each project will vary based on the individual scope of work. For interior decoration and minor renovations, the general timeline for project completion is approximately six to nine months from the initial Design Consultation to the Big Reveal. New construction and extensive renovation projects may take one to two years to build.
Where are you based?
We work with clients nationally from our Stevens Point, WI interior design office. It's all in the details. Much of our work is facilitated by online software that helps keep our collaboration organized and timely. Our clients often invite us to work on second and third homes as a result.
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Central Wisconsin and surrounding area projects include, Stevens Point, Plover, Amherst, Westfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Plainfield, Waupaca, Appleton, Wausau, Rosholt, Milwaukee, and Oconomowoc.
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Other locations include St. Joseph (MI), Bonita Springs (FL), Boulder City (NV), Michigan City (IN), Naples (FL), San Antonio (TX), Valparaiso (IN) and Minneapolis (MN) to name a few.
I ALREADY HAVE FURNITURE, ARTWORK, FAMILY HEIRLOOMS, AND ACCESSORIES THAT I LIKE. WHAT WILL BECOME OF MY CURRENT PIECES IF WE WORK TOGETHER?
That's fantastic! We love reusing or re-purposing pieces you already own and love. We'll take inventory of the furnishings and art in your collection and factor these items into our new design plan. Then, we supplement the design with new furniture and accessories in order to create a home which truly reflects you and your family.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DO JUST ONE ROOM?
Many projects begin with just one or two rooms. We don't mind -- it's an excellent way to ease into the design process and build trust with our clients. It doesn't take long for our clients to realize we are always on your side as trusted advisors and design guides.
We look forward to the invitation to design other spaces in your main home and your vacation properties. Some clients complete updates and renovations in phases. We begin our design journey, working hand-in-hand with you over time, ready for each new milestone.
If you’re ready to take the next step, please connect with us, so we can be prepared for our conversation. We look forward to working with you!
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Sincerely,
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René