Before You Inquire
Common Questions
The questions we are asked most often, answered the way we would answer them on the phone.
Getting Started
- What does full service interior design actually mean?
- It means the studio carries the project rather than handing you a mood board. We plan the space, specify every finish and fixture, draw the millwork, source and order the furniture, track it through delivery, and install it. You make decisions; we handle everything that follows them.
- How early should we call you?
- For new construction, as soon as you have a schematic plan and before construction drawings are locked. For a renovation, before demolition is scheduled. For furnishing, whenever the house is yours. Early is almost never too early.
- Do you take single rooms?
- Yes. Kitchens, primary suites, and bars are some of our favorite projects, and plenty of whole home clients started with one room.
- What areas do you serve?
- We are based in Wake Forest and work throughout Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Chapel Hill, Durham, and out to Lake Gaston. If your home is within a couple of hours of Raleigh, ask.
Investment and Timeline
- What is the typical investment?
- Most furnishing and renovation projects begin around $50,000 and run well beyond it depending on scope and square footage. Our inquiry form asks for a range so the first conversation is grounded in something real.
- How long does a project take?
- Full furnishing usually runs four to eight months from presentation to installation. Renovations follow construction, which is measured in quarters rather than weeks. New construction runs from the plan stage to move in, often a year or more.
- Why do furnishings take so long?
- Custom upholstery and case goods are made to order. A sofa built to your dimensions in a fabric you chose takes months, not days. We build those lead times into the schedule from the start rather than discovering them later.
- How do you charge?
- Every project starts with a proposal that defines the scope and the fee before any work begins. Nothing about the structure is a surprise once the contract is signed.
Working Together
- Do we have to be involved in every decision?
- No. We present the design as a whole rather than one decision at a time, which is what keeps a project moving and keeps a house looking like one idea instead of two hundred.
- Can we keep furniture we already own?
- Absolutely, and we often do. Pieces with history are usually the ones that make a room feel collected rather than bought.
- Do you work with our builder and architect?
- Yes. We coordinate directly with builders, architects, and trades throughout, and we issue the selections and drawings they need. If you do not have a builder yet, we can introduce you to people we trust.
- What happens on installation day?
- Everything arrives at once. We place it, style it, photograph it, and walk the house with you. You get a binder with every specification in your home before we say goodbye.