First of all—yay! If you’ve just hired us, we’re beyond excited to work with you. Whether you’re tackling a full-home renovation, building from the ground up, or refreshing a few key spaces, we know hiring a designer can feel both exciting and a little overwhelming.

You might be asking yourself: What happens now? What should I expect? How involved do I need to be?

Don’t worry—we’ve got you. We’re sharing exactly what happens from that very first site visit to the punch out (and everything in between). Here’s your step-by-step guide to what really happens after you say “yes” to hiring us..

Step 1: First Site Visit & Getting to Know You

We always start with a friendly “meet and greet”—a chance to sit down, get to know each other, and chat about your goals, style, and what you're hoping to create. Designing a home is a personal, collaborative process and we’ll be spending a lot of time together so let’s see if we’re a good fit!

From there, we’ll go onsight for a walk-through of your home or project site. This helps us understand how you live in the space (or plan to), what’s working, what’s not, and what’s possible based on the layout, architecture, and vision.

This is where we start asking all the important questions:

What’s your style / aesthetic for your space?
Are there any specific pieces or features you absolutely want to keep or include?
What’s your ideal budget range for this project?
Do you have a specific timeline or deadline we should be aware of?
How do you need this space to function for your lifestyle?

We’re here to dream with you, but we’re also realistic about scope, budget, and timelines. Our goal is to create a space that balances style and function.

Step 2: Collaborating With Your Build Team (Or Helping You Find One)

Already have an architect or contractor? Amazing! We’ll connect with them early on so everyone’s working from the same set of plans.

We’ll also gather the contact info for any trades or team members you’ve hired. That way, everyone is aligned from the start—and we can stay proactive with communication throughout the project.

If not, we’ll take it from here. We offer architectural design services in-house to make the entire build and design process as seamless as possible!

Step 3: The Design Consultation

Once we’ve walked your space, we invite you into our design studio for a more hands-on consultation (This is one of our favorite parts of the process!) You’ll get to:

See and touch samples of tile, wallpaper, hardware, and other finishes
Share your Pinterest boards or inspo screenshots (yes, even the messy ones)
Talk through your personal style and the pieces that matter most to you
Walk through floor plans and early ideas for layout

Want a deep dive on what this appointment looks like? Read this blog on what really happens during a design consultation.

Step 4: Space Planning & Conceptual Design

Now that we’ve heard and seen your vision, it’s our turn to get creative. This is the part where you get to take a break, grab a coffee, and let us do the heavy lifting.

Behind the scenes, we’re:

Developing a cohesive design concept
Creating mood boards, color palettes, and material combos
Building floor plans and room layouts

This is where your project really starts to take shape!

Step 5: The Design Proposal & Procurement

Once we’ve developed your design concept, we bring it all to the table (literally). This is when we invite you back to present our full design proposal, including:

Multiple layout and space planning options
A layout of selection finishes you can see and touch
Design presentation room-by-room to picture how everything will come together
Preliminary ordering and scheduling timeline

We know it can be a lot to take in, so we’ll walk through everything together—and give you time to take it home and think it over before any decisions are finalized.

From there, our procurement manager begin ordering. We use our trusted trade vendors and showroom contacts to source everything.

Step 6: Managing Your Design Project

This is where your design vision begins to take shape. Once construction (or renovation) begins, we make regular site visits to ensure:

You’ll have a Lead Designer as your main contact
We’ll coordinate with your contractor and trades
We make regular site visits to ensure:

Everyone is working from the most up-to-date plans (change orders and all!)
Ensure materials are being installed correctly
Address any issues quickly (they happen!) to avoid delays

We also send photo updates from the jobsite and check in as often (or as little) as you’d like. Either way, we’re constantly onsite making sure everything is done right. Because your home is our home while we’re in it.

Step 7: Furniture Delivery & Install Day

When we get the green light from your contractor, we schedule your furniture install. At this point:

Your furniture has already been ordered and stored at our receiving warehouse or with the moving company
We coordinate with the movers to deliver everything on install day
We’re extra careful when moving things in—using floor mats, wearing shoe covers, and handling everything with care to protect your home (and furniture) from any damage.
We inspect every piece of furniture for damage, discoloration, or defects

We’re onsite that entire day or multiple days, depending on the project, making sure every piece is placed correctly.

Step 8: Styling & Final Walkthrough

This is the part where everything comes together. We come back to style your space with all the finishing touches to make sure every corner feels finished and lived in. Because it’s the little details that make the space truly feel like home.

This is exactly how we do that:

Place accessories and décor
Fluff pillows and add decorative cushions
Style shelves and coffee tables
Make the beds and steam bedding
Hang artwork and mirrors

Then we walk through the space together with you. You can request changes, rearrangements, or final tweaks—this is your space, and we want it to feel just right.

Step 9: Photography & Project Wrap-Up

Not every project is professionally photographed, but if yours is, we’ll schedule a shoot with one of our trusted photographers.

Want to be featured in a magazine? We can help submit your project (though publication is never guaranteed).

Lastly, we’ll sit down for a final project wrap-up. You’ll get:

Warranty information
Product care instructions
A review of any custom pieces or maintenance tips
Suggestions for future projects if interested

The Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer

Working with a designer isn’t just about having a beautiful home. It’s about having:

A clear, step-by-step design plan from the start
Access to trade-only furniture, finishes, and materials you won’t find in stores.
Hands-on project management from start to finish
Guided decisions with expert recommendations
Confidence in every decision
A home that’s both beautiful and functional

Ready to get started?

If you’ve already hired us, thank you. We’re excited to get started!
If you’re just thinking about it, let’s chat. Your dream space is closer than you think.

You’ve Hired an Interior Designer—Now What?