You know your space is ready for a refresh. Better yet, you know YOU are ready to finally live in a home that fills you with love, energy, relaxation, and inspiration. But even if you’re ready to take the next step, you don’t have the time or expertise to do it yourself.
You need a professional, and you’re wondering if full service design is the best option for you.
To answer this question, I’m sharing 5 characteristics of a client who is perfect for full service design and most likely to see incredible results.
But first, what is “full service interior design?”
What is Full Service Interior Design?
In a nutshell, full service interior design involves an interior designer or design team managing your entire project, from initial concept to installation to magazine-worthy finishing touches.
The biggest benefits of full service design are: the final result and the time/energy you save getting there. That said, full service design isn’t for everybody, and you should know exactly what you’re getting into before you begin.
Here are the 5 characteristics of the perfect candidate for full service design…
1. You love to delegate
If delegating sounds enticing (and comes naturally to you), full service design is guaranteed to save you A LOT of time and energy. While our à la carte offerings don’t get as deep into the process, with full service design, we…
- Take full ownership of your project from start to finish
- Specify every detail of your project, from foundational pieces to lighting to the trim on your draperies
- Manage trades as they relate to your project (millworker, wallpaper installer, etc).
- Develop detailed drawings for millwork, electrical, lighting, etc.
- Order finish samples and fabric memos to ensure the colors work for every element throughout your space
- Work hand-in-hand with the contractor to troubleshoot and answer any questions that pop up along the way
- Oversee installation and styling for a picture-perfect reveal
- Follow our proven design process to the T… which keeps it on schedule, on budget and helps you know what to expect every step of the way
Suggested Resource: The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch is a great read on focusing your time and energy where it has the biggest impact… and delegating the rest!
2. You want to hire experts
Experts are those who work in their “zone of genius.” The zone of genius is a concept Gay Hendricks discusses in The Big Leap. He encourages each of us to harness only our greatest talents and skills. (Do you know what yours is?)
Our zone of genius is, you guessed it, interior design. When you hire us, you…
- Tap into our talents, time, expertise, and vast network of artisans and vendors
- Work with professionals who attend design events and stay educated on the latest products, materials, and design strategies
- Get a home with intention and flow that makes your unique life easier
- Enjoy pieces sourced uniquely for you, locally and globally, from vendors we trust or with bespoke pieces we design ourselves
When you hire a professional who is deeply immersed in their craft, you get so much more than what’s at face value. You get a depth of knowledge and a commitment to your project. That’s our job.
In other words, delegating is one thing… delegating to experts is another!
Suggested Resource: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
3. You’re prepared for the investment
No secrets here — full service interior design is a financial investment. I’d also argue that it’s an investment in your home’s value, your quality of life, and yourself. But let’s talk numbers.
A full service design investment starts around $5K+ on the low end for a single room and can go up to six figures for large, new construction homes. Remember, those are design fees, not furniture.
Furniture budgets (and this is a REALLY important to know in advance) start around $25K to fully furnish a single room, such as a living room. Furnishing a whole home starts around $150K, and that’s on the low end — it’s really amazing how things add up!
But if you ask me, it’s the best investment you’ll ever make.
You can compare those numbers to the investment level for à la carte design services, which start at a few hundred dollars for a Design Consultation to a few thousand dollars for more advanced design and styling services.
My advice is to either wait until you have the funds to invest in the home design you want versus assembling it piecemeal. Another option is to factor in the cost of interior design and furnishings when you’re buying a home, so that you can start really living in it sooner rather than later!
Suggested Resource: Our Interior Design Project Planner to help you estimate your budget
4. You’re open and decisive
It’s a common misconception that interior designers will help you with indecision. I’m still honing my mind reading skills, but even if I could, an indecisive mind would pose a challenge!
You need to know yourself and what makes you feel alive at home before we can transform those elements into a design direction you’ll love.
However, there’s also a flip side to this coin — being too decisive. If you’ve already selected all the furniture you want in your home or want to source alongside us, full service interior design is not the right fit for you. We aren’t shoppers; we’re designers who have proof that the best results come from authentic relationships, trust, and our clients’ confidence in what we do best: design.
(If you’re the link-gatherer in this situation, that’s okay! You’ll actually save time and money making those purchases and installations on your own or using our Designer for a Day Service.)
Suggested Resource: Use our Interior Design Project Planner to discover your ideal design aesthetic and we’ll take it from there!
5. You’re in it for the end result
The last characteristic of a full service interior design client who will be happy and see success is someone who’s in it for the end result, not for speed.
Yes, hiring our team saves you a ton of time (no need to manage trades, inspect labor, or leave work to receive deliveries, etc.). But good full service interior design doesn’t happen overnight.
You can expect the process to take 4-6 months, longer for larger projects. The upside is that we really dive into who our clients are and what they need in their environments. Everything is well thought out and designed with intention.
If all 5 of these characteristics resonate with you, then full service design could be a great fit, and we’d love to work with you. I invite you to contact us here to book your complimentary discovery call.
If full service interior design isn’t exactly right for you (or maybe it’s not right now), we’d still love to work with you! Take a look at our suite of à la carte services for one that might be right for you, or ask us your questions in the comments below.
No matter where you might be in the design process, we are passionate about supporting and inspiring you. So buckle up, my friend, and let’s make life vibrant!
Xoxo,
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