What Happens After you Sign the Contract?
Every designer has their own unique process, and I’ve crafted mine to be collaborative, clear, and hopefully lots of fun. If you’re curious what happens after you reach out, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how things work when you partner with my firm.
📞 Step One: Your First Call
When you call us, you’ll be greeted by Karen, our Office Manager. She’s your first point of contact and your go-to for all the practical stuff—pricing, procedures, and any “homework” we might need from you to get started. That might include pulling inspiration photos, determining your budget (this is important) or jotting down a few goals for your space.
Think:
“I’d love to fit 12 around the dining table when needed”
“I want a spot to feed the dogs that doesn’t get in the way”
Karen will also send you a Docusign agreement outlining our policies and processes. And once that’s in place, she’ll let you know where you fall on our onboarding list.
⏳ About That List...
We’ve shifted away from giving estimated start dates—here’s why:
Projects evolve. Clients add on. Contractors run into delays. Life happens. And while we wish we could give you a guaranteed date, we’ve learned that doing so often leads to frustration when things shift (and they almost always do).
Instead, we give you your official spot on our list, and every time you move up, Karen will keep you in the loop. We know this approach won’t work for everyone—especially if you’re someone who needs a locked-in calendar date—but we’ve found it’s the most honest and realistic way to manage expectations.
And most importantly? We want you to start this process feeling excited, not disappointed.
🎉 It's Go Time!
When your big moment arrives and it’s officially time to onboard—yay!—Karen will send over your retainer invoice and coordinate a start date that works for both you and me. Once that’s locked in... let the fun begin.
🚪 What Happens at the First Meeting?
I comes to your home for your first meeting and these sessions usually last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of your project and how much needs to be measured.
During this time, I will:
Measure the space
Take detailed photos
Ask a ton of questions about your lifestyle, needs, likes, dislikes, and all the little quirks that make your home yours
Review your budget for the project
With 20+ years of experience, I’ve gotten really good at picking up on the details—hearing what you’re asking for and figuring out the design that actually fits you best. I also tune in to your inspiration photos, so even if you’re not sure how to describe your style, I’ll be able to interpret and translate your vision into something beautiful and tailored to you.
It’s not uncommon for clients to end up with a design they never could have dreamed up on their own—but that feels so right once it’s in place. That’s the beauty of intuition backed by expertise.
After the first meeting, I’ll begin my design based on our discussions. I look at a million different layouts, fabrics, furnishings etc while putting together your intial design. Think of this step as the big picture. I may touch base with a few more questions or ask for input on some fabric choices I’m contemplating. This is all to get to the initial design presentation - which is meeting number 2.
🖼️ Initial Design Presentation
This is where things start to take shape! At your initial design presentation, I walk you through custom design concepts, layout options, and other thoughtfully curated ideas tailored to your space.
I present a mix of possibilities—some that may align perfectly with what you envisioned, and others that might surprise you. The goal? To explore ideas you may not have considered and open the door to creative solutions.
You’ll:
Share what you’re loving (and not loving)
Ask questions
Answer questions
And most importantly—give feedback
At this stage, things are still wonderfully fluid. There’s room to imagine, shift, and refine. Once I get your feedback, I begin to connect the dots and bring the vision into sharper focus.
🔍 Design Refinement & Approvals
From here, the design starts to narrow in—think of it like a funnel: big ideas get refined into functional details. As we dial things in, you’ll have one or two more meetings to review updates, give feedback, and make sure everything feels just right.
Once the design is finalized, you’ll receive detailed pricing for all proposed items. Nothing—absolutely nothing—is ordered without your full approval. Once you give the green light, payment is collected and we move forward with purchasing.
It’s all about transparency, collaboration, and keeping you excited every step of the way.
🎉 And Finally... Installation Day!
As a Full Service client, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for—Installation Day! In most cases, we aim for a one-day install to create that true wow factor. Any renovations that were needed have been made and room is ready for the furnishings.
All of your items—furniture, lighting, accessories, custom pieces—are shipped to either our office or a professional receiver. We meticulously track every detail:
Fabrics and trims are delivered to the workroom
Lamps have the right bulbs
Every accessory is curated with intention
Once we’ve checked and double-checked that everything has arrived and is ready to go, we schedule your installation.
On the big day, our team arrives at your home and takes care of absolutely everything—placing furniture, styling shelves, fluffing pillows, hanging art. All you have to do is walk in and experience your fully transformed space.
There is a quote from me on the front page of our website that says, “ I see potential in your home that you probably don’t - and it’s my favorite thing to bring that to life.” It really is my passion and something I love seeing come together.
Hopefully, if you have been on the fence with hiring a designer, this will help you understand our process and make you want to take that next step!
