The Design Process Uncovered - The Before, During, and After of the Design Process
THE DESIGN PROCESS UNCOVERED - THE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER OF THE DESIGN PROCESS
Have you ever wanted to work with an interior designer but you don’t know what to expect? Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes or be a fly on the wall and see how and what a designer does? How do they work on your project? What is the process like?
Well now you can. In today’s blogpost, we are taking you behind the scenes of an interior design firm and giving you all access to what happens before, during and after the Design Process. Read below for all the details on what designers actually do, how we do it and what you can expect from your Interior Designer.
1. The Introduction and Discovery Call
When you first decide on your interior designer of choice, you’ll most likely reach out via email or phone call to discuss your project. Most likely that designer/design firm has a process that you will undergo starting with a Discovery Call. At Gina Lauren Interiors, we start every project with a Discovery Call. This 20-30 min phone call is scheduled one-on-one with the client at a day and time that is convenient for both. Once the discovery call takes place, the Designer will ask some general questions about your project, contact info, location and timeframe. Then we’ll provide some guidelines on the budget, and determine if going forward to the In-Home Consult is a good fit. At this time, the Designer is actually making a determination if the project is a good fit for their design team to take on, just as much as you (the Client) are determining if the Design firm is a good fit for you and your project. Things like budget, timeframe, size and location of the project are good examples of what will help a Designer determine a “Just Right Job”. Usually towards the end of the Discovery Call the Designer will go over their processes and see if there are any questions. Once it is determined that you both are a good fit, the Designer will go ahead and schedule the In-Home Consultation.
2. The In-Home Consult
So you’ve had your Discovery Call and are ready for the In-Home Consultation. Most likely a well established and professional Design Firm will charge a fee or trip charge for the consultation. Be prepared to pay ahead of time or at the consult for this service. At the Design Consultation, the Designer, if they haven’t already before the appointment, will have you fill out a Design Questionnaire. This is helpful for the designer to learn more details about your project. During the appointment, the Designer will want to walk through your space, and ask you questions and go through your Design Questionnaire with you. Usually, another discussion is brought up about budget, timeframe and the general process of how it works when you hire an Interior Designer and what you can expect from your Design team. At this time, the Designer will be gathering all kinds of information, taking notes and asking and answering a lot of questions. At the end of this appointment, you’ll both know wether or not you’d like to proceed with a Design Agreement to render services.
3. Hiring Your Interior Designer
Once you’ve signed the Design Agreement, paid your retainer and scheduled your first appointment, you’ll be well on your way to a Design-worthy home. You’ll be given a Welcome Packet outlining how the Designer works, and important information about office hours, communication, social media usage, etc. At the first appointment after the Design Agreement is signed and the retainer is paid for, is measuring and photographing each space in the home for the Scope of Work. This appointment can last anywhere from 1-2 hours. Usually not much is required of the client at this time except if there are some additional questions to go over. Also at this time it will be determined if outside trades or professionals like an architect engineer or builder, will be required for your project.
4. Design Time
This is an exciting time for the Designer as all the creative juices are now flowing, ideas are being gathered, samples are being ordered, plans are being drawn and overall design concepts are being researched and introduced. You may have a concept meeting with your Designer at this time to make sure things are going in the right direction or a telephone call to go over a few design questions. Other than this, there won’t be a ton of communication from the Designer except if there are any questions during this time. Don’t be alarmed by this, as this is a good thing because the Design team is creating and designing your space(s) curated and detailed just for you. You’ll know when they reach back out to schedule the Design Presentation when they are ready to meet with you. But feel free to check in at any time to see how progress is going, and if any additional info is needed, etc. At Gina Lauren Interiors, you will and get progress updates during this time, on how things are going. Your Designer will also let you know if they need anything else from you.
5. Presentation Time
Its Presentation Time. About 6-8 weeks ago, you hired your Design team and have been anxiously awaiting all the amazing designs and what they’ve been so busy working on for you. You can expect the Designer to show you floorplans, renderings, elevations, details, materials, furnishing selections, paint and tile selections, accessory options, and everything else that will go into your space. Also at this time, a detailed budget of the overall design will be presented, questions answered and any revisions necessary will be noted. Usually, at this time, a retainer for all product materials, and finishes will be required to start ordering and implementing the design.
6. Project Procurement, Ordering, Tracking and Project Management
So you’ve approved the design and now you’ve given your designer a retainer for all the products, furnishings, accessories, materials and finishes that are going to make up your new design space. Your designer and their team will be busy ordering, tracking and putting together final lists of everything that is going into the design. Once ordered, you’ll be receiving weekly or bimonthly updates on every item being ordered for your project. You’ll also know when its getting close to delivery and install time by the timeline of all the materials and furnishings coming in, which is very exciting. Also during this time, you may have some tradesmen coming in and out to wire for electrical, install cabinetry, hardware, wallcoverings, etc to prep the space for the rest of the design and materials.
7. Install
This is the moment when all that hard work by your Designer and the Design Team comes together. A lot of moving parts are happening during this time. There will be a lot of coordination between install teams, tradesmen, shipping and receivers and you the Client in order to complete your design and to get it all installed. Once the install date or dates are scheduled, don’t be surprised if it takes more than one day to install everything. Usually bulkier items are installed first, and then all the accents get placed and installed. There will be a lot of boxes, bubble wrap, etc and a lot of people moving in and out of your home.
8. Photography and Project Close-Out
Once all the items have been installed and the merchandise delivered, the Designer will most likely schedule a photoshoot day or days to complete the project. This usually entails the entire design team prepping, accessorizing and moving some pieces around for the perfect shot. The photographer will adjust the lighting, and if a videographer is brought in, will also do video too. Photoshoots can take anywhere from 1-4 or 5 days depending on the size and scale of the job and what is being photographed. Usually at the end of the project, the Designer and Design Team will present a gift to you, and will also send you either an invoice for the final payment or a check for any monies owed or being refunded. Don’t be surprised if your Designer calls you to tell you, your project is on the cover of Architectural Digest or Better Homes and Gardens, because that may definitely happen!
So there you have it, The Design Process in a nutshell. Of course there are a lot of details that the Client doesnt’ get to see behind the scenes and there may be some additional steps necessary for the completion the job. But from a birds eye view, this is essentially a good overview of how your design goes from concept to completion and what you can expect before, during and after the Design Process.
Another thing I might add, is that once a client, here at Gina Lauren Interiors, you are a client for life. It is not uncommon to have found a new Design BFF, or gain so much trust in your Designer that you become good friends or even like family during this whole process. Because the lifecycle of a project can take anywhere from 4-6 months to even 18 months to two years out (depending on if you are building a new home or going through a large renovation), you the Client and the Designer get to know a lot about each other and learn a lot of personal info and details about each others’ lives during this whole process, that it will start to feel like you are gaining a new friend or even a family member.
Happy Designing!
xoxo,
Gina