After you have gathered the appropriate images, likes, surveys, and pictures from clients you begin the design process and the first stage in that is Conceptual Designs: The interior designer works with the client’s ideas and turns them into sketches or concepts. This usually takes 1-2 weeks depending on how big the project is and how many other people you employ on a design team to help.

This is fun! Although I am dreaming and scheming of materials and finishes my first goal is to get the layout down. I develop that first with all the proposed elevations and even sketches of the area. Why this first? Because in functional areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms, how they work should be the utmost importance. I can take a perfectly functional layout and with materials design it in 1000+ different ways. This is why the layout has to be there. It has to work with the way the users work, feel the way they feel, move the way they move, and function the way they function. If one is left handed and the other is right, it has to be there. If you hate bending over to get your stuff in your oven, you have to have wall ovens. Trash cabinets need to be by sinks, the working triangle has to be there and if you are used to having your dishwasher on the left hand side of the sink, it needs to be on the left hand side of the sink. We should not be decorating first. Of course the materials and finishes make the kitchen, but form should follow function. Once we get the layout down, the rest can be a million different design themes.

I started with the layout and elevations in the work zone. The customer wanted to utilize most of the cabinets in the space and add or change to what was existing to make this a work zone for her 5 children and herself. Our goal here was not to gut everything out. The cabinets are not that old and are of high end quality so we didn’t want to seem wasteful and felt that this was an area we could redesign and salvage to cut cost and help with budget.

Above is the before elevation and photo of the existing space on the children’s side. Not so fun. Also the crown is kind of a Santa Fe style flat crown and this just does not work with the traditional old world feeling of this home.
So what did I do?
On the children’s side I removed the two end shallow cabinets and added full height wall cabinets that would store each of her kid’s cubbyholes. Lauren uses these cubbyholes for paper work and home work for each of her five children. The top cabinet would be glass for decorative purposes. I removed the ugly crown molding that was there and replaced it with a stretched King George. All hardware is to be re-used and the cabinets will be refinished and stained to a dark wood stain that will match the kitchen upper cabinets. The wood counter-top will be replaced because the old one is currently a veneer top and not a solid wood top, so the sanding down of this would make the top too thin. We kept the exact bottom cabinets and are re-staining them in the same dark finish. We are re-utilizing the hardware to help with costs and to match what will be still on our kitchen island.
Below is the “after” elevation concept.

Now on to Lauren’s side.

Above is the before elevation and photo of the existing space on Lauren’s work side. We tried to utilize as much as was there and shift some of the existing cabinets over to make room for an open bookcase.
So what did I do?
I added a framed cork board with nail-head tacks for Lauren to post cute pictures of her kids and for memos and reminders to things. I also added the four small drawers, 2 empty for envelopes, post its, etc. and two closed for tiny things such as paper clips and bulletin board tacks. I again removed the ugly crown molding and replaced it with a stretched King George Molding.
Below is the “after” elevation concept.

Our cabinet company will be refinishing current cabinetry as well as re-staining and finishing of the current cabinets. I then pass this along to my client before any details are made to make sure there is nothing to change or add. Once that happens I move on to details and finish selection.

Stay tuned for my process on the work area!

The next phase is phase 2 THE DESIGN AGREEMENT & ESTIMATE PROCESS – $xxx retainer to be applied to the final bill. Our design agreement states that, for a fee, we will design your project, build a budget driven project plan & estimate and deliver construction documents to meet your goals.

After the consultation meeting if the client is interested in moving forward and I am interested in taking on the project I develop a quote for my schedule of design fees and design retainers. I charge three different ways; first on a flat project fee. This includes all time for design without charging for an hourly fee. All design is included. If the client wants to purchase products through me then I do a split discount. For instance if I get 30 percent off at Ann Sacks Tile, the customer will get 15 percent off and I am marking my cost up 15% of my cost. All project management fees are included here in this pricing. If the client would like to pay a flat project fee with no mark up on cost and receive my discount, they pay a project manager hourly rate if I am needed. Otherwise they are welcomed to coordinate and get bids their self. I also charge a hourly rate and a cost plus rate on goods that I purchase for clients.

In this following project we are doing a flat project rate with flat project management included in the following rooms; kitchen, master bath, laundry room, and work-zone. This is inclusive for all design hours and project manager hours and the client receives 100% of my discount which I pass along to them. There is no mark up on this job. They are also paying a project management fee and hourly design fee for areas that fall outside of the above 4 main rooms. There are little things here and there that need to be done but not enough to need a full project rate for those spaces.

So following you will see how I have broken down my services for the Gordon Residence.

Project: Gordon Residence

Objective:
Turn an existing house into a loving home for the Gordon Family.

Description:
A family devoted to their love of their children and of one another is ready to expand their space after 20 years in a Paradise Valley Family Home. Tears will be shed as they approach this transition in their lives to a bigger home with more amenities. The goal of their new home is to create the same aesthetics as the home they currently live in. Warmth, coziness, traditionalism and functionality will be the main focus in a home with great bones and lots of potential.

The Plan:
How will they achieve this? A warm palette with custom features and finishes that can overcome the grand scale of the new home. Family friendly finishes, functionality, casualness and adding a sense of character will be emphasized. Transitioning current design with new materials such as cabinetry and flooring to create focal points and beauty will keep the project budget friendly. The newly designed kitchen will reflect that it truly is the “heart” of the home. Bathrooms will come alive with tile, Living spaces will come together with color, and dining spaces will be the home of many meals together gathered to give thanks.

Schedule of Design Fees & Retainers

Whole Milk Custom Design Package:

Services include:
A. Design time and project management
Which may include:
B. Job Site Measure
C. Conduct a complete survey on kitchen and bath design
D. Initial sketches for 3 original concepts and layouts
E. Certified and scaled floor plans and elevations on 11 x 17 paper
F. Color Portfolio
G. Mechanical plans, i.e. plumbing and electrical plans
H. Tile, cabinetry and counter-top plans and elevations
I. Lighting plan
J. Complete Material proposal for products
K. Project Budget Development
L. Prepare and obtain estimates from appropriate contractors
M. Prepare scope of work for contractors and project management for project completion.
N. Weekly scheduled meetings with homeowner and daily email updates.

Package pricing – Kitchen – $xxxx
1. Remodel of kitchen to incorporate existing island, appliances and hood carving.
2. New Stain on island.
3. New perimeter cabinets, backsplash, and sink/fixtures.
4. Dry wall soffit reduction
5. Complete Project Management
6. All of the services listed above

Master Bathroom – $xxxx
1. New Design for His/Her cabinetry to incorporate current shower/tub materials.
2. Adding vanity area to Lauren’s side
3. Replace carpeting.
4. Complete Project Management
5. All of the services listed above.

Kitchen Work Zone – Control center – $xxxx
1. New Design to possibly incorporate some existing cabinetry
2. New finish stain
3. Adding “kid’s cubbies” into the area.
4. Complete Project Management

Laundry Room – $xxxx
1. New Design for laundry area with new cabinetry, countertops and finishes
2. Keep existing sink
3. Create area for laundry cubbies, sewing and hang dry space.
4. Complete project management

*Additional design time for non contracted areas will be billed at $xx per hour.

2 % Milk Standard Project Management:

Services Include:
A. Project Management of the following areas
B. Project Budget Development
C. Prepare and obtain estimates from appropriate contractors
D. Prepare scope of work for contractors and project management for project completion.
Project Management time will be billed at $xx per hour.
Front Entrance Billed Hourly:
1. Replace front Entrance light fixture
2. Paint Selection
3. Archway – Suggest ceiling treatments and finish materials

Living Room/Bar Billed Hourly:
1. Alter existing entertainment built in for homeowner’s audio/tv.
2. Paint Color Selection
3. Bar- reconfigure Cabinetry and replacement of current wine cooler

Family Room Billed Hourly:
1. Removal of carpet
2. Consult on floor finishes and transition pieces.
3. Paint color selection

Dining Room Billed Hourly:
1. Paint color/finish selection
2. Ceiling finish design and selection
3. Replace Light fixture
4. Possible new light fixture/sconces.
5. Replace glass shelving in cabinet with wood shelves

Hourly Design Fees:
Services Include: Unlimited design time*. Two hour minimum upon approval.
Hourly Rate: $xx
*Design time includes: Design, proposals, research, plan reviews, phone calls, measures, product evaluations, and weekly
meetings.

Discount Structure:
1. 100% of Trade discount passed on to customer (customer to pay tax on purchase)
2. No markup on products, fees are based above in outline
3. My goal is to provide a discount to the customer so that any design service fees are fully recuperated.
4. Typical discounts are as follows: Cabinetry 10-15%, Lighting 30-40%, Fixtures and fittings 25-40%, Tile 25%.

I then go ahead and send the client an email of my fees. It’s good to explain to them and then attached them separately. I always thank the customer for giving me the opportunity to manage and design their new home. If a budget is not established as of yet I always state so and have the client let me know if this fits in with your terms of their budget. I have charged accordingly for my time that I am estimating the project will take under the design and project management section. I let the client know that their budget is of utmost importance to me and I consider it in every aspect of their job. If there are any questions or concerns they have about the cost of my fees I let them know to please feel free to discuss with me.

I may give the client some timetable or when would be a good time to get moving based on their move in or completion date. I may say something like “I expect this project to take several months and to be started quickly given your move in date. Let me know if you are comfortable with the design fees I have outlined for you. Also I am confident that my fees will be recuperated with the discounts I can pass on to you and the time and energy you will save in the completion of the project.” This last part is important. You will save time and money by hiring an interior designer. Time because they will have someone execute and manage the project and money because it will avoid any costly mistakes they make and because I usually have some discount that is passed onto the client. My goal is for my discount to recuperate any fees I charge so that its a total wash, you got a better designed kitchen aand saved time doing it.

After the quote is sent I give the client a few days to review and ask any questions. I follow up within a week. I try to be patient and try not to start so many ideas in my head until I get the job (this is the hard part).

If the client agrees to move on with my services, I set up an appointment to meet with them. I then go over the contract, make sure the client is in understanding, have the client sign the contract and get a design retainer check for a reasonable percentage of the job. This check is to commence work and will be applied to the final bill of the project.

Once this is accomplished I then set up a time to begin conceptual design and find out what the client is really looking for. I like to bring my camera, lots of notebooks, my measuring tapes and some great kitchen magazines or ideas I have put together for my clients. I ask my client if they have put together any pictures of things they like and often there are some that do but often they do not, so having an idea book there is essential. And some clients really don’t know what they like at all:) My clients go through the binders and I have them give me reactions on what they like or don’t like. We even sticky note details of items they like or storage situations, or a certain paint color, and wood or floor materials. It’s also a good way to know what they hate. This particular client hates creamy buttery cabinets. That is important to know because they are everywhere right now!

I estimate this first meeting will take at least 4 hours. I have my client fill out a survey on how they use their kitchen, who uses their kitchen, what they like and dislike about their current kitchen and what they absolutely need to have. I gather images and photos to show aesthetically what they like and we create a wish list based on all these items. I take pictures of how they store current pots and pans, what looks overcrowded, what they have the most of. All of this makes me an “investigative reporter” into their lives on how to plan their home. Function comes first.

Tags: http://www.staying-awake.org, http://www.whyhcg.com, http://www.myprovigil.com

I thought it would be helpful to document the phases and process of remodeling and building through an interior designer. Of course this often varies from designer to designer but my client always ask me how does this work? How long will this take me? What comes next? Having a good game plan is so important and you never want to just jump into things. Milk and Honey Design can plan your ideal home build or remodel and you can follow along on my current project to see how things evolve, twist, turn, build, complete and dazzle. Come join in.

It all starts with THE INITIAL MEETING. A client calls you or you receive a referral from a contractor or builder. If this is a repeat customer, or referral than the initial meeting is complimentary. If I have never met the home owner before and they heard of me through advertising or my website, I charge an initial $150 consultation fee for 3 hours of meeting time and this fee will be credited to the project fees if the home owner signs a contract with my company. The reason I do this is that it weeds out uninterested or customers unwilling to pay for good advice and it also proves that my time is important. I could be doing 10 free consultations a week and I would never have time to get what I need on done for the clients who are paying. First consultations are also free for builders, architects and contractors. Good designers know that their services and time are valuable.

I generally speak with the customer on the phone and set up a place to meet. For a remodel in the home, for a new build at their current home, my office or a place in between such as a coffee shop. I typically forward them my website and blog and if desired any references they wish to speak with. I set the date and send them a confirmation email for the appointment.

The initial meeting – It all starts here. The introductory meeting is to learn about you, your home and the ideas you have about your project. It is also where we educate you on the process involved to turn your ideas into a reality. This is also where we determine if the project is appropriate for our company as well. I like to talk about budget at this point but sometimes the client is not always willing to do so. I am usually good at determining how much it will generally cost if they know what they like and what they are looking to do. I worked for several cabinet dealers, and kitchen and bath supply stores, and at architectural and construction firms so I can tell them if their budget is realistic for what they want to achieve.

I can also develop a budget for them, using a general design plan, what grade and type of fixtures and upgrades we will be using and the general value for the house. This gives them an idea of what price I can design an ideal project for them and we can move up and down depending on what they were thinking in their head. Seeing that magic number on paper helps them to access where they want to be. I also explain to them that my design can be produced using several budgets. We can take the same design and use semi-custom cabinets with builder grade finishes, use lower grade granites, and not all the bells and whistles and we will get the same functional kitchen and sometimes a similar look. We can also use custom hand worked finish, high costing stone and marble, full height back-splashes, the top of the line appliances and we can still get you a kitchen. It’s your budget that determines the quality of what we can put in there. Another way of looking at it is that we all drive cars. Yet some drive Nissan and some drive BMW’s. Are they are cars? YES. And are they all getting us to and from everyday. YES. But are they all the same? NO. The quality and the materials, marketing, and look of the car is quite different from a Nissan to a BMW. The client has to decide how to get there as well – and with what budget in mind.

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I discuss what needs to be done in each room as far as design, and prepare each space on what I estimate it will take me to complete it. This is all written in my quote and if I was to provide any project manager services, products, supplies, etc - I usually state this in the quote.
*A note on project management. I am not a general contractor and I usually prefer one to be on the project for large scale projects. But if we are implementing a remodel on a small scale than sometimes one is not needed. The cabinetry install team usually demos and installs, and the tile installers do what they need to do. I do not subcontract their work and although I gather bids and make recommendations for contractors, their contract is direct with the client. I do not markup their services to make a profit and sell back their services to their client. This would be acting like a general contract and I am not license or insured to do this. Project management is about making sure its all put together, ordered, gathering bids, and finding good labor. Even if a general contractor is on site it always helps to pay for some project management for the project. We think differently and two sets of eyes can make a huge difference especially when design and detail are of utmost importance to you.