Every interior designer has their own design process and works a little differently. After years of experience, we've found that the process typically works best for both our client and the Fuchsia team.
Typically our correspondence starts with either a phone call or an email where we will ask you a series of simple questions to determine if Fuchsia would be a good fit for your needs or if there is another company we can recommend. You are important to us, and we don't want to take on your project is someone else would be a better fit, so we're not shy with saying so.
STEP ONE:
Once we determine that we would be a good fit for your needs, the first step is to make sure that we mesh well personality-wise. You spend a lot of time with your interior designer during your project, and it's important that you like who you hire! So, we always start with an in-home consultation where I'll pull out all of my best sarcastic and witty jokes to make a good impression. ;-) During this meeting, we take time to better understand the scope, timeline, budget, and style of your project. We'll ask you questions like "what are your family's hobbies" or "how do you typically live in your home?". We want to understand not just how you want your home to look and feel, but how you want it to FUNCTION. This is also a great time to look over any inspiration boards you have together. Do you have a Houzz or Pinterest profile with what inspires you? While we never advocate for copying another designer's work, seeing what catches your eye and better understanding your style is extremely beneficial during the initial stages of your project. Following the initial consultation, you can expect the following steps:
STEP TWO:
Here at Fuchsia Design, we charge by the hour. Some interior designers will charge a set rate to design your home, but we've found that someone always gets the shorter end of the stick in that situation. When designers charge that way, they have to add in some 'cushion' to their quote in case it takes longer than expected. So, either you pay more for hours you didn't use, or the design works more hours than what they were paid. Charging hourly is the only way to ensure that you're only paying for what you use, and the designer is paid for what they have done. So, after the initial consultation, Autumn develops an itemized Design Estimate of how many hours it will take to complete your project. This gives you an idea of the cost of your design investment so you can determine if our services fit with your budget. This Estimate lists out every item in the project scope to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and we haven't missed anything. We've found that open and thorough communication is one of the biggest components to a successful project.
STEP THREE:
If everything looks great on the Design Estimate, you will next receive a Design Contract. This is a multi-page document that goes over all of the terms of our working relationship. It helps you understand how you as the homeowner can help the project run smoothly, what to expect of Fuchsia Design, timelines, cost, and a number of other important details.
STEP FOUR:
After reviewing the contract, you simply mail the signed copy to Fuchsia Design along with the agreed upon retainer fee. This retainer is applied towards all future design hours, and you will not be billed again until Fuchsia Design has exceeded the number of hours included in your retainer. After your retainer has been exceeded, Fuchsia Design bills each month on the 1st of the month, and payment is due within 14 days. Fuchsia Design takes on a limited number of projects at a time to ensure that we give our clients our upmost attention. The retainer allows us to know you're serious about moving forward and keeps our design schedule open for you.
STEP FIVE:
Once Fuchsia Design receives your signed contract and retainer, we are ready to go!
From here, each project varies whether it's new construction or a renovation, so the design process differs. If you'd like to know more about what the process would look like post-contract phase for your project, just let us know! We'd be happy to put together a detailed itinerary for you!
Ready to get started on your dream home? So are we!
**Please note that Fuchsia Design’s availability varies depending on the time of year. If immediate availability is not an option, you will be notified during the initial consultation.