You may be considering hiring a professional interior designer and perhaps even narrowing down a few options for your project, but how do you know which one is right for you? Full-service interior design is an investment, and the designer you choose can mean the difference between a smooth, stress-free experience or one filled with constant frustration.
The role of an interior designer goes far beyond selecting finishes or arranging furniture. A designer solves your design challenges, creates a cohesive plan for both function and beauty, identifies potential pitfalls, and manages your project from start to finish. Unlike contractors or trades, who are only involved in the project when their work is needed, your designer is often the first professional you hire and the last one you continue working with, sometimes long after construction is complete.It’s not unusual to partner with a designer for six months, a year, or even longer on a full-service project. That’s why choosing the right fit is about more than just admiring their portfolio. Every design firm has a different process and business model, and finding the best match starts with asking the right questions.
Your home and family life are deeply personal, so inviting a designer into that space requires clarity from the very beginning. Ensuring alignment early on sets the stage for a partnership that is both enjoyable and worthwhile. Below are four key questions to ask a potential interior designer to better understand what working with them will really be like.
This question is really the most important question to ask and understand. Most designers follow a similar structure in moving from initial ideas to project completion, but their process from start to finish can be extremely varied. Knowing what to expect from a designer’s process gives you valuable insight into knowing if this is the right designer for you.
Asking questions like:
These are important questions that will provide valuable insight into how your designer manages their projects.
Here’s what you can expect when you work with Joy Edwards Design:
Step 1: Complementary Discovery Call is typically scheduled within a week after reaching out. If you live in the Northern Virginia area, you can schedule your call with me here.
Step 2: Full-Service Design Consultation is also typically scheduled within a week of the Discovery Call. This is where we identify the scope of work for your project and discuss your goals and vision for your home.
Step 3: Proposal & Agreement is provided 3 to 5 days after the consultation and outlines the details of your project proposal and design investment for my services. Your project officially begins once the agreement is signed and initial payment is received.
Step 1: Project Kick-Off Meeting is our opportunity to connect, get to know each other better, and begin exploring your lifestyle, needs and preferences for your project.
Step 2: In-Home Measurements are conducted within a week of the Project Kick-Off Meeting to capture design details.
Step 3: The Conceptual Design Presentation is 3 to 4 weeks after the Kick-Off Meeting to gather feedback on the design direction.
Step 4: Trade Day is scheduled a few weeks before the Design Presentation to gather quotes and bids for your project.
Step 5: Design Presentation is 8 to 16 weeks after your Project Kick-Off Meeting and is where your entire design plan is presented for your approval.
Step 1: Procurement of all furnishings and finishes, tracking of the products and delivery of goods and materials.
Step 2: Site Visits are scheduled at strategic points throughout construction to communicate and oversee the implementation of the design plan.
Step 3: Installation and Styling are completed at one time, over the course of 1 to 2 days, before wrapping up your project.
You’ll want to know what your time commitment will need to be throughout the interior design process. Every interior designer offers different services with varying levels of support and access, so you’ll want to make sure you fully understand whether you’ll need to be hands-on or hands-off, or if there are certain parts where you’ll be more involved than others.
By handing the bulk of the work off to your designer, you'll find the design process is easier on you and your family. To ensure your interior designer has everything needed to understand your vision and gather the details to bring your ideas to life, your involvement in providing key information about your needs and vision is critical.
At other times, you will need to make your home available so the designer can take measurements, tradespeople can do the work, and all of the finishing elements can be brought in and installed.
At Joy Edwards Design, the level of client involvement during each phase is:
This phase typically includes three (3) hands-on client-designer meetings and two (2) hands-off in-home visits. The hands-on client meetings include a Project Kickoff Meeting, Conceptual Design Presentation, and Final Design Presentation. The two hands-off visits are for taking detailed measurements and scheduling a Trade Day to gather quotes and bids for the project. For larger whole-home projects, additional meetings and visits may be scheduled if the size and scope require more time. Before the Kick-Off Meeting, clients also complete a lifestyle questionnaire and share additional details about their vision for the home, helping me tailor the design to their needs and preferences.
During this phase, tradespeople and/or a contractor are often involved. If a contractor is needed, we begin with one (1) hands-on meeting to review the design plans and set a project timeline with both the client and the contractor before construction begins. Site visits are scheduled at key points during construction, which can either be hands-on or hands-off for the client based on their preference. Once all work is complete, I schedule an Installation & Styling Day for all furnishings. On this day, I ask the client to be hands-off so I can complete the transformation and present the finished design at the end of the day.
It’s important to consider how your preferred communication style aligns with your designer’s. If you prefer phone calls and texts, but your interior designer and their team primarily use email, you may need to adjust your expectations. Typically, designers correspond by email or through a project management platform to keep information organized and ensure nothing is missed so they can maintain accurate records. This streamlined approach helps designers manage all the moving parts of your project efficiently.
You’ll also want to know how often you can expect to hear from your designer so you never feel left in the dark. Understanding the key project milestones is a great first step to avoid being concerned if communication slows during certain phases. It’s equally important to know if they provide regular updates or only reach out as needed.
You’ll also want to know who your point of contact will be throughout your project, and how quickly they respond to any questions you may have. Will they only reply during business hours, or can you expect responses after hours or on weekends? Clarifying whether you’ll communicate directly with the designer or if a designated team member will handle most day-to-day communication to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
As part of our full-service design experience, I send updates at the close of each stage. These updates share what we’ve achieved so far and what’s coming next, so you’ll always feel informed and supported throughout your project.
It’s important to understand what your interior design investment will be for your project and when payments will be due. Designers who charge a flat fee have payment schedules, and their installments are often tied to project milestones. Those who charge hourly often invoice their clients on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Some designers combine both, charging a flat fee for the design development phase and an hourly rate for project fulfillment.
Our design fee for the Design Development phase is a flat fee, giving you confidence in the investment for the creative direction, design plans and selections. For Project Fulfillment, we provide an estimate based on the anticipated work. This phase is billed hourly to reflect the hands-on coordination, site visits, and detailed oversight required to bring the design to life.
Some examples of items that may be finalized or updated later in a project are:
These costs can add up quickly, so discussing potential expenses with your designer at the start helps you plan more effectively and avoid surprises as the project progresses.
At Joy Edwards Design, I work with clients who value a thoughtfully guided design experience. I have established project minimums for both design fees and furnishing budgets to ensure we can achieve the level of quality and customization you expect.
Our design fee for the Design Development phase is a flat fee, giving you confidence in the investment for the creative direction, design plans and selections. For Project Fulfillment, we provide an estimate based on the anticipated work. This phase is billed hourly to reflect the hands-on coordination, site visits, and detailed oversight required to bring the design to life.
If you’re interested in working together, simply submit a Project Inquiry, and I’ll follow up with more details about our services, investment, and next steps so you’ll feel confident in the journey ahead.
