Working with D2D Studio

Working With Us- A Guide to the Interior Design Process

Understanding an interior designer’s stages and methods to design is an important part of choosing an interior designer, whether you are working on a full remodel or a furniture installation. At D2D Studio, we want to make sure you have a clear vision of the design process and feel comfortable with the steps we will take in order to transform your existing space into something unique and beautiful. We strive to build a positive relationship with our clients and make sure we are communicating effectively about expectations and solutions to your needs within the design process.

The following information is an outline of our services and our design process. Depending on your project, some elements of the process may not apply to your project, but we will work with you to develop an outline and a budget that meets the scope of your project and is tailored to your specific design needs.

Initial Consultation

The initial consultation is a service we provide to our clients free of charge. This meeting is an opportunity for you to meet with us and discuss your initial goals. This is a time to see if D2D studio is a good fit for you and your design needs. During this phase, we will discuss designer fees, plan for an initial budget, and listen to your design goals. We will also discuss our process in more detail depending on your unique project. We do our utmost to be up front with you about project expenses and will work with you to help you accomplish your goals or narrow your project to fit within your budget.

Programming

This phase is a chance for our designers to get to know you and your unique style and project. Our goal is to help you make a space that you love and fits your vision of a designer home or business.The programming process includes initial measurements and pictures of the existing space. It also includes a series of style assessments. We will start with a survey to get an initial idea of your tastes and preferences. Then, we will conduct some interviews to narrow down on your specific vision. During a client- designer interview, we will show you a series of images and fabrics. Then we will ask you for specific feedback on different elements of the design in order to get a better sense of your style.Remember, there are no right or wrong answers during this phase: we are here to help you create a beautiful space that fits your tastes and needs. We want your honesty so we can best meet your design goals: we can only design based on the information you have explicitly given us. The more information we have about your expectations, the better we can help you design a space that fits all of these needs. We will help you make something elegant and tasteful, no matter what your style is.

Design Development

Based on the information we have gained through the programming phase, our designers will begin to make some selections and draw up several 3D plans for your new space. It is very important to us that we respect the budget that we are given, and we will not pressure you to spend more than you are able or ready to spend. Throughout this process, we will meet with you and discuss our ideas and selections. We strive to communicate openly with our clients and to listen to their needs and concerns. Clients are heavily involved in this process and make all final decisions. If a client is not happy with a selection, our designers will find new selections to present to the client. This process requires both honesty and trust. As a design firm, we want to help you design a space that is both unique and inspiring. We specialize in designing a space that fits the tastes of different people or family members. Occasionally, this may mean that certain elements we choose may push the boundaries of your comfort zone. You may not “love” every individual element we choose, but that’s ok! We’re in charge of making sure that the overall vision suits both you and whoever else you are working with to design an ideal space. We ask that you trust us, but also that you be honest with us. Our ultimate goal is your happiness.

Construction Documents

This part of the process is often completed in conjunction with the design development phase. During this period, we will coordinate structural and design drawings, revising as necessary. We will also prepare detailed drawings of site plans, floor plans, elevations, construction and material specifications, and any other necessary materials for permit submittal.

Final Budget and Budget Approval

After we have solidified our design and design choices we will present a final budget. This budget includes the cost of building, installment, furniture, lighting and any other elements of your design. Payment plans vary based on project.

Building Permit Submittal

D2D Studio or the contractor will submit the necessary paperwork and permit set drawings to the local governing agency for your building project. Often, this includes several follow up meetings or clarifications with the governing agency before approval is granted. Approval time can vary widely based on size of project, time of year and the type of project.Contractor and/or Subcontractor SelectionD2D Studio hires its own contractors and construction crews for the construction process. We are well acquainted with many of our workers and it is important to us to bring in high quality, honest, and polite work crews. Because we hire the crews, we are responsible for their work and any problems that may arise. We ask you to let us deal with our workers directly, so if any concerns arise, please let us know and we will deal with our crews for you in a prompt and timely manner.

Construction

After all approvals have come through, construction on your space will begin. Depending on the size and scale of your project, construction can be a stressful time- expect the unexpected. Delays, minor hiccups, breakage, and a big mess are a normal part of a large construction project. If your project requires a building permit, note that inspections will cause delays. Inspectors come within a window of time after an inspection is due. Work cannot proceed until the inspection is finished, and follow up inspections may be necessary if any issues arise during inspection. We will work with you to plan construction for a time that best suits your schedule and needs, but please recognize that the nature of such a project requires flexibility and patience. Our designers are in charge of overseeing all work and acting as a liaison between the construction workers and the client. We ask that any concerns that arise during the construction process are addressed to designers at D2D Studio and not the contractors or workers directly. It is our job to handle the construction crews and to ensure efficient and accurate work. Of course, we will keep you updated on everything as work proceeds.

Installation

Once the dust has cleared, we’re ready to install furniture into your new space. We still set a day for installation in which we will bring in and install all of your new furniture and décor. While we do our best to order everything promptly after receiving payments, please recognize that there may be some delays and not all pieces will arrive at one time. In particular, custom order furniture often gets backordered or delayed in the shipping process. There are many companies working together to build you something entirely unique, and this can take time. Because of this, installations may be pushed back from the initial set date. It is more efficient and exciting to have all of your furniture arrive on one day, so we ask for your patience if the install needs to be pushed back to accommodate for unexpected delays. On installation day, you will be delighted that you have waited so that you can see your space transform before your eyes. We hope you will love the space we have helped you create!

What to Expect – Client Responsibilities and ExpectationsRemodel

D2D Studio will do everything we can to ease the construction process, however, it is important to note that remodeling any part of your home can be stressful and frustrating at times. We want to communicate with you as fully as possible on what to expect during a remodel process in order for you to be prepared for this process.Expect the Unexpected- Remodels can be dirty, messy, and inconvenient. There may be periods of time where you cannot enter certain sections of your house. There will likely be dust, footprints, and dirt from incoming construction workers and demolition. This dust will likely remain for months because dust gets pulled into your HVAC ducts. D2D provides a series of cleaning packages to help you clean up after your project. Remodels may be noisy, things may not always run smoothly, and stumbling blocks often lead to projects extending beyond the anticipated deadline. All of these things are a normal part of the construction process. We ask that you bear with us, and remember what an amazing space we are in the process of creating.

Below is a list of expectations we have for our clients embarking on a remodel:

1. Find a time that is most convenient for your remodel. Some clients start their remodel during a vacation so that they don’t have to think about or live with the construction. During a kitchen remodel, many clients choose summer remodel dates so they can grill and use outdoor patio tables. We want to work with you to find dates for your remodel that will be as convenient as possible, and will hopefully lend themselves to the flexibility required for the construction process.

2. Please be patient and flexible. Patience is a necessary part of a remodel. Sometimes there are material delays or emergency situations come up during the remodel that take time to resolve. The best way to approach a remodel is with flexibility and patience. There are many small pieces that must come together during your project, and contractors may occasionally have off site tasks to deal with. Do not be alarmed if a contractor is not on site when you expect them, as they are in communication with our designers. We will do everything within our power to be efficient and finish your project as quickly as possible.

3. Be kind to our contractors. We recognize there are times in the construction process that are very frustrating. Despite our best efforts to hire reliable and professional contractors and workers, mistakes or accidents do sometimes occur during the construction phase. We ask that you treat our workers respectfully and address any problems that may arise to D2D, not the contractors. We are well equipped to deal with problems that arise and we are responsible for communicating and troubleshooting with the contractors. Remember, happy contractors are efficient and professional contractors.

4. You are responsible for keeping children and pets out of the construction zone. While we understand that remodel projects can interrupt your daily flow of life, it is your responsibility, not the contractors or designers’ job, to keep pets and children away from building zones. Sites can often be dangerous- dropped screws, loose wires and other obstacles may exist.Remember, despite the stress or obstacles, D2D will work on your project until you are 100% satisfied. We promise that despite the hassles involved, you will love the final product. Keep this goal in mind as we embark on this process together.

What to Expect – Client Responsibilities and ExpectationsInterior Furnishings & Freshen up Projects

These expectations apply to interior design project elements outside of the remodel. It is important for you to work closely with our designers to create your dream space. We ask for your honesty and patience through the initial design process and in preparation for installation. When we finish, we want you to come in and be “wow!”-ed by your new space.

Below is a list of client responsibilities for interior design projects

1. Be Honest and Forthright in Your Expectations. Help us help you: we cannot give you what you want if you do not ask for it. Please share with us as much information as possible about what it is you want. We want to start with your biggest, wildest plans and narrow it down from there. Do not hold back, do not hide things you fear may be unrealistic or out of budget. In order for us to create the most amazing space possible, we need to know what you really want. We can figure out how to cut down a project after we have a better idea of your vision.

2. Be willing to take risks. We want you to have a “wow!” space. This may mean that we occasionally push you out of your comfort zone or ask you to consider things that may at first seem different than what you originally expected. We never want you to choose anything you’re unhappy with, we are simply asking you to keep an open mind and be willing to try new things. Our designers have amazing visions for your space and we want to make sure you get everything you want and more.

3. Dig deep to discover WHY you love something. When you truly love (or hate) something, try to think about what it is you love or hate about it. How does it make you feel? If you can identify why you like what you like, our designers can better hone in on what you need.

4. You don’t have to love everything. D2D Studio works hard to combine different peoples’ taste preferences to create a space everyone can enjoy. Whether it is combining the tastes of you and your spouse or your office partners, recognize that everyone has unique style preferences. While you may not love every individual element of the design, we want everyone to be satisfied with the overall vision. D2D Studio is responsible for creating a space that is beautiful and cohesive, and we use digital programming to ensure all elements of the design look great together. If you truly hate something, we will make a new selection, but we hope you understand that balance and compromise are sometimes necessary.

5. Be patient. Installation is the most exciting part of the design process: our designers will come to your house and install your furniture and décor. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are often delays in the installation. Sometimes furniture or fabric is backordered. Occasionally, fabrics may go out of stock and we may need to reselect a new fabric or wait. Things may break during shipping and need to be returned and re-shipped. Custom furniture in particular is notorious for long order times: there are many companies working together to build you a unique item and delays happen at different points in the process. Custom furniture can take 8-12 weeks, if not more, to arrive. This can cause a delay in the install process. While we try to install all of your furniture at one time, occasionally we’ll be forced to install a few items at a later date if something is backordered or really far out. We’re asking for your patience in the install process—and letting you know maybe you shouldn’t invite mom to see the new house on the day after the scheduled install.

6. You can’t please everyone. You are creating a space that YOU will live or work in. Your happiness is paramount; as it is a place you get to be in every day. If you listen to everyone’s opinion, you will end up with a mediocre, watered-down design. You need to stand by your tastes and agree to take risks some people may not love in order to end up with something unique, memorable, and beautiful.