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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 submission.
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 Selection: D2D 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 in 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!