FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I charge on an hourly basis for my time. When purchasing furnishings from retail showrooms, I extend any discounts I receive on to my clients. When purchasing furnishings from showrooms that are open only to designers, I discount the costs to my clients based on the discounts extended to me (they vary by vendor). Prior to beginning a project, I provide a free estimate of what my design time will cost to complete the project.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The first step is to meet in person (at no charge) to discuss the design goals and, when possible, see the home or office space that we would be working on. Once I have done a walk through, I can estimate the costs of my design time and I submit a proposal. Once the proposal for my time has been accepted, we would establish a tentative timeline, meet with contractors and begin determining the overall budget. I then begin designing the space- color palette, materials, furniture layouts, tile designs, etc based on the timeline. I present these suggestions at a series of meetings and once everything is approved, I begin purchasing and I follow through with delivery scheduling, installation supervision, etc.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH. In addition to my degree, I have almost 20 years of experience as an interior designer. For the past 2 years, I have run my own design studio. For the 15 years prior, I had a design partner who co-owned Fusion Interior Design with me. Before that I worked for 2 different firms, one in Chicago and one in Columbus. I have also received my NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualifications) certification which consisted of a 2-day test administered to designers who have met prerequisites based on experience and education. I have been a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) for over 15 years. I have worked on projects in and around Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, Washington state and in Jamaica- both residential and commercial.