Fees & Questions

Homeowners are often unclear how to work with an interior designer.  Here are the answers to some of your most pressing questions. 

 

WHAT IS FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN?

Full-service interior design is for the client who wants to outsource everything:

 

• Design
• Sourcing of Products
• Process Management
• Communication with the Trades
• Receiving
• Delivery
• Installation

All of the above are parts of the interior design process and will be included in the budget we refer to as your investment.

 

 

HOW TO WORK WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

However, many people are often unclear on how to work with a full-service interior designer and it is one of Google’s most popular searches! This page should answer most of your questions and if you have questions unanswered please contact us.

First of all, we want you to know that we strive for all of our projects to be a good fit for everyone involved before we are willing to commit. We know that you want the best service and to have an excellent experience from end to end, and we know that we can provide it as a full service interior design team. That’s where we really hum – just read our reviews!

 

 

COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN CONSULTATION

After we have an initial fifteen-minute discovery phone call, and it’s mutually decided to move forward, we schedule an onsite meeting.

This is a meet and greet and a working meeting where we will take a home tour, discuss your needs in greater depth, discuss the budget guidelines within which you are working, and our process to successfully meet and exceed your goals. If we mutually decide to move forward, most times the Retainer Agreement is signed, with the fee due at that time.

 

RETAINER AGREEMENTS

After we have completed our initial meeting and based on your project’s budget, we secure a retainer. The retainer is a show of good faith and covers the planning, drawings and selections for your project. The retainer will be applied to the final payment on completion of your project. The retainer is non-refundable if we do not continue with the purchasing part of the project; however, it covers the design time that’s been invested in your project up to that point in time.

 

INVESTMENT

At the point of signing your Retainer Agreement, we will have agreed upon your investment level for the project, and unless you decide to upgrade your product choices, we won’t exceed the agreed upon investment. 

Each design project we undertake, whether a single room or the whole home, is based on a budget that is agreed on before the design process starts. This way you always know how much you are spending. You may want to start with updating your home with wallpaper and some new pillows and art. Or you may want to redecorate a complete room.

 

TRADE CONTRACTORS

We make a point of being very transparent with any non-product costs that you may incur with electricians, painters, general contractors, and the like. The L&L Design Team does not employ or manage the trades, and you will contract with them directly. Once the contract is in place, we will communicate with them regarding your project throughout the entire process.

 

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO WORK WITH US

Hourly Consultation | $175.00

Includes, in-home color consults, re-design with existing furniture, on-site advice and styling, specific design assistance.

 

Flat Fee

This is an end-to-end Design Service. The price range / investment is incorporating the design and everything included in the design. We can certainly work within your budget and incorporate as much as possible from your wish list, and if need be, do the remaining in the future. For this service everything is included in the project cost. All inclusive, no extra cost except if requested by the client.

 

The Process for Flat Fee:

• Initial consultation is complimentary, meet and get to know each other. Review the space and discuss details.
• To move forward with the design development and after being given a budget from the client, we request a small design fee. When received, we schedule the Design meeting at the clients home, to review the design.
• When the design is approved by the client, we sign the contract with a 75% down payment. The remaining balance is due on the day of installation.
• After the contract is signed, our company begins the procurement & purchasing of everything included in the design. We schedule an on-site visit for measuring; we work directly with all the suppliers and workrooms; we track the orders; work with our receivers and inspect all items; we schedule the delivery and installation; and we keep the clients informed during the entire process.
• The final step is to install, style and give you a Grand Reveal.

 

Building a New Home

If you are considering building a new home, we can work with you to help you make the myriad choices that are involved with a new build. You are normally given one day to view your options, then one day to make final choices for your new home. This can be quite daunting, so before they are locked in by your builder let us be there at your side as a sounding board and to help you with your choices.

At an hourly rate of $175.00 we will guide you with:

• choosing cabinets for kitchen and bathrooms
• discussing the benefits of quartz or granite countertops
• helping with choices for tile, faucets and lighting
• assist with flooring choices
• help with paint choices

Paint Consultations

House painters seldom want the responsibility of choosing paint colors with you. If you need help choosing color, we will come to your home with paint selections. We will discuss what you are trying to achieve and help you achieve a coordinated color palette for interior or exterior paint. This project will be charged at an hourly rate with a minimum of two hours. 

 

If you have questions about how we work
schedule a Discovery Call with Maria
or call now 703-330-4451