We operate as a team under the direction of our Creative Director for Commercial Interior Design Projects.

As the Incubator we have suscriptions that will be offered for designers, architects and new business owners to use the shared studion, local resource library and our showcase lounge. We will be offering workshops and educational programing for business.

If you’re a service provider , trades person, artist or small batch maker reach out and see if what you do can become a part of the collectives offerings by signing up for a discovery call.

As entrepreneurs ourselves we realize you could go anywhere for your design help or watch a video and DIY. We also realize (and we hope you do too), that we are doing more than just decorating your homes and offices and making them a healthier place to be.

We are also helping you to protect and make the most of your investment. Think of us as a translator and support team helping you communicate your dream with your contractor or builder, trades people. Also having your back with permiting and location assessments.

Another plus is that we have a combined creative brain, we give you the benefit of what some of the fortune 500 companies have. An entire creative team working to make your brilliant dreams and outrageous visons come to life and be profitable.

The short answer is yes, we offer limited Residential interior design offerings with a color and style consultations and Kitchen focused projects. The rest is project dependant. Ask about it on your exploratory call with our Creative Director.

If you need a remodel, new-build, color and style consultation, space planning, renderings, operational small business startup support, commercial kitchen design, retail merchandising, pland and floral design support, custom furniture or textile design.

With a deep and diverse network there isn’t much we can’t source or create for you.

If you start early and understand the levers at your disposal, budgeting will be less stressful and you’ll better understand where your money is going.

Create cost buckets

At the outset, identify all of your potential costs, assign each a value and update them as you learn more. Construction and finishes might be the largest pieces, but there will be many others such as permits, consultants and designers, just to name a few.

Define the project scope

Can you update the bathroom using the existing floor plans, or will you need to move water lines? Be honest about what you are, and what you are not, trying to accomplish, and make sure that is reflected in your budget.

Localize and adjust for preferences

TV shows distort how much things cost. What you spend will be influenced by your neighborhood, type of project, and level of finishes. If you have to have that beautiful range that costs as much as a luxury car, don't budget for the off-brand generic range.

Get a professional opinion

Having clarity around your vision and project scope will inform much better budget discussions. Some professionals charge for initial consultations, so you'll want to make the most of this time by coming prepared with planning materials and your early estimated budget range.

Always include a 10-20% buffer

You don't have to spend this contingency, but unexpected surprises are inevitable. If you don't end up using it, consider it found money that you can save. It's a great way to feel good about staying on track, being prepared, and coming in under budget.

Most professionals charge for their services using one or a combination of pricing structures; actual dollar amounts vary by geography, market conditions, project scope, and experience.

How do architects charge?

Architects may charge an hourly rate, fixed fee, or by design phase (as specified by the AIA). An hourly rate is most common, but it’s normal to charge a fixed fee for specific aspects of a project or carve-outs. Some charge a percentage of the total project cost, but that is more common for new construction.

How do interior designers charge?

Designers charge by hourly rate, fixed fee and/or a margin on goods purchased. Many have shifted toward the first two pricing structures, plus other ancillary fees such as a design plan fee or a project management fee.

The one constant about the design-build industry is that materials, professional trades people, and product are all unique to every project. We do our best to help you create a customized plan that works with your budget both for time and money.

The reality is that quality services and materials are worth the investment and have staying power. This is not a perfect science, but we do not ever act without your full knowledge and consent. When we start where you are and do our job to communicate we find that we all succeed in creating thoughtful and accessible interior design projects that meet your budget and goals.

Anything worth doing needs time. Renovating a single small room can easily take three months from initial design research to finished construction, whereas a fuller renovation can take much longer.

Give yourself time to design

A thorough design process should be given two to six months. Projects usually involve more decisions than people expect, so plan to spend several months defining your vision, and some time working with a professional to give it the clarity it deserves.

Allow time for permitting

Larger cities generally have more stringent permitting processes, so depending on where you live, the approval process can range from several weeks to several months. Once you've cleared this hurdle you can start building.

Don't believe what you see on TV

TV shows might lead you to believe that you can complete a dramatic makeover in three days, but the reality is that it takes much longer. Between demolition, delivery of materials, building time, and allowing some buffer time, expect at least a month for any renovation that is more than cosmetic.

Anticipate scheduling conflicts

People tend to overlook the availability of professionals and materials. Depending on what products you’ve ordered and what trades you require (tilers, plumbers, painters, glass fitters), you may not be able to begin construction on a moment’s notice.

A note on seasonality

It is wise to begin your project in the off-seasons, rather than during the spring and early summer, when people are trying to ready their homes for entertaining. November and December are packed with holidays, so it can be tough find

This question has to be the one most often asked and rarely understood.

We will give you our definition and the definition shared by ASID, a nationally recognized organization for Interior Designers.

Interior designers are creative and technical problem solvers who work with their clients to develop design solutions that are safe, functional, and attractive. Combining aesthetic vision with practical skills and knowledge, interior designers impact the human experience, and transform lives.

An Interior decorator will work with you to select a color scheme, a style and a layout for your rooms. They will help you with wall coverings, window treatments, carpets and upholstery, and they will show you appropriate furniture for your home. A decorator may or may not have any formal college training. What they do have, however, is a natural creative talent for decorating interior spaces.

An Interior Designer is always a decorator. In addition to that, however, they also redesign spaces. They are trained to develop a master plan and look at the possibilities of a space in the context of the master plan.

An Interior Designer has had formal college training, knows the building codes and has had a great deal of experience within the construction field. They do space planning and remodeling, but they are not architects or contractors. For more information schedule a call with our Interior Designer.

Many interior design terms sound complicated, and often they are borrowed from a language other than English. Here are some basic interior design and decoration terms as well as ones you hear from other trades people in the design-build process.

Art Deco: A modernist style of visual arts that first emerged in France in the leadup to World War I. Art Deco influence can be seen in all sorts of modern design, from structural architecture to household appliance design.

Bauhaus: A style of design that takes its name from an influential German art school that operated from 1919 to 1933. Bauhaus style is defined by simplistic modernism and the concept of “form following function.

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Bouclé: A heavy textile containing nubby, looped yarn—often in two different shades—that creates texture.

Cabriole leg: An ornamented furniture leg with a double curve structure.

Case goods: Types of cabinetry and furniture that are designed to provide storage.

Chair rail: Horizontal molding that is generally placed towards the middle of a wall, close to the height of a standard dining room chair.

Chaise: An upholstered piece of furniture similar to a sofa that is shaped like a lounge chair.

Chinoiserie: A European style of design that is meant to mimic elements of East Asian art.

Clerestory: A window or series of windows that are placed above eye-level.

Console table: A freestanding table, often found in the entryway of homes, that typically serves as a space for decorative elements.

Countertop: A horizontal surface generally found in kitchens and used for cooking and eating.

Dimmable: When a lightbulb’s brightness is adjustable.

Dining room: A designated room in a house used for formal dining that is separate from the kitchen. It is generally furnished with a long dining table and enough chairs to accommodate larger parties.

Elevation: A two-dimensional drawing of a wall (or series of walls) with varying degrees of detail.

Enfilade: A series of rooms that are connected via doorways that align with one another (commonplace in grand castles, like the Palace of Versailles, or even museums).

FF & E: It refers to the Finishes, Furniture and Equipment that will be used for your project.

Etagere: A freestanding or hanging set of open shelves, designed to display trinkets or other decorative objects.

Faux: A design element that is artificially constructed to mimic another type of material or piece.

Feng shui: A traditional method of Chinese design based around energy forces. Feng shui is meant to bring the individual in harmony with their surroundings.

Focal point: The point in a room or design that the eye is drawn to. The decorative center of a room from which all other design elements take their cue.

Hue: The color or shade of an interior design element.

Interior wall: A wall found on the inside of a house designed either to bear structural weight or divide sections of a building’s interior.

Jacquard: Named after a type of loom, jacquard textiles are woven, highly textured fabrics in which the design is incorporated into the weave rather than being stamped or printed on the material.

J-box: An abbreviation for “junction box.” J-boxes are wall-mounted units that house electrical wires. They’re meeting points for many different types of wires and can be placed in a stud above heavy light fixtures.

Kelvin: Units of measurement that relate to the color of a light source. The higher the Kelvin number, the closer it is to replicating bright sunlight.

Laminate: A layered synthetic type of flooring that is made using lamination.

Light fixture: A device that houses an electrical lamp meant to provide illumination.

Mid-century modern: A modern style of architectural design that emerged in the aftermath of World War defined by open floor plans and large windows.

Monochromatic: A color scheme that is centered around a single color.

Niche: A recessed area within a wall or room.

Patina: A light layer of gloss or film which appears on a surface as a result of age or artificial distressing.

Interior design professionals create the spaces where people live, work, heal, learn, socialize, and play. Designers’ decisions also impact the interior design industry comprised of designers, manufacturers, dealers, contractors, consultants, tradespeople, artisans, and workers around the world.

Through this wide reach, interior designers play a significant role in reducing global carbon emissions and regenerating ecosystems to help avert the climate crisis. Interior design professionals are also in a unique position to improve people’s lives and support wellness and prosperity in our communities. We have a professional obligation to our peers, the public, and future generations to strive for a just, healthy, and sustainable society. The Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact calls upon designers to understand, assess, and maximize the positive impact of our work by making three interconnected commitments:

Design for Climate:

The climate crisis is the greatest single threat to health and economic prosperity on the planet, and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. Interior design professionals reduce the negative impacts of climate change by committing to:

Reduce emissions, including operational and embodied carbon, to the maximum extent on all projects.

Optimize design processes to reduce waste and the depletion of natural resources.

Design for adaptability and resilience.

Design for responsible end-of-life, deconstruction, and decommissioning processes.

Design for Health:

Both human and ecological health are essential components of a thriving society, and essential for the future of humanity on the planet. Interior design professionals support holistic health and safety by committing to:

Improve physical health by eliminating toxic and hazardous substances and creating healthy and regenerative environmental conditions.

Nurture the mental wellness and wellbeing of people who use our spaces.

Building social health by fostering better connections between people and strengthening community.

Promote ecological health by preferring processes that restore and regenerate air, water, and other natural systems.

Design for Equity:

Social equity and climate justice are central to cohesive, safe, and resilient communities. Interior design professionals promote diversity, inclusion, and equity by committing to:

Design to benefit people with different backgrounds and needs, equally and fairly.

Include and reflect the perspectives of underrepresented communities in our work process.

Make design choices that directly support the health and prosperity of vulnerable communities in our work product.

Prioritize access and a positive experience for all people, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

The Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact from all sectors of our industry is our commitment to our communities we serve.