What to expect from a Design Consultation

If you are confused by what exactly to expect when working with a designer, I don’t blame you! Interior Design is a custom service, so the service will vary by provider. Traditionally, interior designers have not always been transparent with process and pricing and this has left clients feeling misled. Also, reality TV has set unrealistic expectations of the home industry in terms of budgets and timelines. 

However, I am here to tell you that most confusion and frustration can be avoided with a candid, transparent relationship between the client and designer. And Design Consultations are a necessary first step in finding the right designer!

A Consultation can be a standalone session where you need on-the-spot design advice and you plan to do the work yourself. For example, a paint color consultation or styling using your existing furniture and accessories. More often, however, a Consultation is the first step to working on a longer term project such as a remodel or full home furnishings. In this scenario, the Consultation is a straightforward working meeting for you to define the scope of the project and for me to gather the information I need to put together a proposal. While every designer works a little differently, I would like to clarify the Via D’sa process.

Before the Design Consultation - the Discovery Call

At Via D’sa Interior Design, all communication starts with an initial phone conversation with me - the Discovery Call. The purpose of this free Discovery Call is for a prospective client to outline their design goals, ask questions about working with me and learn what to expect from a paid, in-home Design Consultation. Because every project is different, the individual goals for a Consultation can vary greatly. The Discovery Call helps me structure the Consultation to your needs.

The Design Consultation

Whether a standalone session to solve a design dilemma, or whether an initial meeting to request a proposal for a project; the Consultation is a working session where I provide you with valuable insight. We will tour your space and understand how you use the space so that I can address your concerns with concrete solutions. I will probe to figure out what about your current space is not working for you. If you are trying to get the most use out of your space, I will offer suggestions for layouts, furniture & organization. If the goal is aesthetic, we can narrow down a color palette and discuss upholstery, window treatments, or lighting. 

It’s important to note that any solutions offered during a Consultation are verbal suggestions, and not actual product selections. It does take more than a just a couple of hours to make design selections that are unique to your project. 

If you are looking to work on a complete furnishings or remodel project, the Consultation is a very important part of the design process. Consultations let me get to know you, how you use your space and your vision and desires for your home. I will share my process, what you can expect if we move forward together, and the billing and fee structure. We will talk about a realistic budget and timeline. We will talk about challenges that projects face - I like to educate clients on project dependencies & common setbacks - so that you have the right expectations from the beginning. 

How you can prepare for the Design Consultation

1. Establish a budget - Granted, you might not know how much a project will actually cost. And there are design solutions for every budgets. But it is important for you to think beforehand of what your comfort zone is, what your absolute financial constraint would be. This can be the starting point for our conversation of what you can expect to get at that budget.

2. List all your wants in terms of ‘Must haves’ and ‘Like to have’ so that we can talk about the scope of the project. Think of the grandest visions for your space without fear of budget. 

3. Gather at least 10 images of spaces you’re drawn to on Pinterest, Houzz or other, so we can spend a little time discussing your personal style.

4. To get the most of the meeting, have a list of questions to make sure I address all your concerns.

5. All decision makers will need to be present at the meeting.

Once I fully understand the scope of work at the Consultation, I will put together the Project Proposal outlining the phases, projected fees and deliverables. You can expect to see the Proposal 3 - 5 business days after the Consultation. In the meantime, you are free to reach out with any additional questions or items to add to the Proposal.

The Consultation is an opportunity to understand each other on a personal level.  It is a way for us to meet and see whether we are a good fit to move forward. This is where you get to ask questions about my working style & process. I take pride in being a good listener; this is your chance to gauge if I am able to articulate your concerns and give you confidence that I will provide solutions. It is a chance for us to discuss aesthetics & style and see if we are a good fit on that front. A good rapport is critical to a successful design project; the initial meeting is an opportunity to see how well we connect so as to build a great working relationship.

A Design Consultation is currently valued at $380 for up to 2 hours. Don’t hold back on that project you’ve been contemplating. Schedule a Discovery Call so we can discuss what about your current space is not working for you and how I can help!